Interior renovation cost in Dubai in 2026 runs from AED 180 to 260 per sq ft. See what drives the price, permits, MEP and timelines. Request a free site visit.

Prices in this guide were checked in October 2026. UAE material and labour rates move with the market — ask INTERIOXPERT TECHNICAL SERVICES CO. L.L.C for a current quote before you budget.

Interior Renovation Cost in Dubai: 2026 Price Guide

Most interior renovation work in Dubai in 2026 prices between AED 180 and AED 260 per square foot for a full strip-out, while a light refresh starts near AED 60 per square foot. What you pay depends on how deep the scope goes, how much MEP work moves, and which approvals the building and the authorities require.

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Pricing quoted in AED per square foot by trade, not a lump sum guess
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What drives interior renovation cost in Dubai

Four levers decide the number: scope depth, MEP changes, material grade, and the rules of the building you are renovating.

Scope depth

A repaint and lighting swap is a one week job. A full strip-out moves ceilings, wiring, drainage and joinery. The same floor area can cost three times more per square foot when the scope goes from refresh to strip-out.

MEP changes

Every new socket, relocated AC diffuser and moved drain adds labour, material and testing. MEP is the largest single variable in most quotes, and the line item that cheap bids tend to underestimate.

Material grade

Local porcelain at AED 35 per square foot and imported marble at AED 250 per square foot end up in the same room. Joinery behaves the same way, with melamine carcasses costing a fraction of solid wood with veneer.

Building rules

Managed towers set working hours, lift slots, debris routes and refundable deposits. These rules add labour hours and admin cost even when the design does not change.

Interior renovation cost per square foot in Dubai by scope tier

Expect AED 60 to 110 per square foot for a light refresh, AED 120 to 180 for partial work, and AED 180 to 260 for a full strip-out with new MEP and joinery.

Scope tier	Typical rate	Timeline	Typical inclusions
Light refresh	AED 60 to 110 per sq ft	1 to 2 weeks	Painting, minor carpentry repairs, lighting swaps, deep clean
Partial renovation	AED 120 to 180 per sq ft	3 to 6 weeks	One wet area, painting throughout, part joinery, some new points
Full strip-out	AED 180 to 260 per sq ft	8 to 12 weeks	Demolition, MEP re-route, ceilings, tiling, joinery, painting
Premium specification	AED 280 to 400 and above per sq ft	12 to 20 weeks	Imported stone, custom joinery, smart lighting, designer sanitaryware

Worked example. A 900 sq ft unit on a full strip-out at AED 180 to 260 per square foot comes to AED 162,000 to AED 234,000. The same unit on a partial scope at AED 120 to 180 per square foot lands between AED 108,000 and AED 162,000. Add debris removal at AED 3,000 to 6,000, common area protection, and any refundable deposit the building asks for.

Because rates move with specification, the fastest sanity check is to send one fixed scope to two or three interior renovation services and compare the breakdown line by line.

MEP, AC ductwork and electrical re-routing costs

MEP usually lands at 20 to 30 percent of a full strip-out bill, and it is the section most low bids leave thin.

AC duct re-route: AED 250 to 450 per running foot of new duct, or AED 6,000 to 15,000 per unit for a complete re-route with new diffusers
Supply and install of a new concealed or split unit: AED 2,500 to 6,500 per unit depending on tonnage
New electrical point: AED 90 to 160 per socket, switch or data outlet
Distribution board replacement with RCBO protection: AED 2,500 to 6,000
Plumbing re-route in one wet area: AED 4,000 to 9,000 including waterproofing
Drainage and vent adjustments: AED 1,500 to 5,000 depending on stack access
DEWA isolation, meter work or load change: arranged through DEWA, with NOC costs set by the building

Any work that touches fire alarms, sprinklers or smoke detection needs Civil Defence approval on top of the fit-out permit. Budget for it early, because it is not a cost you can absorb quietly later.

Joinery, carpentry and finishing trades

Joinery and finishes together often take 40 to 55 percent of a full renovation budget, so specification choices here move your total more than any other decision.

Wardrobes and storage

Built-in wardrobe: AED 1,400 to 3,200 per linear metre
Walk-in wardrobe system: AED 2,800 to 5,500 per linear metre
TV and media unit: AED 4,000 to 12,000
Kitchen cabinets: AED 1,200 to 2,500 per linear metre for carcass and shutters, worktop priced separately

Tiling, stone and waterproofing

Ceramic or porcelain tiles: AED 35 to 90 per sq ft including adhesive and grout
Large format slabs: AED 90 to 200 per sq ft
Marble or engineered stone worktop: AED 1,200 to 2,800 per linear metre
Wet area waterproofing: AED 12 to 25 per sq ft

Painting and ceilings

Emulsion painting, primer plus two coats: AED 8 to 18 per sq ft
Textured or specialist feature wall: AED 25 to 70 per sq ft
Gypsum false ceiling: AED 25 to 55 per sq ft
Gypsum partitions: AED 60 to 90 per sq ft

DET permits, NOC and approvals

Most interior work inside a leased or owned unit needs building approval, and anything that changes structure, MEP layout or fire systems needs authority permits before demolition starts.

Dubai Municipality issues building modification and fit-out permits. DET handles trade licensing and permit-to-work approvals where a business licence is involved. Your building issues an NOC first, DEWA is involved when circuits, meters or supplies change, and Civil Defence signs off where alarms or sprinkler systems are touched.

Budget AED 1,500 to 8,000 for permit and NOC fees on a typical unit and allow 1 to 3 weeks for approval. Working without them risks a stop-work order, fines, and a reinstatement bill at handover.

Get the building NOC in principle before you sign a contractor.
Prepare layout, MEP and ceiling drawings as required.
Submit the application through the appointed contractor or consultant.
Pay permit fees and post any refundable deposit the building requests.
Collect the completion or clearance certificate at handover.

Timeline by scope and how to compare contractor quotes

A 900 sq ft full strip-out runs 8 to 12 weeks on site once permits are in, and mid-job scope changes are the most common cause of delay.

Light refresh: 1 to 2 weeks
Partial renovation: 3 to 6 weeks
Full strip-out, 900 to 1,200 sq ft: 8 to 12 weeks
Premium specification or larger space: 12 to 20 weeks
Permit approval: add 1 to 3 weeks before site work begins

Write the scope down trade by trade before you ask for pricing.
Ask for a line item breakdown covering demolition, MEP, civil work, ceilings, tiling, joinery, painting and snagging.
List the exclusions, because debris removal, permits, DEWA fees, AC gas, protection and final clean are the usual gaps.
Check the contractor holds a valid UAE trade licence and runs MEP with its own team.
Compare payment schedules. Thirty percent advance, forty percent at mid stage and thirty percent on handover is a fair structure. A sixty percent upfront request is not.
Get the defects liability period and the snag close-out date in writing.

Before you compare totals, ask to see completed renovation projects at a similar stage of finish. A number means little next to a finished room you can inspect. If you want a real figure instead of a range, request a free site visit and quote and we will measure the space, list the exclusions and put the rates in writing. For material comparisons and permit walkthroughs, browse more Dubai renovation guides.

Frequently asked questions

How much does interior renovation cost in Dubai for a 900 sq ft unit?

A full strip-out at AED 180 to 260 per square foot comes to AED 162,000 to AED 234,000 for 900 sq ft. A partial renovation of the same unit at AED 120 to 180 per square foot lands between AED 108,000 and AED 162,000. Add debris removal, protection and any refundable building deposit.

Does the interior renovation cost per square foot in Dubai include permits and DEWA fees?

No. Most quotes price labour and materials only. Permit and NOC fees usually run AED 1,500 to 8,000, and DEWA charges for isolation, meter work or load changes sit outside the contractor rate. Ask for these as separate lines so the comparison is honest.

How long does a full interior renovation take in Dubai?

Allow 8 to 12 weeks on site for a 900 to 1,200 sq ft full strip-out, plus 1 to 3 weeks for permit approval before work starts. Premium specifications and larger spaces run 12 to 20 weeks. Changes agreed after demolition starts are the main reason timelines slip.

What is the interior renovation price in Dubai for a bathroom only?

A 40 to 60 sq ft bathroom typically costs AED 18,000 to 45,000, covering demolition, waterproofing, plumbing adjustment, tiling, sanitaryware, ceiling and painting. Moving the drain or adding underfloor heating pushes the figure toward the top of that range.

Is renovation cost in Dubai 2026 higher than last year?

Materials have moved up roughly 3 to 7 percent year on year, while labour rates are broadly stable. Lock a fixed price with a stated validity period, and confirm how variations are priced before you sign, so a 2026 budget does not drift once work starts.