Renovation Cost Calculator — Dubai
Renovation quotes in Dubai swing 3× for the same flat — because "renovation" means anything from paint to gutting. This calculator prices your scope honestly: by area, finish level and the wet areas that eat budgets, with permits included.
Typical: studio 450–600 · 1BR 700–950 · 2BR 1,100–1,500 · villa 2,500–6,000 sqft. (÷10.76 for m².)
Estimated cost
—
| General works | — |
| Kitchen | — |
| Bathrooms | — |
| Permits & approvals (OA NOC + DM permit + drawings) | — |
| Total range | — |
Where budgets die: moving wet areas (kitchen/bathroom plumbing), structural changes, and MEP surprises behind old walls. Keeping the layout is the single biggest cost lever — it can halve a quote. Always demand an itemised BOQ (bill of quantities), not a lump sum.
2026 price anchors (AED per sqft)
- Apartments: cosmetic refresh 30–80 · budget full 80–150 · standard 150–250 · premium 250–400.
- Villas: basic 250–400 · mid-range 400–700 · luxury gut renovation 800–1,200+.
- Typical full projects: 1BR standard AED 80–150K · 2BR AED 100–180K (premium to 300K) · villa refurb AED 150–500K+ · 4,000 sqft gut renovation ≈ AED 880K standard / 1.4M premium.
- Permits: building-management NOC AED 2–5K (+ refundable deposit), Dubai Municipality permit AED 3–15K in practice, DEWA approvals AED 0.5–5K, consultant drawings AED 5–20K where required.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to renovate an apartment in Dubai?
Full renovations run AED 80–150/sqft at budget level, 150–250 standard and 250–400 premium (2026 market). A 1,000 sqft 1–2BR at standard level lands around AED 150–250K including a kitchen and bathroom.
Do I need a permit to renovate in Dubai?
Yes for anything beyond paint: an NOC from your building management/owners association (3–7 days) and a Dubai Municipality permit (5–15 working days for simple scopes, 3–6 weeks for structural/MEP). Contractors usually process these; make sure their quote says so.
What makes villa renovations so much more expensive?
Scale and systems: villas carry facades, waterproofing, external works, larger MEP (AC, pumps), landscaping and often structural changes — pushing rates to AED 250–1,200/sqft depending on ambition.
How long does a renovation take?
Apartment refresh 3–6 weeks; full 1–2BR renovation 6–10 weeks; villas 3–6 months; gut renovations with structural work 6–12 months. Add 2–4 weeks upfront for approvals.
How do I avoid being overcharged?
Get 3 itemised BOQs for an identical written scope, fix payment milestones to completed stages (never large advances), specify materials by brand/model in the contract, and keep 10–15% contingency. If a quote is 30% below the others, that money returns as variation orders later.
Does renovation add resale value in Dubai?
Kitchens, bathrooms and flooring recover value best; over-personalised luxury rarely returns its cost. In rental units, a standard-level renovation typically lifts achievable rent into a higher Smart Rental Index band.
Sources
- Market rate guides 2026 — published price breakdowns of Dubai fit-out and renovation contractors, cross-checked against live project estimates from practising contractors
- Permits — Dubai Municipality; building NOCs per owners-association rules
Ranges re-verified 8 August 2026. Every project is scope-specific — use this to sanity-check quotes, not replace them.
Related tools
- RERA Rent Increase Calculator — renovating a rental? Check what the index allows first.
- DEWA Bill Calculator — new AC and lighting change this number too.