The verdict in three sentences
For a Dubai cement producer selling to contractors, ready mix plants and importers across the GCC and East Africa, website cost comes down to one decision: do you want to inform, route buyers to the right depot or terminal, or let distributors order online? The three market tiers run from AED 20,000 to AED 300,000, plus AED 800 to 4,000 a month in maintenance (2026 market ballpark). Most producers should start with tier 2, bilingual Arabic and English with a terminal and distributor map, then add a portal once order volumes justify it.
The three market tiers, exact scope
| Item | Tier 1: catalogue | Tier 2: catalogue and network map | Tier 3: distributor portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market price (2026 ballpark) | AED 20,000 to 45,000 | AED 45,000 to 120,000 | AED 120,000 to 300,000 |
| Cement types with data sheets | 4 to 8 | 8 to 15 | 8 to 15 with downloadable test certificates |
| Network | Simple list | 15 to 80 terminals, depots and distributors on a filterable map | Same, with indicative availability |
| Languages | English | English and Arabic with full right-to-left layout | English, Arabic, sometimes French for East African buyers |
| Forms | Contact and quote | Quote per product, per country, per incoterm | Orders, history, invoices, credit status |
| Secure area | No | No | Distributor accounts with negotiated prices |
| Lead time | 5 to 8 weeks | 8 to 12 weeks | 14 to 24 weeks |
Arabic is the line most often underpriced: a true right-to-left layout, mirrored navigation and native copy review can add 25 to 40 % to a tier 2 budget (2026 estimate).
Where Kolonell's prices sit
Kolonell is a Dakar based studio working remotely with Gulf clients. These are Kolonell's public prices, in EUR with FCFA in brackets, to compare with the market tiers above.
| Need | Kolonell offer | Kolonell's price | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1, 5 pages and product sheets | Starter | 1,220 to 1,830 EUR (800,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA) | 7 to 10 working days |
| Tier 1 plus, 8 to 12 pages and a blog | Growth | 1,830 to 3,050 EUR (1,200,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA) | 14 to 21 working days |
| Tier 2, network map and second language | Premium plus options | 3,050 to 5,340 EUR, plus about 110 EUR per language | 21 to 30 working days |
| Simple distributor login area | Option | About 230 EUR (150,000 FCFA) | Within the plan |
| Tier 3, ordering portal with negotiated pricing | Custom application, simple or medium | 3,810 to 6,100 EUR, or 6,100 to 10,670 EUR | Based on the specification |
A portal tied to your ERP is a business application: price depends on user roles, pricing rules and integrations, which explains the wide range.
Running costs to add
| Monthly item | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market maintenance (2026 ballpark) | AED 800 to 1,500 | AED 1,500 to 2,500 | AED 2,500 to 4,000 |
| Kolonell maintenance | Basic 53 EUR | Standard 114 EUR | Premium 183 EUR |
| Network map updates | Rare | 1 to 4 hours a month in house | Synced or entered by sales |
| Hosting with regional CDN | AED 100 to 300 | AED 200 to 600 | AED 600 to 2,000 |
| Google SEO | Optional | Essential 152 EUR at Kolonell | Growth 305 EUR at Kolonell |
Collecting personal data from distributor users brings the UAE Personal Data Protection Law into scope, and Dubai free zone entities may fall under their own data protection rules. Ask every provider where data is hosted and how consent is logged.
Mini case study
Illustrative example, fictional company: Layla, marketing director of a Dubai cement producer selling 10 cement types through 35 terminals and distributors in the UAE, Oman, Kenya and Tanzania. Her team fields around 350 calls and WhatsApp messages a month asking where to buy.
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She picks tier 2 with Kolonell: Premium at 4,000 EUR, Arabic version at about 110 EUR, 8 extra data sheet pages at about 40 EUR each (320 EUR), so 4,430 EUR, plus Standard maintenance at 114 EUR a month, 1,368 EUR a year. She adds a budget of 3,000 EUR for native Arabic copywriting by a local specialist. First year total: 8,798 EUR, roughly AED 37,000, still inside the tier 1 market range.
If the map handles half the 350 monthly requests at 5 minutes each, her team saves about 14 hours a month. One additional ready mix customer buying 3,000 tonnes a year easily outweighs the full project cost.
FAQ
Should list prices appear on the site?
Rarely, since cement prices move with energy and clinker costs. Keep negotiated prices inside tier 3 distributor accounts.
How much does a full Arabic version cost?
On the market, expect AED 10,000 to 40,000 for right-to-left layout and translation, depending on page count. Native review of technical terms is essential.
Do we need tier 3 from day one?
Usually not. Launch tier 2 in 8 to 12 weeks, measure enquiries, then build the portal once distributor orders reach several dozen a week.
Which documents should be downloadable?
One technical data sheet per cement type and the relevant standard compliance certificates, so 8 to 15 PDFs to keep current. Consultants attach them to project submittals.
What maintenance budget is realistic?
AED 800 to 4,000 a month depending on tier, as a 2026 market ballpark. Kolonell's Standard maintenance at 114 EUR a month covers a typical tier 2 site.
Let's scope your project. Share your product count, network size and target countries, and we will price the right tier, from Starter to a custom portal, with a firm schedule. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
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.