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How much does marketing cost for a small business in Dubai?
“How much should we spend on marketing?” is the first question most UAE founders ask us. The honest answer: it depends on what you need done. Here’s how to think about it.
The two parts of a marketing budget
Every marketing budget has two parts, and mixing them up causes most budgeting mistakes:
- Running costs: the people who plan, create and manage your marketing (a team, an agency or a hire).
- Media spend: the money paid to Meta, Google or TikTok to show your ads.
A good team with no ad budget grows slowly. A big ad budget with no one managing it is usually wasted. You need both, in proportion.
Running costs: what Your MKTeam charges
We publish our prices because we think SMEs deserve clarity:
| Package | Monthly fee | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | AED 5,500 | Monthly plan, 8 posts + 2 reels, 12 stories, 2-hour shoot, Meta ads, monthly report |
| Growth | AED 7,500 | Everything in Essentials plus Google ads, more content, half-day shoot, lead tracking, CRM setup |
| Full Department | AED 10,000 | Everything in Growth plus website updates, weekly reporting and the most content |
SEO is an optional add-on. Ad spend is paid directly to the platforms and is separate.
Media spend: how much for ads?
Start from your numbers, not a round figure. Work out what a customer is worth to you and how many enquiries it takes to win one. That tells you what you can afford to pay per lead. A good ad manager then tells you the budget needed to reach your lead target and tests it with a smaller amount first.
The hidden costs SMEs forget
- Content production: shoots, models, studios and props.
- Tools: design, scheduling, CRM and analytics software.
- Time: the founder’s hours spent briefing, reviewing and posting.
- Wasted spend: ads shown to the wrong country or audience.
A simple way to start
- Pick the one channel most likely to bring customers (for most UAE SMEs, Instagram plus Meta ads).
- Set a test ad budget for 4–8 weeks.
- Track every lead and its source.
- Scale what brings customers, cut what doesn’t.
Not sure where your money is going now? A free marketing review is a good place to start. Or compare your options in hiring vs an agency vs an outsourced team.
Frequently asked questions
Is ad spend included in the monthly fee?
No. Ad spend is paid directly to Meta and Google so you always see exactly what’s spent.
What is the minimum contract?
Three months, then month to month with 30 days’ notice.
Want a second opinion on your marketing?
Book a free 30-minute review. We’ll look at your social media, ads and Google presence and tell you exactly what to fix.
Book a free review