A virtual receptionist for a small business in Qatar costs from QAR 279 a month with Mawidi, an AI receptionist that answers WhatsApp messages in Arabic and English and books appointments. The next plans are QAR 699 and QAR 1,399 a month, and annual billing takes 16 percent off. Other providers, including human call-answering services, price differently, so compare them at your own volume.
All figures below come from Mawidi's pricing page and were checked on 22 October 2026. Prices can change, so confirm them there before you decide.
Mawidi plans in QAR
| Plan | Monthly price | One-time setup fee | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | QAR 279 | None | AI agent for FAQs and auto-replies, appointment booking, WhatsApp, dashboard, basic analytics |
| Professional | QAR 699 | QAR 469 (waived on annual billing) | Everything in Starter, plus quotations, CRM, deposits, no-show fees, rebooking |
| Business | QAR 1,399 | QAR 939 | Everything in Professional, plus AI voice receptionist, multi-staff logins, up to 3 locations, call transfer to mobile, custom workflows |
Enterprise and Ultimate are quoted through sales and are not covered here.
Other terms on the pricing page:
- Billing basis: per branch, per month. An extra store or branch is billed as a full Business plan at the same price.
- Annual billing: saves 16 percent compared with monthly billing.
- Trial: 14 days for new customers. Signup goes through secure checkout, which asks for payment details, and there is no second trial after an earlier one ends.
- Checkout currency: QAR.
- VAT: prices exclude VAT where applicable. The page lists Qatar at 0 percent as an indicative rate and tells buyers to consult a tax adviser for their own situation.
If you need phone calls answered by voice, the voice receptionist is available from the Business plan. Starter covers WhatsApp and written channels.
What drives the cost
Plan and channel. Professional adds deposits and a CRM; the voice receptionist needs Business. If your customers mostly message on WhatsApp, Starter may be enough.
Volume. Mawidi's plans do not charge per call. Voice minutes are sold as prepaid bundles. The pricing page shows them in the currency you select there; checkout is in QAR. WhatsApp conversation costs follow fair-use and provider pass-through terms, and high volume may need a separate quote. Ask for the allowance for your plan before activation.
Languages. Arabic and English reception is part of the plans. You do not pay a separate language surcharge on Mawidi, but ask any other provider whether Arabic costs extra.
After-hours coverage. A person needs extra pay or a second shift to cover evenings and weekends. An AI receptionist answers at any hour, so this cost does not rise with your opening times.
Setup. Starter has no setup fee. Professional and Business have a one-time fee, shown above.
Branches. Pricing is per branch. Multi-location support needs the Business plan, and each extra branch is billed as another full Business plan. A business with three locations should budget 3 × QAR 1,399 = QAR 4,197 a month, before VAT.
Human receptionist, AI or hybrid
We have not found a reliable public figure for what Qatar small businesses pay agencies, so this section describes the cost components instead of quoting numbers.
A full-time receptionist costs more than salary. Add the visa and residency process, housing or accommodation allowance where the contract includes it, transport, end-of-service benefits, and a replacement or cover during leave, sickness and Ramadan hours. One person also works a fixed shift, so evenings and weekends are uncovered unless you hire more.
A call-answering agency usually charges per minute, per call or per month. Costs rise with volume, and some charge extra for Arabic, WhatsApp or integrations. Ask for a worked example at your real call numbers, including setup and overage.
An AI receptionist has a flat monthly fee, answers at any hour and handles many conversations at once. It is weaker on unusual requests, complaints and sensitive cases.
A hybrid setup gives the AI first contact and routes the exceptions to your staff. This is how Mawidi is designed: human handoff in Arabic and English is included in every plan, and call transfer to a mobile phone comes with Business. For a longer comparison of pricing models, see virtual receptionist pricing.
How to estimate your own cost
- Count weekly calls and WhatsApp conversations, and note how many arrive after hours.
- Decide whether you need voice. If not, price Starter first.
- Count your branches.
- Add setup and any extra voice minutes.
- Subtract the cost of what the AI replaces, such as a part-time shift or an agency fee.
Two free tools help: the plan finder recommends a plan from your answers, and the AI receptionist ROI calculator estimates savings from missed calls and no-shows. You can also book a demo to see it work in Arabic and English on your own booking flow.
Questions about the cost
Is the cheapest option always the best? No. A plan that cannot take voice calls does not help a business whose customers phone. Match the plan to the channel your customers use.
Does AI replace the whole front desk? Not for in-person greeting, payments at the counter or sensitive conversations. It covers the repeatable work: questions, bookings, reminders and deposits.
