Apartment Renovation Cost Dubai 2026
Apartment renovation cost in Dubai depends on apartment size, current condition, renovation level, kitchen and bathroom work, MEP changes, joinery, materials and building rules. This complete apartment renovation guide compares source-attributed 2026 planning ranges and explains what is needed for a property-specific quotation.
Published · Updated
Written byFaraaz ZahidLead Project Engineer
How Much Does It Cost to Renovate an Apartment in Dubai?
Published 2026 provider guides reviewed on 13 September 2026 place basic work around AED 120–220 per sq ft, mid-range work around AED 220–400 per sq ft and premium or luxury renovation around AED 400–700+ per sq ft. These are third-party planning estimates, not a verified market average or an 800 Master Renovations price list.
There is no single average cost that describes every apartment renovation in Dubai. A cosmetic refresh, selected kitchen and bathroom work, and a full apartment rebuild contain different demolition, MEP, flooring, ceiling, cabinetry and finishing work. Apartment size matters, but the existing condition, layout, building access and level of specification can change the budget more than bedroom count alone. Use published estimates as an early check, then request a measured quotation with named inclusions, exclusions and allowances.
Apartment Renovation Cost in Dubai 2026: AED per Square Foot
Pure Coalesce publishes the following 2026 planning ranges by finish level. The source says they are indicative and that inclusions can differ. Square-metre equivalents below are rounded conversions using 1 sq m = 10.764 sq ft.
| Decision | Scope described by source | Published planning range |
|---|---|---|
| Basic finish | Paint, flooring replacement, minor fixture swaps and limited technical changes | AED 120–220 per sq ft; about AED 1,292–2,368 per sq m |
| Mid-range finish | Potentially kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, lighting, ceilings, joinery and MEP coordination | AED 220–400 per sq ft; about AED 2,368–4,306 per sq m |
| Premium and luxury | Bespoke joinery, premium kitchen, imported finishes, smart home integration or complex technical work | AED 400–700+ per sq ft; about AED 4,306–7,535+ per sq m |
Average Cost by Studio, 1, 2 and 3 Bedroom Apartment
Renovate UAE publishes unit-type estimates as planning ranges and warns that actual cost can be lower or higher. The table summarises that provider’s example scopes; different apartments are not directly comparable.
| Decision | Example scope in source | Published estimated range |
|---|---|---|
| Studio apartment | Compact rental or home refresh | AED 20,000–70,000 |
| 1 bedroom apartment | Kitchen, bathroom, flooring, paint, lighting and wardrobe updates | AED 40,000–120,000 |
| 2 bedroom apartment | Kitchen, two bathrooms, floors, ceilings, painting, joinery and lighting | AED 80,000–250,000 |
| 3 bedroom apartment | Full interior scope with kitchen, bathrooms, wardrobes and MEP changes | AED 150,000–400,000 |
What an Apartment Renovation Cost Calculator Can and Cannot Show
A Dubai renovation cost calculator can multiply apartment area by a planning rate, but it cannot inspect the unit or align two quotations. The result may omit demolition, damaged substrates, service changes, custom joinery, professional inputs, building charges, VAT or client-supplied products. A 2-bedroom apartment with two rebuilt bathrooms can cost more or less than a larger flat that retains its wet areas and layout.
Use a renovation cost calculator as an early budget screen. Replace it with measured quantities, room schedules and named specifications as decisions become clearer. Keep the source date and scope beside every cost range so a general benchmark is not mistaken for a property-specific estimate.
Basic Renovation, Partial Work and Full Apartment Scope
Define the type of renovation before comparing totals. The labels below are scope boundaries, not fixed price bands.
| Decision | Lower-scope route | Broader-scope route |
|---|---|---|
| Finishes | Prepare and repaint retained surfaces | Remove finishes, repair backgrounds and rebuild junctions |
| Layout | Keep partitions and room functions | Coordinate proposed walls, doors, ceilings and connected services |
| Wet areas | Retain fixture positions with defined updates | Rebuild kitchen or bathrooms with plumbing and waterproofing work |
| MEP | Selected lighting or point changes | Coordinated electrical, plumbing, drainage, AC and access changes |
| Joinery | Limited cabinet fronts or freestanding storage | Measured kitchen, wardrobes, vanity and fitted units |
Kitchen Renovation Costs and Bathroom Cost Drivers
Kitchen renovation costs are shaped by cabinet length, carcass and door finish, hardware, worktop, appliances, backsplash, sink, plumbing, power, ventilation and whether the layout changes. Bathroom renovation in Dubai includes more than tile and sanitaryware: substrate preparation, drainage, plumbing, waterproofing, testing, glass, vanity, ventilation and concealed access can be material parts of the budget.
Ask for each wet area as a separate schedule within the full apartment quotation. That makes product responsibility, quantities and technical work visible, while detailed room-level price research remains on the dedicated kitchen and bathroom cost pages.
Flooring, Ceilings, Painting, Joinery and Smart Home Integration
Specifications should state product, quantity, preparation, installation and interfaces. A material name without those details is not a complete cost line.
Measure transitions and substrate work as well as visible floor area.
Coordinate AC, fire-safety and maintenance zones before closing ceilings.
Existing wall condition and decorative finishes change the labour basis.
Record dimensions, finish, internals, fittings and installation responsibility.
Confirm compatibility and the exact integration scope rather than using one allowance.
Dubai Municipality, DDA, NOC, Access and VAT Budget Lines
Apartment renovation in Dubai can involve building-management rules, an owner or landlord NOC, deposits, protection, lift bookings, delivery windows, waste removal and applicable authority submissions. The route depends on the address and proposed work: Dubai Municipality, Dubai Development Authority (DDA) or another jurisdiction may apply. For applicable DDA jurisdictions, the authority currently lists its fit-out permit fee as AED 0.90 per sq ft, subject to a stated AED 200 minimum and AED 10,000 maximum, plus Knowledge and Innovation Dirham charges. That is not a universal Dubai apartment fee.
The UAE Federal Tax Authority states that the standard VAT rate is 5%. A renovation quotation should say whether VAT is included or added and should separate refundable deposits from fees and contractor work. For the document sequence and timing implications, use the apartment NOC and timeline guides rather than treating this cost summary as an approval checklist.
How to Build Realistic Apartment Renovation Budgets
A successful renovation starts with the same evidence for the budget, design and quotation.
- 01
Record the apartment baseline
List unit size, rooms, occupancy, visible condition, previous changes and current building rules.
- 02
Fix the scope boundary
Mark retained, removed and new work room by room, including kitchen, bathrooms and MEP interfaces.
- 03
Create a specification schedule
Name materials, products, quantities, allowances, acceptable alternatives and supply responsibility.
- 04
Separate third-party and client costs
List design, approvals, deposits, protection, storage, VAT and client-supplied purchases separately.
- 05
Compare itemised quotations
Issue the same information to renovation companies and reconcile exclusions before choosing a total.
- 06
List provisional sums and contingency
Keep concealed conditions and undecided selections as named provisional items, not hidden assumptions.
How to Avoid Renovation Mistakes and Control Cost
Common renovation mistakes include changing the layout after technical work starts, selecting products without confirmed dimensions and comparing quotations built from different scopes. Savings usually come from reducing change and complexity, not deleting inspection or technical work. Retaining a workable layout, coordinating kitchen and bathroom selections early, limiting bespoke details, choosing available materials and issuing one approved drawing set can reduce avoidable revisions.
Do not remove waterproofing, testing, electrical safety, service access or required approvals to reach a target budget. If the total is too high, divide the work into coherent phases and make every retained interface explicit. A smaller defined project is easier to price than an ambitious brief with missing lines.
How to Compare Renovation Quotes and Prices
Renovation quotes vary because renovation companies may price different work. Compare the same measured brief, not only the final AED total.
| Decision | Check in every quote | Why it changes the comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Rooms and quantities | Named work, measured areas and retained elements | Prevents a partial scope from appearing equal to a full renovation |
| Materials and products | Specification, allowance, quantity and supply party | Shows where later selections may change the renovation price |
| Technical work | Demolition, MEP, waterproofing, testing and making good | Makes hidden construction layers visible |
| Building and third parties | NOC, permits, deposits, protection, disposal and VAT | Separates outside charges and refundable amounts |
| Changes and handover | Provisional items, approval method, snagging and documents | Defines how uncertainty is controlled after work starts |
What to Send to a Professional Renovation Company
Send the apartment location, unit type and size, current photographs, available plans, occupancy status and the rooms to be renovated. Describe the intended layout, kitchen and bathroom changes, flooring, ceilings, lighting, painting, cabinetry, smart-home work and known repair issues. Add the current building fit-out rules if available.
State the target budget as planning context, not as a request to hide necessary work. Identify client-supplied products and decisions still open. 800 Master Renovations can then discuss the survey, specification, NOC and scope information needed before preparing a property-specific written quotation.
Apartment Renovation Cost Dubai FAQ
01How much does it cost to renovate an apartment in Dubai?+
The total depends on apartment size, condition, renovation level, wet areas, MEP changes, joinery, materials and building requirements. Third-party 2026 guides on this page publish broad ranges, but an actual cost needs a measured property-specific scope and itemised quotation.
02What is the average cost to fully renovate a flat in Dubai?+
There is no reliable single average because “full renovation” can describe different layouts, technical work and specifications. Pure Coalesce publishes AED 220–400 per sq ft as a mid-range planning reference, while noting that inclusions differ. It is not an 800 Master Renovations price.
03How much does apartment renovation cost per square foot in Dubai?+
Pure Coalesce publishes indicative 2026 ranges of AED 120–220 per sq ft for basic finish, AED 220–400 for mid-range and AED 400–700+ for premium or luxury work. The source says final cost depends on scope and inclusions; use the figures for planning only.
04How much does a 2-bedroom apartment renovation cost in Dubai?+
Renovate UAE publishes an AED 80,000–250,000 estimate for its 2-bedroom example scope. Another unit with different bathrooms, kitchen, condition, layout, joinery or building access may sit outside that range. It is a third-party planning reference, not a project quotation.
05What are the biggest apartment renovation cost drivers?+
The main drivers are the current condition, included rooms, demolition, layout and MEP changes, kitchen and bathroom extent, flooring, ceilings, lighting, custom joinery, finish specification, building logistics and approval requirements. Supply responsibility and exclusions also affect the quoted total.
06What hidden costs can appear during apartment renovation?+
Possible additions include concealed substrate or service repairs, building charges, protection, waste movement, product upgrades, client changes and items omitted from an early brief. A written quotation should name assumptions, provisional work and the process for approving a variation before extra work proceeds.
07Do I need approval to renovate an apartment in Dubai?+
Requirements depend on the building, owner or landlord, management, jurisdiction and proposed work. Request the current rules for the actual unit and confirm the applicable NOC, permit, drawing, inspection and closeout route before starting. See the separate apartment NOC guide for the document checklist.
08How can I get an accurate apartment renovation quote?+
Provide measured plans where available, photographs, a room-by-room scope, retained elements, proposed layout, product and material schedules, building rules, access conditions and supply responsibilities. Ask each company to show inclusions, exclusions, allowances, VAT, outside charges and concealed-condition assumptions.
09Does 800 Master Renovations publish fixed apartment packages?+
No. The ranges on this page are attributed to public third-party planning guides. 800 Master Renovations does not present them as company prices or fixed packages. A property-specific quotation follows review of the apartment, scope, specifications, access and applicable approval requirements.