Can I Change My Apartment Layout in Dubai?
Opening up the kitchen, joining two small bedrooms or turning a study into a walk-in wardrobe are some of the most popular apartment changes in Dubai. Most are possible, but not every wall can move, and every change needs building approval first. Here is what to expect.
- Non-structural partition walls can usually be removed with building management approval.
- Structural walls, columns and shared shafts cannot be touched.
- Moving bathrooms or kitchens depends on where the drainage can go.
- Changes to fire alarm or sprinkler points may need Civil Defence approval.
Which walls can be removed?
Most internal walls between rooms in Dubai apartments are non-structural block or gypsum partitions, and removing them is usually allowed once building management approves the drawings. Walls that carry load, columns, shear walls, and the walls around shared shafts and risers belong to the building structure and cannot be removed or cut.
The as-built drawings from the developer or building management show which is which. Where drawings are unclear, a site survey and engineer’s check come first.
Popular layout changes
- Open-plan kitchen: removing the wall between the kitchen and living area. Check the extract hood and fire alarm requirements for open kitchens in your building.
- Merging rooms: turning a small bedroom into part of the living room or master suite.
- Walk-in wardrobe or study: dividing space with new gypsum partitions and joinery.
- Maid’s room conversion: into a study, storage or guest WC, where the building allows it.
Moving a kitchen or bathroom
Wet areas depend on drainage. Waste pipes need a fall to the building’s stacks, and floor slabs in towers usually cannot be cored freely. Small moves within the same zone are often possible; moving a bathroom to the other side of the apartment usually is not. We check the drainage route before designing anything around it. For wet areas, waterproofing also needs to be redone properly: see our bathroom waterproofing guide.
Approvals you will need
- Building management or developer NOC with drawings of the new layout.
- Civil Defence approval where fire alarm, sprinkler or smoke detector points must move.
- DEWA or district cooling notifications where the electrical load or AC layout changes significantly.
Our guide to getting a building NOC for apartment renovation covers each step. We prepare the drawings and handle the applications as part of the project.
Typical budgets
A layout change is usually part of a wider apartment renovation. Our published ranges are AED 30,000 to 80,000 for a studio, AED 60,000 to 150,000 for a 1-bedroom and AED 100,000 to 250,000 for a 2-bedroom, depending on the scope and finishes. See our apartment renovation service.
Frequently Asked Questions
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