Renovation cost Dubai: what really drives your price
Renovation cost Dubai is a range, not a fixed rate. The final number depends on property type, scope of work, design choices and building rules, so an apartment refresh and a full villa renovation will never share the same price tag.
Why work with Tasaddaq Mughal Technical Services
- Renovation and fit-out first: media walls, bed walls, flooring, paint jobs and glass partitions
- Full office fit-out from empty shell to key handover
- Villa and apartment renovation in Dubai
- One point of contact from site visit to handover
- Free site visit and itemised quote by WhatsApp
Property type is the first price break
An apartment, villa and office carry different base costs before you pick a single finish. Apartments usually have fewer external works, shared access rules and smaller floor plates. Villas add external walls, roofs, landscaping and sometimes municipality approvals. Offices are priced on fit-out speed, shell condition and compliance.
Apartments
Apartment renovation Dubai price usually sits between 40,000 and 130,000 AED for a full 1 to 3 bedroom job. Size, kitchen and bathroom scope, flooring, joinery and building approval hours drive it. A cosmetic change with paint and flooring can start from 18,000 AED. If the apartment is in a tower with strict work hours, night shift permissions and service lift booking can add 3,000 to 8,000 AED to the labour line.
Villas
Villa renovation can run from 180,000 AED for a light internal refresh to 900,000 AED and above for a full redesign with extensions, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring and external works. The same tile can cost more to install in a villa because of access, waste and room count. A villa with a majlis, two kitchens and five bathrooms has more plumbing, electrical and finishing lines than an apartment of similar square footage.
Offices
Office fit-out Dubai cost is often quoted per sq ft. A 1,000 sq ft office from empty shell to key handover usually lands between 80,000 and 250,000 AED. Glass partitions, flooring, ceilings, lighting, AC changes and joinery are the main lines. A shell with no flooring, no ceiling grid and no electrical distribution will cost more than a unit that already has basic services in place.
Scope of work decides 60 to 70 percent of the budget
Scope is the biggest lever. Two apartments of the same size can differ by 50,000 AED or more because one keeps the old kitchen and the other changes layout, wiring and plumbing. The fastest way to compare quotes is to compare line items, not final totals.
Common scope items and realistic AED ranges
- Paint job only: 4,500 to 9,000 AED for a 1,200 sq ft apartment
- Flooring supply and install: 12 to 35 AED per sq ft standard, 60 AED per sq ft plus for premium stone
- Media wall: 3,500 to 12,000 AED
- Bed wall: 2,500 to 8,000 AED
- Glass partition: 350 to 900 AED per sq m installed
- Full kitchen replacement: 25,000 to 90,000 AED
- Bathroom refit: 18,000 to 55,000 AED
- Full office fit-out: 80 to 250 AED per sq ft
Lobby and corridor finishes are part of many villa and office fit-outs, and they are priced separately from room works.
Design choices change the finish level
Design choices are where a quote can double without any extra square footage. Cladding, stone, lighting, custom joinery and imported sanitaryware push the number. A simple media wall in MDF with paint and LED strip can cost 3,500 AED. The same wall in fluted wood, stone and hidden storage can pass 12,000 AED.
Media walls and bed walls
Media wall Dubai price and bed wall Dubai cost move with size, cladding, storage, lighting and cable management. A TV wall in a living room is usually larger than a bed wall, so expect the media wall to sit higher. If you add a floating console, hidden drawers and a stone top, the joinery line can add 2,000 to 6,000 AED on its own.
Glass partitions
Glass partition Dubai price depends on glass type, frame, acoustic rating and door hardware. A single glazed panel for a home office can start near 350 AED per sq m. Double glazed acoustic partitions for offices can go past 900 AED per sq m. Frameless glass looks lighter but needs stronger fixing points, while framed systems are easier to adjust later.
Flooring and paint
Flooring cost Dubai per sq ft is one of the easiest lines to compare. Ask if the quote includes removal, screed, levelling, skirting and waste. Paint job Dubai price should state coats, putty, primer and brand. A cheap paint quote that skips surface prep will cost more later when the finish peels or shows patches under side light.
A media wall in a bedroom often combines the TV, console and accent wall in one joinery line.
How a renovation or fit-out quote is built
A proper quote is built line by line, not pulled from a fixed rate card. Here is the process we follow from first call to handover.
- Free site visit and brief. We measure, check services, note building rules and listen to how you want to use the space.
- Itemised quote. You get a written breakdown by room or zone, with material allowances and timelines.
- Design and material selection. We lock finishes, joinery details and lighting before work starts.
- Approvals and scheduling. Building, developer or authority approvals are handled before demolition.
- Execution and handover. One point of contact runs the site, updates you and hands over a snag free space.
Why cheap square metre rates mislead in Dubai
A single rate per square metre hides the lines that actually decide your invoice. Access, working hours, building permits, waste removal, AC changes during fit-out and material lead times all sit outside the headline rate. For example, a 1,200 sq ft apartment with two bathrooms, a closed kitchen and a media wall will cost more than a same size open plan unit with one bathroom. Offices in towers with strict work hours may need night shifts, which adds labour.
A realistic way to budget is to set a target range, then let the scope define the number. If your budget is 60,000 AED for an apartment renovation, we can show what stays, what changes and where a design choice can be swapped without losing the look. If your budget is 200,000 AED for an office fit-out, we can phase the work so the reception and meeting rooms finish first.
You can see completed projects and the full service list before you book. For a measured number, request a free site visit. You can also read our company background to see how we work.
Frequently asked questions
How much does renovation cost in Dubai for a 2 bedroom apartment?
Expect 45,000 to 120,000 AED for a full apartment renovation in Dubai, depending on size, kitchen and bathroom scope, flooring and joinery. A cosmetic refresh with paint and flooring only can start from 18,000 to 35,000 AED. Request a free site visit for a measured quote.
What is the office fit-out Dubai cost per square foot?
Office fit-out in Dubai typically runs 80 to 250 AED per sq ft for a full shell to key handover job. A 1,000 sq ft office can land between 80,000 and 250,000 AED. Glass partitions, flooring, ceilings, lighting, AC changes and joinery drive most of the difference.
How much does a media wall cost in Dubai?
Media wall Dubai price usually falls between 3,500 and 12,000 AED for a standard living room unit. Size, cladding, concealed lighting, storage and TV size change the number. A bed wall Dubai cost is often 2,500 to 8,000 AED for a similar finish level.
What is the flooring cost Dubai per sq ft?
Flooring cost in Dubai per sq ft is around 12 to 35 AED for supply and install on standard porcelain, SPC or engineered wood. Premium marble or large format tiles can go above 60 AED per sq ft. Removal and levelling are separate line items.
How much does a paint job in Dubai price?
Paint job Dubai price for a 1,200 sq ft apartment is often 4,500 to 9,000 AED including labour and standard paint. Feature walls, ceiling repairs, colour changes and premium paint brands push it higher. Most jobs take 3 to 6 working days.
Do I need approvals for a Dubai renovation?
Yes, many apartments and offices need building or developer approval before work starts. Villas may need Dubai Municipality or DET related permits for structural or external changes. A fit-out contractor should handle the paperwork as part of the scope.
