Hire an AI agency or use Sabbaq? Build vs buy for brokerages

Every Property Finder and Bayut lead answered in seconds, in Arabic or English, on your existing WhatsApp number. Median under 5 minutes, or your month back. You can get fast lead replies two ways: hire an agency or developer to build a custom WhatsApp AI for your brokerage, or use a ready product like Sabbaq. Both can work. A custom build fits unusual workflows and systems; a product is faster to try and cheaper to change your mind about. This page doesn't name any agency: it gives Sabbaq's published terms and the questions to put to any agency you're considering.

Last checked: 10 Oct 2026. Competitor details come from their own public pages on that date (sources below). Prices change; check their site before you decide.

The short answer

Choose an agency or custom build if you need bespoke flows, integrations Sabbaq doesn't offer (for example direct portal APIs or a native CRM integration), languages beyond Arabic and English, or you want to own the code. Choose Sabbaq if you want a real-estate desk that's already built, free standard setup, published monthly prices, month-to-month terms and a free 14-day trial on your own leads before you pay.

Sabbaq vs an AI agency or custom build at a glance
	Sabbaq	An AI agency / custom build
What you get	A ready WhatsApp lead desk for Dubai brokerages: first reply, qualification, routing, SLA alarm	A system designed for you; scope depends on the brief
Upfront cost	Standard setup free; custom CRM integration AED 1,500 once; bespoke flows quoted	Ask: setup or build fee, and what it covers
Monthly cost	Published: AED 790 / 1,490 / 2,990 / from 4,990, excl. VAT	Ask: retainer, hosting and AI usage, and whether they're fixed
Try before paying	Free 14-day shadow-mode trial on your own WhatsApp number	Ask: pilot or proof of concept, and its cost
Time to go live	After a 15-minute demo call, live in shadow mode in as little as a day (up to a week if your number must first be released from another provider)	Ask: build and testing timeline
Real-estate guardrails	In code: no price negotiation, no legal or mortgage advice, no confirmed viewing without an agent	Ask: which rules are enforced in code vs in the prompt
Meta fees	Billed by Meta to your account at cost; no markup	Ask: are Meta fees passed through at cost or marked up?
Your number and data	Number stays in your Meta account; export any time	Ask: who owns the WhatsApp Business account, number, data and code
Contract	Month to month; annual = pay 10 months, get 12	Ask: minimum term and exit terms
Upkeep	A subscription product run by Sabbaq	Ask: who maintains prompts, Meta template changes and outages, and at what cost
Guarantee	Median first reply under 5 minutes in the first paid month, or that month is refunded	Ask: any performance commitment in writing
Customisation	Routing rules, FAQs, listings CSV, AR/EN tuning; webhook to any system; bespoke flows quoted	Usually the main strength: built around your systems

Prices exclude VAT and Meta's WhatsApp fees. "Not stated publicly" means we couldn't find it on the company's own pages.

Choose an AI agency or custom build if…

Your workflow is unusual (several brands, developer launches, multi-channel campaigns) and a standard desk won't fit.
You need integrations Sabbaq doesn't offer today, such as direct portal API ingestion or a native integration with your in-house system.
You need languages beyond Arabic and English.
You want to own the code and have, or will hire, people to maintain it.

Choose Sabbaq if…

Your main gap is first replies to Property Finder, Bayut and Dubizzle enquiries on WhatsApp, and you'd rather start with a trial than a build project.
You want to try it on your own leads for 14 days before paying anything, with setup free.
You want predictable monthly pricing, month to month, with Meta fees at cost.
You want real-estate guardrails built in, and a reply-time guarantee on your first paid month.
You'd still like custom pieces later: bespoke flows are quoted, and leads go to any system by webhook.

Questions brokerages ask

Is it cheaper to build a WhatsApp AI chatbot myself?

The licence can be, but add the build fee, AI usage, hosting, Meta template changes and someone to maintain it. Sabbaq's standard setup is free and plans start at AED 790 a month, excluding VAT, with Meta fees billed to you at cost.

What should I ask an AI agency before signing?

Who owns the WhatsApp Business account, number, data and code; the setup fee and monthly retainer; whether Meta fees are marked up; minimum term; who maintains it after launch; and whether they'll commit to a reply time in writing.

Can Sabbaq be customised?

Yes, within the product: routing by area, language or listing, your FAQs, your listings CSV and Arabic and English tuning are part of free setup. Leads can be sent to any system by webhook today; bespoke flows are quoted.

Can I start with Sabbaq and build later?

Yes. Plans are month to month, your number stays in your Meta account and you can export your data any time.

Does Sabbaq work with an agency's existing setup?

Not side by side on the same number. If the number is already connected to another WhatsApp API platform (including one an agency set up), that provider releases or migrates it first. You keep the number and your WhatsApp Business account rights; a WhatsApp Business number can be connected to only one API platform at a time. Plan the switch so leads aren't missed, or use a second number.

Try Sabbaq on your own leads

Start a free 14-day trial in shadow mode: the assistant drafts every reply and your agent approves it, so nothing reaches a buyer you haven't seen. Setup is free, the trial never converts automatically, and after a 15-minute demo call you can be live in shadow mode in as little as a day (up to a week if your number must first be released from another provider).

Start my free 14-day trialSee pricing

Last checked and sources

Last checked: 10 Oct 2026.

This page names no agency. It uses Sabbaq's published terms and general questions to ask any provider. Spot an error? Email us and we'll fix it.