Ask five agencies in Riyadh or Jeddah for a website quote and you can get five very different numbers. That does not mean someone is cheating: the quotes usually describe different projects. This guide explains what decides the cost of a website in Saudi Arabia, including the local requirements that a generic quote often leaves out, so you can compare offers on equal terms.
Short answer: there is no honest single price. Cost follows scope: the number of pages, what the site has to do, and the systems it connects to. In Saudi Arabia, four things add work more often than elsewhere: Arabic-first content and design, local payment methods, e-invoicing, and personal data rules.
Key takeaways
- Compare quotes by scope, not by the final number. A cheaper quote usually covers less.
- An Arabic-first site written for Saudi customers takes more work than a translated template, and it converts better.
- Selling online adds payments (mada, Apple Pay, STC Pay, Tabby, Tamara), VAT at 15% and ZATCA e-invoicing.
- Salla or Zid lower the start-up effort; a custom build makes sense for complex catalogues, workflows or integrations.
- Plan for ongoing costs: hosting or platform plans, payment fees, maintenance, content and marketing.
The general factors still apply
Pages, functionality, design, content, languages, integrations, performance and support decide the cost of any website. We cover them in detail in nine factors that decide the cost of a website. The sections below focus on what changes when your customers are in Saudi Arabia.
Six Saudi-specific cost factors
1. Arabic-first content and design
Saudi visitors notice a translated site immediately. Writing the Arabic copy first, using the terms your customers search for, choosing proper Arabic fonts and building a correct right-to-left layout takes time. An English version adds its own pages, URLs and SEO set-up. Ask whether the quote includes writing or only placing text you supply.
2. Local payment methods
If you sell online, customers expect mada, Apple Pay and often STC Pay, plus buy-now-pay-later through Tabby or Tamara. Each method means set-up, testing and sometimes a separate approval. Opening a merchant account with a licensed gateway usually needs your commercial registration (or a freelance document) and can take from days to weeks, so start early.
3. VAT and ZATCA e-invoicing
Prices are shown including 15% VAT, and invoices must follow the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) e-invoicing rules, known as Fatoora. A website should not invent its own invoice format: it should pass orders to a compliant invoicing or accounting system, or use a platform whose invoicing meets the requirements for your business. Connecting the two is real work and should appear in the quote.
4. Personal data and the PDPL
Saudi Arabia's Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) applies to the data your forms and accounts collect. That means a clear privacy notice, consent for marketing messages, limited access to submissions and sensible retention. Some sectors, such as health and finance, also have rules about where data is hosted, which can change the hosting choice.
5. Platform: Salla, Zid, Shopify or custom
For online stores, Saudi platforms such as Salla and Zid include local payments and shipping options, so the build effort is lower, but you pay a monthly plan and you work within the platform's limits. Shopify suits brands that also sell internationally. A custom store costs more to build but fits complex catalogues, B2B pricing, special workflows or deep integrations. Our store platform comparison explains the trade-offs.
6. Integrations with Saudi services
Typical connections include shipping companies, WhatsApp Business, a CRM, an ERP or accounting system, and SMS for one-time codes. Delivery forms should capture the Saudi National Address (short address). Every integration needs development and testing against the provider's API.
What drives the cost by type of project
| Project type | What mainly decides the cost |
|---|---|
| Company website | Number of pages, Arabic copywriting, English version, custom or template design |
| Store on Salla or Zid | Theme customisation, product set-up, payments and shipping, plus the monthly plan |
| Custom online store | Catalogue size and rules, checkout, payment gateways, e-invoicing and ERP links |
| Portal or web application | User roles, workflows, integrations, security and reporting |
Ongoing costs after launch
- A domain (.sa or .com) and hosting, or the platform's monthly plan.
- Payment gateway fees on each transaction.
- Maintenance: updates, backups, security fixes and small changes.
- Content and marketing: articles, photos, ads and SEO, so people actually find the site.
How to compare two quotes fairly
Ask each provider to confirm in writing:
- The exact pages and features, and whether Arabic copywriting is included.
- Which payment methods are set up and who opens the merchant account. It should be in your company's name.
- How invoices reach a ZATCA-compliant system.
- What is done for privacy: notice, consent and access to data.
- Technical SEO in both languages, speed targets and the support period after launch.
- Who owns the code, domain, hosting and analytics accounts.
When these match, the remaining price difference is easier to judge.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a translated template and discovering that Saudi customers do not trust it.
- Leaving the merchant account until launch week.
- Ignoring e-invoicing until the accountant asks for it.
- Letting the provider register the domain or gateway account in their own name.
- Spending the whole budget on the build and nothing on content and promotion.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a website cost in Saudi Arabia?
It depends on scope. A few-page company site and a store connected to payments, shipping and e-invoicing are different projects. A written scope that lists pages, features, languages and integrations is the only way to get quotes you can compare.
Is a Salla or Zid store cheaper than a custom website?
Usually cheaper to start, because payments, shipping and hosting are already in place. Over time you pay the monthly plan and may hit limits. A custom store costs more up front but fits complex needs and gives you full control.
Does my website need to connect to ZATCA?
Only if it issues invoices. In that case invoices should come from a ZATCA-compliant e-invoicing or accounting system, and the website sends it the order data. A site that only shows information and collects enquiries does not issue invoices.
Can a company outside Saudi Arabia build my website?
Yes, many projects are delivered remotely. What matters is natural Arabic, knowledge of Saudi payments, VAT and privacy rules, and that all accounts are registered in your company's name.
How long does it take to build a website?
Roughly 1 to 3 weeks for a brochure site and 3 to 8 weeks for an online store, depending on content and approvals. See how long it takes to build a website for the details.
Next step
Outline your project in a few minutes with our interactive project planner, see our web design and development service in Riyadh or e-commerce development in Saudi Arabia, or contact us for a clear scope.
This article is no longer available. Back to blog
