What size companies do you work with?

We work primarily with SMEs and mid-market organisations across the Middle East — companies that have product-market fit and are ready to grow deliberately, but need senior strategic support without the overhead of a tier-one consultancy.

How do you structure engagements?

Most engagements begin with a fixed-scope diagnostic (2–4 weeks) that produces a strategic brief. From there, we agree on either a project-based implementation, a monthly retainer for marketing department outsourcing, or a hybrid. You always know what you are paying for before you commit.

Do you work remotely or on-site?

Both. We are based in Egypt and serve clients across the Middle East. For diagnostics and key workshops we typically come on-site; for ongoing execution we work remotely with a clear governance cadence.

How long is a typical engagement?

Diagnostics run 2–4 weeks. Implementation projects run 8–16 weeks. Marketing department outsourcing is a monthly retainer, typically with a 3-month initial commitment so we can demonstrate measurable progress.

Yes, routinely. We treat client confidentiality as non-negotiable and will sign your NDA or provide our own mutual NDA before any substantive conversation.

What makes you different from a typical agency?

Agencies sell execution (posts, ads, designs). We sell clarity first — strategy, research, and a disciplined thinking process — then organise the execution around it. You are buying a consulting discipline, not a content subscription.

How Much Does a Fractional CMO Cost?

Most providers in this region will not publish pricing. They want you on a call first. I think that is the wrong way around — founders need a sense of the range before they get on a call, or they cannot evaluate whether what they are being offered is fair.

So here are the real ranges I see across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in 2025. Not "it depends" — actual numbers.

Egypt pricing

A credible fractional CMO in Egypt costs 60 to 120K EGP per month. That is for someone with a real CMO or VP Marketing track record — not a senior marketing manager rebranding themselves.

Below 60K, you are usually buying a more junior person with the title, or someone without the depth to operate at CMO level. Above 120K, you are either buying a deeply specialised skill (B2B SaaS, fintech, regulated industries) or paying for a brand-name premium that may or may not be worth it.

Most engagements sit between 80 and 100K EGP a month — two to three days a week of senior time, six-month minimum.

Saudi Arabia & UAE pricing

In the Gulf, the same calibre of fractional CMO runs 25 to 50K AED or SAR per month. The premium over Egypt reflects market rates for senior marketing talent in Riyadh, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, plus the cost structure of operating across borders.

Most engagements in Saudi and the UAE sit between 30 and 40K AED or SAR a month. Below 25K, the same caveat as Egypt — you are likely buying a more junior person. Above 50K, you are paying for specialisation or brand premium.

3 engagement types

The price depends on what you are actually buying. Three models.

Advisory only. The fractional CMO meets the founder and team once or twice a month, reviews strategy, gives guidance. They do not sit in weekly meetings, do not oversee the team directly. Cheapest — 40 to 70K EGP a month in Egypt, 20 to 30K AED or SAR in the Gulf.

Advisory plus team oversight. The fractional sits in leadership meetings, oversees the marketing manager, selects and briefs agencies, reviews the dashboard monthly. The most common model. Mid-range — 70 to 110K EGP a month in Egypt, 30 to 45K AED or SAR in the Gulf.

Embedded operator. The fractional acts almost as a part-time CMO in the daily flow — weekly standups, deep team involvement, hands-on strategic work. Premium — 100 to 150K EGP a month in Egypt, 40 to 60K AED or SAR in the Gulf.

What drives cost up or down

Up: multiple markets, regulated industries, multi-product complexity, larger team to oversee, urgent timelines, fundraising or transaction work.

Down: single market, clear scope, offsite engagement (no travel), pre-agreed deliverables rather than open-ended retainer, longer commitment (12 months typically prices lower per month than 6).

The ROI math

At 100K EGP a month, the fractional needs to generate at least 1 million EGP a month in incremental pipeline to justify the cost — a 10x return. That is a low bar for a credible engagement. Most well-scoped fractionals should aim higher — 3 to 5 million EGP a month in incremental pipeline, or measurable efficiency gains (lower CAC, higher conversion, better retention) that translate to the same.

If by month six you cannot point to the pipeline or the efficiency gain, the engagement is not working. The numbers should be visible by month three and undeniable by month six.

Hidden costs to watch for

The fractional fee is one line. Watch for the others.

Agency fees. If the fractional selects and oversees an agency, that agency cost is separate — typically 50 to 200K EGP a month depending on scope.

Content production. Video, photography, design, copywriting — usually separate from both the fractional fee and the agency retainer.

Ad spend. Media budget is your cost, not the fractional's. A common mistake is treating the fractional fee as "the marketing budget". It is the leadership budget. The marketing budget sits on top.

Tooling. CRM, analytics, automation, project management. Often underestimated.

If you are new to the fractional CMO concept and want the basics first, start here.

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