Costs & budgets
Apartment Renovation Cost in Dubai (2026)
Renovating an apartment in Dubai usually costs between AED 30,000 for a studio refresh and AED 250,000 for a full two-bedroom renovation. Here is what each budget buys, what pushes the price up, and the building rules that affect cost in Dubai towers.
Key takeaways
- Studio: AED 30,000–80,000. 1-bedroom: AED 60,000–150,000. 2-bedroom: AED 100,000–250,000.
- Kitchens and bathrooms take the biggest share of an apartment budget.
- Every tower needs a building-management NOC before work starts.
- Moving wet areas (kitchens, bathrooms) is the most expensive layout change, and many towers restrict it.
Apartment renovation prices by size
| Apartment | Typical cost | Usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | AED 30,000–80,000 | Kitchen, bathroom, flooring, painting, lighting |
| 1-bedroom | AED 60,000–150,000 | Open-plan kitchen, master bathroom, flooring, feature walls |
| 2-bedroom | AED 100,000–250,000 | Living areas, kitchen, both bathrooms, bedrooms, MEP upgrade |
| Larger apartments & penthouses | Priced after survey | Depends on layout, finishes and joinery |
* Indicative 2026 ranges. VAT (5%) applies.
Where the money goes
- Kitchen: cabinetry, worktops, appliances, splashback and new plumbing and electrical points. See our kitchen cost guide.
- Bathrooms: waterproofing, tiling, sanitaryware, vanity and glass. See our bathroom cost guide.
- Flooring: large-format porcelain, engineered wood or luxury vinyl.
- Ceilings and lighting: gypsum ceilings, recessed lights and feature lighting.
- Joinery: wardrobes, TV walls and storage.
- Painting and finishing.
Tower rules that affect your budget
Apartment renovations happen in shared buildings, so the building management sets rules that affect time and cost:
- A no-objection certificate (NOC) before any work, often with a refundable security deposit. Read our building NOC guide.
- Fixed working hours, and often no noisy work at weekends.
- Service-lift bookings and protection of corridors and lifts.
- Limits on moving kitchens and bathrooms, because of drainage and the apartments below.
A contractor who works in towers every week, like our Dubai Marina team, prices these rules in from the start.
How to get more value from your budget
- Keep the kitchen and bathrooms in their current positions if possible.
- Spend on what you touch every day: worktops, taps, flooring and lighting.
- Choose durable, easy-to-clean materials if the apartment will be rented.
- Ask for an itemised BOQ so you can remove or upgrade items line by line.
Planning to rent or sell? See which upgrades add value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically AED 60,000 to 150,000, depending on whether the kitchen and bathroom are replaced, the finishes chosen and any layout changes. A cosmetic refresh costs less; a full renovation with an open-plan kitchen sits at the upper end.
Almost every Dubai tower requires a building-management NOC before renovation work, and changes to walls or MEP services can also need an authority permit. Working without approval can lead to the work being stopped, fines or an order to restore the original layout.
For a kitchen, a bathroom or a few rooms, the work can often be phased so you keep using the rest of the apartment. For a full renovation, moving out is usually faster, safer and cheaper overall.
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.
Book a free site visitWhatsApp usKeep reading
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