The verdict in three sentences
A luxury property developer in Riyadh sells to local families, Gulf investors and international buyers who often arrive through brokers, and all of them open the website to check one thing: can this developer deliver what the brochure shows? The redesign has to put real track record, clearly labelled renderings, floor plans, live availability and fast enquiry handling ahead of cinematic effects, in Arabic first and English. A fixed grid at USD 4,900 (Growth) or USD 8,900 (Premium, the multilingual tier, with the RTL scope set in the quote) covers the public site, while unit inventory systems, broker portals and CRM integrations are quoted separately.
A quick credibility audit of your current site
Vision 2030 has brought a series of master-planned communities and branded residences to Riyadh, which means buyers compare more projects than ever. Run your current site through the checks below; each "no" is a reason a broker hesitates to send a client.
| Question a buyer or broker asks | What a credible site shows | Common failure |
|---|---|---|
| Has this developer delivered before? | Completed projects with handover dates, real photos | Only renderings, no completed work |
| Is this image real? | Renderings labelled as artist's impressions | Renderings presented as finished buildings |
| What exactly is for sale? | Floor plans, unit types, sizes, availability status | A PDF brochure only, out of date |
| Where is it, and what is nearby? | Map, access roads, distances to key districts | A vague district name |
| How do I enquire and how fast will I hear back? | Short form, Arabic and English, response time stated | Long form, no confirmation |
| Who is behind the company? | Leadership, licences as actually held, address | No team, no legal details |
| Does it work on my phone? | Mobile-first, fast on 4G | Heavy videos, slow loading |
Never invent units sold, yields or delivery dates. A credible developer site shows less, and everything it shows can be checked.
Budget: what Riyadh agencies charge and the fixed alternative
Local figures are 2026 ballparks from typical agency quotes and public rate pages in Riyadh, converted at the pegged rate of 3.75 SAR per USD; ranges are approximate.
| Route | Typical scope | SAR | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer or small team | Template site, Arabic and English, basic listings | 15,000 to 40,000 | 4,000 to 10,700 |
| Riyadh digital agency | Custom design, project pages, Arabic RTL, CMS | 60,000 to 150,000 | 16,000 to 40,000 |
| Large agency with 3D and video | Brand, cinematic content, multiple project microsites | 150,000 to 300,000+ | 40,000 to 80,000+ |
| Kolonell Starter | Focused site for a single project or the corporate profile | Not applicable | 2,900 |
| Kolonell Growth | Corporate site with project portfolio and enquiry flow | Not applicable | 4,900 |
| Kolonell Premium | The multilingual tier, Arabic and English, RTL scope set in the quote | Not applicable | 8,900 |
| Unit inventory system, broker portal, CRM integration | Any provider | On quote | On quote |
Every Kolonell tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (Premium 4 to 6) and 3 months of support; maintenance afterwards is on quote. Arabic copy is written by a native professional as a separate line. For reference, Kolonell built the site of Orven Properties, a real estate company in Dubai. Scope and tiers are explained on the international offer page.
Risks, consequences and how to contain them
| Risk | What can go wrong | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Search loss after migration | Project pages that brokers bookmarked return errors | URL inventory, 301 map, Search Console checks for 4 to 8 weeks |
| Off-plan claims | Statements on delivery or returns that breach advertising rules | Legal review of every project page before go-live |
| Renderings mistaken for reality | Buyer complaints, loss of trust with brokers | Label every rendering as an artist's impression |
| Personal data in enquiry forms | Non-compliance with the PDPL, enforced by SDAIA | Minimal fields, clear privacy notice, hosting choice documented |
| Arabic layout issues | Broken RTL forms, mixed-direction text | RTL testing on phones before launch |
| Downtime during a sales launch | Lost leads at the moment of highest interest | Launch outside sales events, old site kept on standby for 30 days |
Saudi rules on property advertising and off-plan sales apply to developers, and consumer protection principles forbid misleading claims; have counsel review your wording. This is not legal advice.
Once content is ready, a typical schedule runs: week 1, inventory and structure; week 2, design and English copy; week 3, Arabic layout and build; week 4, legal review and launch. Premium projects run 4 to 6 weeks.
When a Riyadh agency is the better choice
A local agency makes more sense if you need on-site shoots of show units, sales centre activations, a team that attends launch events in person, or Arabic copy as the main creative deliverable. It is also the natural choice for a large ecosystem of microsites with a unit inventory engine from day one. A remote fixed-grid studio fits when the brief is a clear, credible corporate and project site, with a contained budget and a 4 to 6 week timeline.
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Mini case study
Illustrative example, fictional company. Najd Crest Developments is marketing its second villa compound north of Riyadh. A local agency quoted SAR 135,000, about USD 36,000.
The developer chooses Premium at USD 8,900, adds native Arabic copywriting at about USD 2,200 (market assumption) and a legal review of project pages at about USD 1,600 (market assumption). Total: 8,900 + 2,200 + 1,600 = USD 12,700, about USD 23,300 below the local quote. The unit availability table is updated by hand at first; an inventory system is kept for a later phase, on quote.
FAQ
Should we publish prices on a luxury development site?
Many developers publish "from" prices or price on request; both work if the choice is consistent. What matters is that availability is current; a sold-out unit shown as available costs more trust than no price at all.
Do we need Arabic and English from day one?
In Riyadh, Arabic first is the norm and English reaches international buyers and brokers. Premium, the multilingual tier, fits this need, with the RTL scope set in the quote.
How long does a redesign take?
With Kolonell, 3 to 4 weeks once content is ready, 4 to 6 weeks for Premium. Legal review of off-plan wording often adds 1 to 2 weeks.
Can we use renderings on the homepage?
Yes, if each one is labelled as an artist's impression. Pair them with at least 2 or 3 photos of completed work where you have any.
What does maintenance cost after the 3 months?
It is quoted on request. Riyadh agencies often charge SAR 2,000 to 8,000 a month, about USD 530 to 2,130 (market assumption).
Let's scope your project. Tell us which projects, which tier and which launch date you have in mind, and we will return a fixed scope. 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.
