Commercial fit out

What Is Fit Out? Shell & Core, Category A and Category B Explained

Fit out is the work that turns an empty building space into a finished interior that people can use. In Dubai you will hear three terms: shell and core, Category A and Category B. This guide explains each one simply, with what it includes and who usually pays for it.

Updated September 2026 · 6 min read · By M&A Interior Design, Dubai Marina

Key takeaways

Shell and core: the bare structure with main services to the floor.
Category A: a basic finished, open space: ceilings, raised floors, lighting, air-conditioning.
Category B: the tenant’s own interior: rooms, pantry, finishes, branding, furniture.
Many Dubai offices are handed over at Category A; the tenant then pays for Category B.

Fit out in one sentence

Fit out is everything that happens inside a building after the structure is built: partitions, ceilings, floors, lighting, air-conditioning distribution, electrical and data, plumbing, joinery and finishes. It applies to offices, shops, restaurants, clinics and homes.

Shell and core

The developer delivers the structure, facade, lifts, stairs, toilets in the core and main service risers. The floor itself is bare concrete, with no ceilings or finished floor. Tenants taking shell-and-core space have the largest fit out scope and cost.

Category A fit out

Category A turns the shell into a basic, usable open space, usually provided by the landlord:

Suspended ceilings and raised access floors
General lighting
Air-conditioning distribution
Basic fire detection and sprinklers
Finished walls and floor boxes for power

Category B fit out

Category B is what makes the space yours:

Offices, meeting rooms and glass partitions
Reception, pantry and breakout areas
Feature ceilings and lighting
Adjusted air-conditioning, power, data and AV
Flooring, finishes, joinery and branding
Furniture, often procured alongside

For prices, see the office fit out cost guide.

Fit out for homes

For apartments and villas, fit out means completing or fully redoing the interior: kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, ceilings, lighting, wardrobes and joinery. It overlaps heavily with renovation. See fit out vs renovation.

Approvals for a fit out in Dubai

Commercial fit outs usually need a landlord or building NOC and a fit out permit from Dubai Municipality or the free-zone authority for the area, plus Civil Defence approval when fire systems change. Our interior fit out team prepares the drawings and handles the submissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fit out is the work that makes the inside of a building usable: partitions, ceilings, flooring, lighting, air-conditioning, electrical, plumbing, joinery and finishes.

Category A is a basic finished open space, usually provided by the landlord. Category B is the tenant's own layout and finishes, such as rooms, pantry, branding and furniture.

Usually the tenant, although some leases include a fit out contribution or rent-free period. Check your lease terms.

It is the interior stage that follows the structural build, covering everything from partitions and services to finishes and joinery.

Talk to an architect about your project

Planning a project in Dubai? Our architect visits your site for free and sends a fixed-price quotation with an itemised BOQ, usually within 48 hours.

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