In this guide
If you're planning a home renovation in Dubai, the hard part isn't picking tiles — it's knowing what things really cost, which approvals you need, and how long it honestly takes before you sign anything. This is the complete 2026 guide: the renovation types that exist here, real per-square-metre pricing, the permits and community NOCs that quietly control your timeline, and the mistakes that turn a tidy budget into a runaway one. Whether it's a Marina apartment or a Dubai Hills townhouse, start here.
- Home renovation in Dubai runs roughly AED 1,000–1,800 per m² for a cosmetic refresh and AED 1,500–3,500+ per m² for a full turn-key job.
- Apartments need a building-management NOC and Dubai Municipality / DDA approval; skipping this is the fastest way to get fined or stopped mid-project.
- A cosmetic refresh takes 3–6 weeks; a full apartment renovation 6–12 weeks; a full villa 4–6 months.
- The biggest budget lines are almost always kitchens, bathrooms and MEP — plan (and design) those first.
01Types of home renovation in Dubai
"Renovation" covers everything from repainting to gutting a place to the concrete. Knowing which one you actually need is what keeps the budget honest:
- Cosmetic refresh — paint, flooring, minor joinery, light fixtures. No layout or MEP changes. Fastest and cheapest.
- Full / capital renovation — new kitchens and bathrooms, re-tiling, some rewiring and plumbing, possibly moving a non-structural wall.
- Turn-key renovation — the whole home taken back and rebuilt to a finished, move-in state under one contract, design included.
- Fit-out for rent — a targeted renovation to maximise rent and occupancy without over-improving.
Most owners who think they want a "cosmetic" job actually want a full one once they see the kitchen and bathrooms — those are the rooms that date a home. A proper turn-key renovation bundles design, permits and construction so you're not stitching it together yourself.
02How much does home renovation cost in Dubai in 2026?
Cost is driven by finish level, how much you change the layout, and the property type. Apartments are usually cheaper per m² than villas (fewer external works and simpler MEP). Indicative 2026 ranges:
| Scope | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh (per m²) | 1,000–1,400 | 1,400–1,800 |
| Full apartment renovation (per m²) | 1,500–2,200 | 2,200–3,200 |
| 1-bed apartment (indicative) | 70k–130k | 130k–220k |
| 2-bed apartment (indicative) | 120k–200k | 200k–350k |
Renovating a villa instead? The numbers and permitting are different — we break them down in our guide to choosing a villa renovation company in Dubai. For a figure tailored to your place, request an estimate — an engineer will give you a transparent per-m² price.
03Permits and NOCs you can't skip
This is the part first-time renovators underestimate most. In Dubai you generally need approval before work starts, and for apartments the building's owners' association or management adds another layer:
- Building-management NOC — your tower's OA/management must approve the works, working hours and material movement.
- Dubai Municipality / DDA permit — required for layout, MEP or structural changes, reviewed against the original drawings.
- DEWA & MEP coordination — load changes, AC and wet-area works must be approved and re-inspected.
- Completion sign-off — obtained after final inspection; keep it on record.
A reputable contractor handles these approvals as part of the job. If a company is vague about NOCs, that's a red flag — the fines and stop-work orders land on the owner, not them.
04How long does a renovation take?
- Cosmetic refresh — 3–6 weeks.
- Full apartment renovation — 6–12 weeks.
- Full villa renovation — 4–6 months.
- Add 2–6 weeks up front for design, BOQ and approvals (often overlapping).
The single biggest cause of delay isn't construction — it's starting without finished drawings and approvals. Design properly first and the build runs faster.
05Where the money actually goes
If you want to spend well, spend where you'll feel it every day and where mistakes are expensive to fix later:
- Kitchen — usually the single biggest line item; joinery and appliances add up fast.
- Bathrooms — waterproofing and wet-area work is where cheap jobs fail first; don't cut here.
- MEP — rewiring, plumbing and AC are invisible but non-negotiable, especially in older units.
- Design & planning — the cheapest way to avoid expensive changes later.
- Smart home & finishing — smart-home wiring, ceilings, curtains and furnishing are best planned in, not bolted on.
06Common mistakes to avoid
- Starting demolition before drawings and approvals are finished.
- Choosing the cheapest quote without a like-for-like BOQ.
- Under-budgeting the kitchen, bathrooms and MEP.
- Skipping the contingency and then panicking at the first surprise.
- Over-improving a rental beyond what the community's rents support.
07How A5renova helps
We run home renovations turn-key: design, fixed BOQ, permits and community NOCs, construction, and finishing — one contract, one accountable project manager, milestone-based payments. If you're renovating to rent, model the payback first — our guide to renovation for rental property shows how. The fastest next step is a real number: send us your home's details for a transparent estimate.
