The verdict in three sentences
An executive search firm in Abu Dhabi sells discretion and judgement to boards, family groups and government-related entities, and a dated website with generic stock imagery and a "submit your CV" box undercuts both before the first meeting. A redesign typically costs AED 40,000 to 120,000 with a local agency (roughly 11,000 to 33,000 USD), while Kolonell works on a fixed grid of 2,900 USD (Starter), 4,900 USD (Growth) or 8,900 USD (Premium), Premium being the multilingual tier with Arabic and right-to-left scope set in the quote. The points that decide success are clear practice areas and partner profiles, minimised candidate data, and a clean migration that keeps your existing search traffic.
Two audiences, two sets of proof
Your site works for two very different readers, and most dated sites serve neither well.
Clients: chairs, CEOs, CHROs of sovereign-linked companies, family conglomerates and multinationals setting up regional headquarters. They search terms such as "executive search firm Abu Dhabi", "board search UAE", "CFO headhunter Abu Dhabi" or a partner's name. They look for sector practices (energy, financial services, healthcare, public sector), partner seniority and track record described in general terms, a credible process, and visible confidentiality. Never list client names or placements without written permission, and never invent them.
Candidates: senior executives, often relocating, who search "senior executive jobs Abu Dhabi" or "headhunters for CFO roles UAE". They need to understand how to approach the firm, what happens to their CV and how long it is kept. Emiratisation is a strong theme for many clients, so a clear statement on how you work with UAE national talent is worth having, factual and without claims you cannot support.
Signals that the current site costs you mandates
| Signal | How a board member reads it | What the redesign changes |
|---|---|---|
| Practice pages with one paragraph each | No real sector depth | One page per practice with typical roles and partner lead |
| Partner photos missing or outdated | Firm in transition | Current bios with sector background |
| Arabic version incomplete or machine translated | Not serious about local clients | Arabic reviewed by a native speaker, RTL layout tested |
| Open CV upload with no privacy notice | Careless with confidential data | Minimal form, retention period stated, consent recorded |
| Slow mobile pages | Out of date | Lighter pages, tested on mobile networks |
| No thought leadership since 2022 | Inactive | A short list of dated, factual insights |
Budget: Abu Dhabi agencies, freelancers and a fixed grid
Local ranges are a 2026 ballpark from typical agency quotes and public rate pages in the UAE, converted at about 3.67 AED per USD (approximate).
| Option | Typical range in AED | Approx. in USD | Usual scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance designer | 10,000 to 35,000 | 2,700 to 9,500 | Theme-based, English only, little strategy |
| Mid-size Abu Dhabi agency | 40,000 to 120,000 | 11,000 to 33,000 | Custom design, Arabic and English, CMS |
| Premium branding agency | 150,000 to 300,000+ | 41,000 to 82,000+ | Brand repositioning, photography, video |
| Kolonell Starter | not applicable | 2,900 | Focused site, native English copywriting |
| Kolonell Growth | not applicable | 4,900 | Practice pages, insights section, analytics |
| Kolonell Premium | not applicable | 8,900 | Multilingual tier, Arabic and RTL scope set in the quote |
All Kolonell tiers include a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (Premium 4 to 6) once content is ready, and 3 months of support. A candidate portal, an ATS integration or a gated client area is on quote, as is maintenance after the three included months. Details are on the international offer.
Timeline and risks, phase by phase
| Phase | Kolonell timing | Main risk | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audit and URL inventory | Week 1 | Forgotten pages that bring traffic | Export all indexed URLs from Search Console and the CMS |
| Content and design | Weeks 1 to 3 | Partners slow to validate bios | One owner per bio, deadline agreed at kick-off |
| Arabic and RTL build (Premium) | Weeks 3 to 5 | Layout breaking in RTL | Test each template in both directions |
| Privacy review | Before go-live | CV data kept indefinitely | Retention policy and notice reviewed by counsel |
| Redirects and launch | Final week | Lost rankings on practice terms | 301 map for every old URL, daily Search Console checks for 2 weeks |
| Post-launch | First month | Broken forms | Test submissions daily during the first week |
On privacy: the UAE federal personal data protection law (Federal Decree-Law 45 of 2021) applies onshore, while ADGM and DIFC have their own data protection regimes, so where your entity is registered matters. Have your adviser confirm which regime applies and approve the candidate privacy notice before go-live. This is not legal advice.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Who writes the English and who reviews the Arabic?
- How do you handle RTL, and is it tested on every template?
- Where are CVs stored, who can access them, and when are they deleted?
- Which items are on quote: ATS connection, candidate portal, client area?
- How will you protect our current rankings during the migration?
Need a professional website?
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When a local agency is the better choice
If you need a full brand repositioning with on-site photography and video of partners, frequent in-person workshops in Abu Dhabi, or deep integration with a regional ATS your team already runs, a local agency is often more practical despite the higher budget. Kolonell suits firms that already know their positioning and want a credible, fast redesign at a fixed price.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Corniche Search Partners, a fictional five-partner firm, received a local quote of AED 95,000, about 25,900 USD. The managing partner chooses Kolonell Premium at 8,900 USD, the multilingual tier in English and Arabic, adds a native Arabic reviewer at about 900 USD (market assumption) and a partner photo session at about 1,200 USD (market assumption). Total: 8,900 + 900 + 1,200 = 11,000 USD, roughly 14,900 USD below the local quote, delivered in 4 to 6 weeks once bios are ready.
FAQ
What does an executive search website redesign cost in Abu Dhabi?
Local agencies typically quote AED 40,000 to 120,000 in 2026, roughly 11,000 to 33,000 USD. Kolonell's fixed grid runs from 2,900 to 8,900 USD, with integrations on quote.
Do we need an Arabic version?
For many Abu Dhabi clients, yes. Arabic and right-to-left layout come with Premium, the multilingual tier, with the scope set in the quote.
How should we handle CV submissions?
Ask only for what you need, state a retention period, for example 24 months, and record consent. Confirm with counsel which UAE data protection regime applies.
Can we show past placements?
Only with written client permission, and described in general terms. Many firms show sector and role level instead of names.
How long does the redesign take?
3 to 4 weeks with Kolonell, 4 to 6 for Premium, once content is ready. Local agencies often plan 8 to 16 weeks.
Let's scope your project. Share your practice areas, partner count and whether Arabic is needed, and we will propose the right tier, Premium being the multilingual tier with a delivery plan. 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.
