A store built on assumptions from another market fails quietly. The realities here are cash on delivery, local couriers, and a lot of orders that start as a WhatsApp message. A store that handles those, and loads fast on a phone, is the one that sells.
The building blocks and roughly what they cost
- Base site — from about $200.
- Product catalogue — around $120 for the module, plus roughly $3 per product to load your initial range (bulk import for larger catalogues).
- Checkout and payments — around $250. Cash on delivery and bank transfer are straightforward; card payments depend on what is available to you.
- Delivery-zone configuration — mapping couriers and fees to areas.
- Order and inventory dashboard — so you run the shop without a developer.
- WhatsApp order integration — because that is how a lot of customers will actually reach you.
- Arabic-first, RTL, bilingual — included in the build, not an add-on.
The calculator breaks this down instantly.
Custom vs platform
For a focused catalogue we often build on a light custom stack or a proven platform we customise. For a large or fast-changing catalogue, a headless commerce backend is worth it. We recommend the lightest option that meets your needs — not the most impressive one.
Launch small, then grow
Start with a focused range and the payment methods your customers use today. Add channels, automation and analytics as volume grows. The store you launch does not have to be the store you run in a year.