The verdict in three sentences
For a prime residential brokerage in Riyadh, the website is where sellers, buyers and their advisers check listing quality, neighbourhood expertise and discretion before they share a mandate. Kolonell redesigns cost USD 2,900 (Starter), 4,900 (Growth) or 8,900 (Premium), delivered in 3 to 4 weeks (Premium 4 to 6) once content is ready, while Riyadh agencies often quote around USD 16,000 to 67,000. The risks worth planning for are Arabic and right-to-left quality, compliance of listings and advertising with brokerage rules, and the loss of search visibility during migration.
What a high-value client checks in the first minute
The clients of a prime brokerage in the capital are a small, demanding group: Saudi families selling or buying in Al Nakheel, Hittin, Al Malqa or near Diriyah, international executives who arrived with the regional headquarters programme, family offices buying for the next generation. They compare two or three agencies, often on a phone, often in Arabic first.
| What they look at | What it must prove | Red flag that costs credibility |
|---|---|---|
| Listings | Real mandates, current status, photos with usage rights | Sold properties still shown, stock photos, missing permits |
| Neighbourhood pages | Knowledge of compounds, schools, access, building quality | Generic text that could describe any city |
| Agent profiles | Licensed brokers, languages spoken, specialties | No names, no licence mentions, outdated team |
| Arabic version | Native Arabic copy, correct right-to-left layout | Machine translation, broken alignment, mixed numerals |
| Off-market process | A discreet way to register interest | Every property published, no confidential channel |
| Speed on mobile | Pages that load fast on a phone | Heavy videos, slow galleries, pop-ups |
Budget: Riyadh options compared
| Option | Price, 2026 | Arabic and RTL | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | USD 4,000 to 12,000 (about SAR 15,000 to 45,000, 2026 ballpark) | Variable, often translated | Continuity, quality of the Arabic |
| Riyadh digital agency | USD 16,000 to 67,000 (about SAR 60,000 to 250,000, 2026 ballpark) | Usually native | Timelines of 3 to 5 months |
| International agency with a Riyadh office | USD 53,000 to 160,000 (about SAR 200,000 to 600,000, 2026 ballpark) | Native, brand-level | Fit with a boutique brokerage |
| Kolonell Starter | USD 2,900 | Scope defined in the quote | Suits a focused offer |
| Kolonell Growth | USD 4,900 | Scope defined in the quote | Listings feed and CRM on quote |
| Kolonell Premium | USD 8,900 | The multilingual tier, languages and RTL scope set in the quote | Private client area on quote |
| Maintenance after launch | USD 400 to 1,500 a month (market assumption) | Not applicable | At Kolonell, on quote after the 3 included months |
Local figures come from typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages, converted at about SAR 3.75 to the dollar. Every Kolonell tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting and 3 months of support; Arabic copy and its review are defined in the quote. Gated areas, a private client portal, listing database integrations and custom tools are scoped on quote. The tiers are detailed on the international offer page.
Timeline and the content you need ready
With Kolonell, Starter and Growth run 3 to 4 weeks and Premium 4 to 6, once content is ready. Week 1 covers discovery and the URL inventory, the final week redirects and launch. Riyadh agencies commonly plan 3 to 5 months for a comparable scope.
The clock depends on you: current listings with valid mandates, professional photography with usage rights, agent profiles with licence details, neighbourhood notes from your brokers and a list of off-market rules. Missing photography is the most frequent cause of delay.
Risk register for the redesign
| Risk | Likelihood | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of search visibility | High if URLs change | Inventory every indexed URL, 301 redirect map, Search Console monitoring for two weeks |
| Listings published without proper licensing or permits | Medium | Brokerage and advertising rules overseen by the Real Estate General Authority apply; managing broker reviews every listing before go-live |
| Weak Arabic or broken RTL layout | Medium | Native Arabic copy, RTL testing on real devices before launch |
| Personal data collected without proper notices | Medium | Forms and CRM reviewed against the Personal Data Protection Law, enforced by SDAIA since September 2023 |
| Integrations delaying launch | Medium | Listings feed and CRM scoped separately on quote, after launch if needed |
| Downtime on launch day | Low | DNS prepared in advance, rollback plan, quiet day |
Only publish properties you hold a valid mandate for, never invent sale prices or results, and have your compliance adviser confirm the licensing and advertising requirements that apply to your agency. This is not legal advice.
When a Riyadh 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.
Choose a local agency if you need on-site brand workshops with the founding family, video and photography produced in Riyadh as part of the same contract, a deep integration with an existing property platform from day one, or a procurement process that requires a Saudi vendor. A remote studio like Kolonell fits when the brand is settled, listings and photography are available and the priority is a credible site at a fixed price within weeks.
Questions to ask any provider: who writes and reviews the Arabic, how RTL is tested, how the 301 map is built, who checks listings against brokerage rules, and what happens after the support period.
Mini case study
Illustrative example, fictional firm. Hittin Crest Estates is a six-broker prime brokerage in north Riyadh. A local agency quoted SAR 180,000, about USD 48,000, with a 4-month timeline (market assumption). The founders choose Kolonell Premium at USD 8,900 for an Arabic and English site, languages and RTL scope set in the quote, and budget about USD 4,000 for professional photography of current listings (market assumption). Total: 8,900 + 4,000 = USD 12,900, or about USD 35,100 less than the local quote. The off-market client area is scoped later, on quote.
FAQ
How much does a prime brokerage website redesign cost in Riyadh in 2026?
Riyadh agencies often quote around USD 16,000 to 67,000 (about SAR 60,000 to 250,000). Kolonell's fixed grid is USD 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900, with portals and integrations on quote.
Can the site be Arabic first?
Yes. Premium is the multilingual tier, and the languages and right-to-left scope are set in the quote; Arabic copy should be native and tested on real devices.
How do we avoid losing our Google traffic?
Inventory every indexed URL, redirect each one with a 301 and monitor Search Console for two weeks after launch. Most traffic losses come from skipped redirects.
Can we show off-market properties?
Publish only what the seller has authorised. A discreet registration form lets qualified buyers ask for off-market options without exposing the listing.
Let's scope your project. A Premium redesign with native Arabic, tested right-to-left layout and a clean redirect plan can launch in 4 to 6 weeks once listings and photos are ready. 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.
