The verdict in three sentences
For a wealth management firm or family office in Doha, a redesign costs, as a 2026 ballpark, between QAR 30,000 and 120,000 at a mid-size local agency (about USD 8,200 to 33,000), against a fixed Kolonell grid of USD 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900. The sector's specific risks are consistency between Arabic and English URLs, links to a client portal hosted elsewhere and the compliance review of copy before go-live. With a page inventory, a redirect map and a schedule that sets aside a week for compliance, the redesign fits within 4 to 5 weeks.
Is your current site sending the right signals?
Firms in West Bay, Lusail or based at the Qatar Financial Centre will often recognise these situations. The table helps rank the urgency.
| Signal | What it reveals | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| The Arabic version is a partial translation of the English | Arabic-speaking clients poorly served, orphan pages | High |
| The site is hard to read on mobile | Prospects browsing on a phone leave | High |
| Copy mentions past performance without disclaimers | Regulatory exposure | High |
| The "Client area" link points to an old address | Clients locked out, support calls | Medium |
| No privacy notice or cookie management | Out of step with the data protection law | High |
| Team biographies are several years old | Loss of credibility with families | Medium |
What budget should you plan for a redesign in Doha?
The ranges come from typical Doha agency quotes and public rate pages, converted at the fixed rate of about QAR 3.64 to USD 1.
| Option | Local range (QAR) | Approximate equivalent (USD) | Usual timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doha freelancer | QAR 8,000 to 25,000 | about USD 2,200 to 6,900 | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Mid-size agency | QAR 30,000 to 120,000 | about USD 8,200 to 33,000 | 8 to 14 weeks |
| International network agency | QAR 120,000 to 350,000 | about USD 33,000 to 96,200 | 12 to 20 weeks |
| Kolonell Starter | not applicable | USD 2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Growth | not applicable | USD 4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Kolonell Premium (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote, RTL scope defined in the quote) | not applicable | USD 8,900 | 3 to 4 weeks |
Each tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready and 3 months of support. These stay on quote: client portal integration, CRM connection, reporting tools, maintenance after 3 months and search work. Details are on the international offer. For context, Kolonell built the site of TR Signing Group, a signing services company based in New Jersey: an example of a professional services site where restraint and clarity matter.
Where do the risks hide, phase by phase?
| Phase | Main risk | Control to require |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory | Arabic or English pages forgotten | Full list of URLs in both languages, with traffic for each |
| Architecture | Different structures between /ar and /en | Mirrored site tree, hreflang tags |
| Content | Return promises, unverified figures | No performance promises, approved disclaimers |
| Integration | Broken links to the client portal | Every outbound link tested one by one |
| Compliance review | Late sign-off that pushes back go-live | One week reserved for the compliance officer |
| Switch-over | Downtime or missing redirects | Full 301 map, switch on a quiet day, Search Console tracking |
On the framework side, licensed firms fall under the QFC Regulatory Authority or the Qatar Central Bank depending on their set-up: stay factual, promise no returns and have copy approved by compliance. Law No. 13 of 2016 on personal data privacy governs forms and cookies; QFC firms also check the centre's own framework. Aim for WCAG 2.1 AA, including on the Arabic version. This is not legal advice.
When is a Doha agency preferable?
Honestly, a local agency is the right call if your leadership wants to approve every mock-up in a meeting in Lusail, if the Arabic version needs original writing by a Gulf copywriter rather than an adaptation, or if the redesign comes with an on-site team photo shoot. A remote studio fits when source copy exists, one or two decision makers sign off and you want a fixed price.
Questions to ask:
- How do you handle URLs and hreflang between Arabic and English?
- Who reviews the Arabic version, and is that a third-party cost?
- Do the domain, hosting and code stay in the firm's name?
- How is each link to the client portal tested?
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Mini case study
Illustrative example: Layla, chief operating officer of a family office in West Bay. The site has 40 pages in English and 40 in Arabic, so 80 URLs to map. She chooses Premium at USD 8,900, plus an independent Arabic reviewer at QAR 3,000 (about USD 820), paid directly: USD 9,720 in total. A mid-size Doha agency had quoted QAR 90,000, about USD 24,700.
Schedule: 4 weeks of production plus 1 week of review by her compliance team, so 5 weeks. The client portal stays with its current provider; only the links are tested, with any deeper integration priced on quote.
FAQ
Should the Arabic version be rebuilt from scratch?
Not always: if 70 to 80% of the copy is sound, an adaptation is enough. Otherwise, original writing by a Gulf copywriter is preferable.
How many redirects should we plan?
One per useful old URL, in both languages. An 80-page site may need up to 80 301 rules.
Can we publish historical performance?
That is a regulatory matter: have any figure approved by compliance. Allow at least 1 week of review in the schedule.
Can the client portal be integrated into the new site?
Yes, but on quote, after reviewing the existing tool. Most often, a secure link from the site is enough to start with.
What is a realistic timeline for an Arabic and English site?
Allow 3 to 4 weeks of production once content is ready, plus the compliance review. Most projects fit within 5 weeks.
Let's scope your project. An Arabic and English redesign with a URL inventory, redirects and a compliance review built into the schedule, from USD 2,900. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
