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The price of social media management in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE depends on seven things: how many platforms you’re on, how many posts go out each month, what kinds of content they are, how much of it is video, how much design it needs, whether someone also handles comments and messages, and what reporting you get. Ad spend is a separate cost that goes to the platform, not to the person managing your pages.
I don’t publish a figure for this, because two quotes with the same headline price can cover very different amounts of work. This article explains what moves the price so you can compare quotes properly. The price itself is set when you get in touch, based on what you need.
What changes the price of managing social media pages?
These are the seven items to compare between quotes:
| What changes | Why it matters | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Number of platforms | Each platform has its own formats, timing and audience, so each one is separate work. | Which platforms are included, and is each one worth having for your business? |
| Posts per month | More posts means more ideas, writing, design and scheduling. | How many posts on each platform, and does that include stories? |
| Types of content | A text post, a carousel and a product shot take different amounts of time. | What mix of content types is in the plan? |
| Video and reels | Video usually takes the most time: planning, filming or sourcing, editing, captions. | Who films? Is editing included, and is it one video or a series? |
| Design | Branded templates are cheaper to run than a fresh design for every post. | Are templates built once, and who owns the files? |
| Community management | Replying to comments and messages is daily work, and it can take more hours than posting. | Who replies, how fast, and in which language? |
| Reporting | A simple monthly summary and a full performance review are different amounts of work. | Which numbers, how often, and who explains them? |
Community management is easy to leave out of a quote without anyone saying so. A page that posts well and leaves customer questions unanswered for days loses the people who were ready to buy, so ask about it before you sign.
Does the Arabic dialect change the price?
It can. Egyptian, Saudi and Emirati audiences don’t write or joke the same way, and a caption that reads naturally in Cairo can sound off in Riyadh. If your pages serve more than one market, the copy may need a writer for each dialect, or at least a native reader to check it. Pages that run in Arabic and English add another version of every post.
A quote that covers several markets at one writer’s rate can mean one dialect will be written for everyone. Ask who writes the Arabic for each market, and whether they write it or translate it. The same issue shows up in search, which I cover in Egyptian versus Gulf search behaviour.
Is ad spend included in the management price?
No. Ad spend is what you pay the platform to show your posts and ads to more people. It’s separate from the fee for managing your pages, and it’s decided by your goals, not by the number of posts. If someone also builds and runs your campaigns, that is another piece of work with its own fee, separate from the page management and from the ad spend.
When a quote mentions ads, check that it says three things apart: the management of your pages, the management of your campaigns, and the amount that goes to the platform. If they’re blended into one number, you can’t tell what you’re paying for. My view on running campaigns in the region is in Meta ads for lead generation in MENA.
What should a social media package list?
A good package is clear enough to compare with another one on paper. It should say:
- The platforms, by name.
- The content, meaning how many posts, stories and videos each month, and in which language.
- Who creates it, including who films, edits and designs.
- The replies, including who answers comments and messages, and how quickly.
- The reporting, including which numbers you get and how often.
- Ownership. The pages and accounts stay in your name, and the files you paid for are yours.
- What’s not included. Ads, paid shoots and extra revisions should be named as separate items.
If a package says “full social media management” and nothing more, ask for this list before comparing it with anything else.
How do you keep the cost sensible without losing quality?
A large share of the work is making content, so reusing what you already have lowers the work. One article, one service page or one customer question can become several posts if the plan is built that way from the start. I describe the process in getting eight pieces out of one article.
It also helps to start with fewer platforms done well. Two pages that get answered quickly and posted to steadily are worth more than five that look abandoned. You can add platforms once the first ones are running smoothly. Ongoing page management is part of my social media marketing service.
Frequently asked
Why don’t you list a price for social media management?
Because the scope varies too much. One page with a few posts a month and a page with daily video, replies and reporting are different jobs. The price is set when you get in touch, based on what you need.
Is the price different in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE?
The scope is what differs: the number of markets, the dialects and the languages. A page for one market in one language takes less work than a page serving all three.
Does the fee include the ad budget?
No. The ad budget goes to the platform and is set separately, based on your goals.
Is it better to pay per post or monthly?
A monthly scope is easier to plan and compare, as long as it lists the content and the replies. Paying per post makes sense for one-off needs such as a launch or a single campaign.
Who owns the content if I change providers?
Your accounts, pages and the files made for you should stay yours. Put it in writing before you start.
If you’d like a quote for your pages, message me with the platforms you use and what you want from them. The price is set when you get in touch, based on what you need.
SEO and digital marketing consultant since 2015, working with businesses in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
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