New website for a yacht brokerage and charter company in Riyadh: real cost vs local agencies (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

A yacht brokerage and charter company in Riyadh sells to clients who do not live by the marina: families, family offices and executive assistants planning a week in the Red Sea, Monaco or the Maldives, who judge listing accuracy and responsiveness above all. As a 2026 ballpark, a new site costs between SAR 35,000 and 400,000 with a Riyadh agency, against a fixed Kolonell grid of 2,900 USD (Starter), 4,900 USD (Growth) and 8,900 USD (Premium, the multilingual tier). Because the Saudi market expects Arabic first and English for foreign captains and partners, in practice that means Premium, with RTL scope set in the quote.

What the site must prove, page by page

Clients and their advisers search by length, destination, season and number of cabins. They want to know whether the company has the right to market the yacht (central agency or open listing), how the price is built and who answers.

• Yacht listings: length, shipyard, year, cabins, crew, cruising areas, only for yachts the company can genuinely offer, stating central agency where that applies.
• Destinations and seasons: the Saudi Red Sea, the Arabian Gulf, the Mediterranean in summer, the Indian Ocean in winter.
• Pricing explained: price per week plus expenses (APA, often 25 to 40% of the base rate), fuel, port fees, VAT depending on the area.
• Sales brokerage: process, survey, flag transfer, with no invented transaction values.
• Team and affiliations: MYBA or IYBA only if membership is actually held.
• Discreet contact: short form, call-back from a broker, no passport data requested online.

For activities in Saudi waters, coastal tourism licences fall under a dedicated body, the Saudi Red Sea Authority: the site should not advertise any activity the company is not licensed to carry out. This is not legal advice.

Build cost: Riyadh vs the Kolonell grid

Local ranges reflect typical Riyadh agency quotes, converted at an indicative rate of SAR 3.75 to 1 USD. Kolonell prices include a project manager reachable in the Riyadh time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (4 to 6 for Premium) and 3 months of support. Details are on the international offer.

Hidden costs and the 3-year total

The build price is only part of the cost. The items that surprise most: yacht photos and video (often supplied by the central agent, but not always cleared for reuse), Arabic translation reviewed by a native speaker, a compliance review of commercial wording, and above all a connection to a listings feed or booking tool, which is on quote at Kolonell as elsewhere.

Kolonell maintenance after the 3 included months is on quote; the figure in the table is a market assumption of 250 USD a month, useful only for comparison.

When a local agency is the better choice, and the questions to ask

A Riyadh agency makes sense if you want an onboard shoot in Jeddah, weekly in-person meetings or a strong local events presence. It also has the advantage of knowing the cultural expectations of Saudi clients at close range.

Whatever you prefer, ask these questions: who enters and updates the yacht listings; how yachts withdrawn from the market are handled; how client data is stored under the Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), enforced by SDAIA since September 2023; who owns the domain and the access; what adding a new destination costs after delivery.

Mini case study

Illustrative example: Najd Marine Partners, four brokers in Riyadh, central agent for three yachts of 35 to 50 metres plus access to open listings. Budget chosen: Premium at 8,900 USD, plus additional photography at 2,500 USD (market assumption), for 11,400 USD. A charter week at 70,000 USD, with a brokerage commission of around 15%, is worth 10,500 USD. Two extra weeks in the year at that level therefore cover the initial investment with 9,600 USD to spare. The example assumes no result: it simply gives a threshold for the decision.

FAQ

Should we show charter rates on the site?

A weekly range, for example from 50,000 USD plus APA, reassures clients and filters inquiries. The exact price depends on season, area and expenses, and should be confirmed in writing.

Can we list yachts for which we are not central agent?

Only if the company has the right to market them and the listing says so clearly. One outdated listing in 10 is enough to make a family office hesitate.

Are Arabic and English included?

Multilingual sites sit in the Premium tier at 8,900 USD, with languages and RTL scope set in the quote. A freelancer often adds 1,500 USD of translation.

How long does it take?

Allow 4 to 6 weeks for Premium once listings and photos are supplied. Premium local agencies often quote 3 to 5 months.

Is a booking engine included?

No, integrations and online booking are on quote. A well-designed inquiry form is enough for many companies in year one.

Let's scope your project. An Arabic and English yacht brokerage and charter site on the Premium tier is delivered in 4 to 6 weeks once your listings are ready. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.