The verdict in three sentences
A board chair or HR director considering a CEO search mandate in Doha looks at your website before your proposal: practice areas, partner seniority, process and confidentiality must be readable within two minutes. A redesign with a local agency costs roughly USD 8,000 to 25,000, and the fixed Kolonell grid runs from USD 2,900 (Starter) to USD 8,900 (Premium). The real risk is not price: it is lost search visibility, non compliant CV collection and pages that hint at confidential clients.
Signs your current site is working against you
An executive search firm speaks to two audiences. Clients (boards, chairs, HR heads of public and family groups, international subsidiaries) judge sector depth, partner seniority, method and discretion. Candidates look for open mandates and a simple, safe way to send their CV.
Signals that cost mandates:
- A generic "Services" page with no practices (energy, finance, healthcare, public sector, sport and events).
- Partners without biographies, or old photos, when the client is buying a person.
- A missing or machine translated Arabic version, although many Qatari decision makers read it.
- A CV form asking for nationality, age, salary and ID documents at first contact.
- Client logos displayed without consent, which contradicts your confidentiality promise.
- A slow mobile site, where a link forwarded by a board member is often first opened.
What budget to plan for the redesign
| Option | 2026 range (USD) | Usual timeline | What is usually included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer in Doha or remote | USD 2,500 to 8,000 (approx.) | 4 to 10 weeks | Design and build, copywriting rarely included |
| Local agency, English corporate site | USD 8,000 to 25,000 (roughly QAR 30,000 to 90,000) | 8 to 14 weeks | Design, CMS, a few written pages |
| Local agency, Arabic and English with RTL | USD 15,000 to 45,000 (roughly QAR 55,000 to 165,000) | 10 to 18 weeks | Full Arabic version, often external translation |
| Kolonell Starter | USD 2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Essential corporate site, native English or French copywriting |
| Kolonell Growth | USD 4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Richer practice and partner pages, SEO foundations |
| Kolonell Premium (multilingual) | USD 8,900 | 4 to 6 weeks | Multilingual tier, languages and RTL scope set in the quote |
| Maintenance after delivery | Market assumption: USD 150 to 600/month | Ongoing | Kolonell: 3 months of support included, then on quote |
Local ranges are 2026 ballparks drawn from typical Gulf agency quotes, converted to USD as an indication. Kolonell prices are fixed and in USD. Every tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone and 3 months of support. A candidate portal, a gated client area or an ATS integration are priced on quote. Details are on the international offer.
The timeline, phase by phase
| Phase | Kolonell Starter and Growth | Kolonell Premium | What you provide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoping and URL inventory | Week 1 | Week 1 | Access to the current site and Search Console |
| Architecture and mock-ups | Weeks 1 to 2 | Weeks 1 to 2 | List of practices and partners |
| Copywriting and review | Weeks 2 to 3 | Weeks 2 to 4 | Sign-off on biographies and copy |
| Arabic version and RTL | Not included | Weeks 3 to 5 | Internal Arabic reviewer for final sign-off |
| Testing, 301 redirects, go-live | Week 4 | Weeks 5 to 6 | Compliance sign-off on the CV form |
These timelines assume content and approvals arrive on time. A partner who takes three weeks to review a biography delays everything.
Risks and how to control them
Lost search visibility. Inventory every existing URL, map 301 redirects, check Search Console in launch week. Old mandate pages that receive links should be redirected, not deleted.
Candidate data. In Qatar, Law No. 13 of 2016 on personal data privacy governs collection, and the Qatar Financial Centre has its own data protection rules for entities established there. In practice: ask for the minimum at first contact (name, email, CV), state a retention period and a way to withdraw. This is not legal advice: have the form and the privacy policy reviewed by your counsel before go-live.
Client confidentiality. No client names or placements without written consent. Prefer descriptions such as "CFO mandate for a regional industrial group".
Downtime. Go live on a quiet day, keep the old site as a backup, prepare DNS in advance: the cut-over is usually limited to a few minutes.
When a local agency is the better choice
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
To be candid: if you want weekly in-person workshops in West Bay or Lusail, a team that writes formal Arabic itself at an institutional level, or a deep ATS and candidate portal integration from day one, a well established local agency may suit you better, even at USD 25,000 and above. Kolonell fits when you want a fixed price, a short timeline, native English copywriting and a clear scope.
Questions to ask any provider: who writes the Arabic version? Who holds the access credentials? What does post-launch support include? How are redirects handled?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Pearl Gate Partners, a 9 consultant firm in Doha, energy and public sector practices. Local agency quote: QAR 120,000, roughly USD 33,000, over 14 weeks. Kolonell option: Premium at USD 8,900, English and Arabic, in 6 weeks, plus an ATS connector priced on quote.
Gap before integration: 33,000 minus 8,900, so USD 24,100. If the firm bills an average mandate of USD 60,000 (about a third of a USD 180,000 annual package), a single extra mandate a year coming from a credible site covers the redesign almost seven times.
FAQ
How much does an executive search website redesign cost in Doha?
With a local agency, roughly USD 8,000 to 25,000 in English and USD 15,000 to 45,000 bilingual with RTL (2026 ballpark). With Kolonell, USD 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900 depending on the tier.
Is the Arabic version included?
It belongs to the Premium multilingual tier at USD 8,900, with languages and RTL scope set in the quote. Plan an internal review by an Arabic speaker.
How long does it take?
3 to 4 weeks for Starter and Growth, 4 to 6 weeks for Premium, from the moment content is ready.
Can we show our clients and placements?
Only with written consent. Many firms prefer anonymised mandate descriptions.
What happens after the 3 months of support?
Maintenance is offered on quote. On the market, USD 150 to 600 a month is common depending on scope (market assumption).
Let's scope your project. Practice pages, partner biographies, a compliant CV form and an Arabic version on Premium at USD 8,900, delivered in 4 to 6 weeks. 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.
