Interior design cost in Dubai can vary substantially from one quote to the next, because quotes cover different scopes. This guide explains design fees, execution costs, approvals and illustrative project budgets so you can compare proposals on the same basis.
For initial planning, this guide uses an illustrative design-only allowance of AED 15–50 per sq ft for a defined drawing and design scope. Full design-and-build allowances range from approximately AED 250–1,500 per sq ft across standard to luxury specifications. Specialist projects may fall outside these ranges. These are budgeting assumptions, not verified market averages or DRB quotations. Confirm all rates through a site assessment and an itemised proposal.
Interior Design Cost in Dubai at a Glance
| Service | Typical cost (2026) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Design consultation | AED 500–2,000 per session | Defined session duration and advice; confirm deliverables |
| Design-only allowance | AED 15–50 per sq ft | Illustrative defined-scope design allowance; execution excluded |
| Integrated design and build — standard | AED 250–450 per sq ft | Defined standard works; confirm MEP and joinery scope |
| Integrated design and build — premium | AED 450–900 per sq ft | Higher-spec finishes and bespoke joinery, subject to scope |
| Integrated design and build — luxury | AED 900–1,500 per sq ft | Illustrative luxury scope; specialist work can exceed this |
All monetary figures in this guide are indicative planning ranges, not fixed prices or offers. Design fees depend on deliverables, complexity and supervision requirements. Execution rates depend on existing conditions, materials and services. Unless stated otherwise, ranges exclude VAT, approvals, refundable deposits, loose furniture, IT/AV and contingency. Confirm whether design is included before adding a separate design fee.
How Interior Design Pricing Works in Dubai
Before comparing numbers, you need to know which pricing model you are being quoted — comparing a design-only quote with a turnkey quote is comparing two different products.
- Per square foot — an area-based model. Confirm the measured area and whether the rate covers design only, execution only, or both.
- Fixed package fee — one total price for a clearly defined scope; common for apartments, single rooms and compact offices.
- Percentage of project cost — some studios link their fee to an agreed project value. Confirm the percentage, its calculation basis, included services and any cap in writing.
- Hourly consultation — advice only, for owners who mainly need direction rather than a full design team.
Ask DRB Interiors for an itemised proposal identifying scope, pricing basis, exclusions and VAT treatment before proceeding.
Interior Design Cost by Property Type
Apartments
For a 1,200 sq ft apartment, the design-only planning allowance used here is approximately AED 18,000–60,000. A furnishing-led refresh may carry an execution and furniture allowance of AED 75,000–150,000, with design separate. A full design-and-build scope at AED 250–450 per sq ft implies approximately AED 300,000–540,000 before the stated exclusions. Confirm building NOCs and deposit requirements with management.
Villas
For a smaller villa, a limited refresh might be budgeted at approximately AED 150,000–350,000, depending on the rooms and works included. For a 4,500 sq ft villa, a premium design-and-build allowance of AED 450–900 per sq ft implies approximately AED 2,025,000–4,050,000 before the stated exclusions. Confirm whether structural changes, landscaping and outdoor works are included.
Offices and Commercial Spaces
For early planning, use approximately AED 250–700 per sq ft for a defined standard corporate design-and-build scope and AED 700–1,500 per sq ft for a premium specification. Existing fit-out, MEP capacity and fire-safety requirements can materially change the cost. These are illustrative allowances, not market averages. DRB Interiors’ published portfolio includes fit-out works for ENBD headquarters, Habib Bank Limited and Samsung store.
The Part Most Guides Skip: Approval Costs in Dubai
Approvals are part of the total interior design cost in Dubai. Approval requirements depend on the property, jurisdiction and proposed works. Confirm the applicable authority and building-management requirements before starting regulated work. Separate statutory charges, professional submission fees and refundable deposits in the budget.
| Approval / item | Who requires it | What to budget |
|---|---|---|
| Fit-out permit / NOC | Relevant permitting authority for the property, such as DM, DDA or Trakhees; confirm jurisdiction | Obtain the current authority fee schedule. Charges may be area-based or depend on the application type; no universal fee range applies. |
| Dubai Civil Defence approval | Where fire-safety approvals or completion certification are required for the proposed works | Confirm applicable review, inspection and submission charges; do not assume one charge applies to every project. |
| Building / community management NOC | Your tower or community management | Confirm NOC charges and deposit terms with management. Keep refundable deposits separate from project expenditure. |
| DEWA / utilities connections & inspections | Where the proposed works require utility applications, modifications or additional capacity | Obtain a project-specific utility assessment; charges depend on the actual requirement. |
| Consultant / engineer sign-off | Structural or MEP changes | Obtain a professional-services range against the required scope; check whether included in the design fee. |
Confirm whether each required approval is included, excluded or payable directly by the client. Obtain the necessary permits before starting demolition or other regulated works. Costs and review periods vary by authority, scope and submission quality.
Three Illustrative Project Budget Ranges
The following examples use assumed scopes and allowances to show budget arithmetic. They are not quotations or records of actual project costs. Totals exclude contingency and refundable deposits; allow an additional 10–15% contingency on design and execution allowances. VAT ranges below assume the design and execution items are taxable at the standard rate; tax on approval and administration charges must be checked separately.
Example 1 — 2-bedroom apartment, 1,200 sq ft, Business Bay (furnishing-led renovation)
Design package: AED 18,000–30,000. Works, finishes and furniture: AED 75,000–110,000. Assumed approval and administration allowance: AED 2,000–6,000, subject to confirmation. Design and works subtotal: AED 93,000–140,000. VAT allowance on design and works: AED 4,650–7,000. Combined planning total: AED 99,650–153,000, before contingency, refundable deposits and any tax applicable to approval or administration charges. Indicative delivery: 5–8 weeks after the required permissions and procurement arrangements.
Example 2 — Villa, 4,500 sq ft, Dubai Hills (premium turnkey)
Integrated design and execution allowance: AED 450–650 per sq ft, equivalent to AED 2,025,000–2,925,000 for 4,500 sq ft. Design is included and must not be added again. Assumed approval and administration allowance: AED 10,000–30,000, subject to confirmation. VAT allowance on design and execution: AED 101,250–146,250. Combined planning total: AED 2,136,250–3,101,250, before contingency, refundable deposits and any tax applicable to approval or administration charges. Loose furniture, landscaping, structural alterations and IT/AV are excluded. Indicative delivery: 14–24 weeks, subject to permissions and procurement.
Example 3 — Office, 3,000 sq ft, JLT (standard corporate fit-out)
Integrated design and execution allowance: AED 300–450 per sq ft, equivalent to AED 900,000–1,350,000 for 3,000 sq ft. Design is included. Furniture and IT/AV allowance: AED 100,000–200,000. Assumed approval and administration allowance: AED 5,000–20,000, subject to confirmation of the JLT building, DMCC/Concordia route and other relevant approvals. VAT allowance on design, execution, furniture and IT/AV: AED 50,000–77,500. Combined planning total: AED 1,055,000–1,647,500, before contingency, refundable deposits and any tax applicable to approval or administration charges. Indicative delivery: 8–12 weeks after required permissions and procurement arrangements.
How Long Does It Take? Cost and Timeline Together
| Project | Typical timeline (2026) |
|---|---|
| Apartment (furnishing-led) | 4 – 8 weeks |
| Apartment (full fit-out) | 8 – 12 weeks |
| Villa (premium turnkey) | 14 – 24 weeks |
| Office (standard corporate) | 8 – 12 weeks |
| Office (premium / HQ) | 12 – 16 weeks |
Use these durations as initial planning allowances after required permissions and procurement arrangements. A separate 2–4 week approvals allowance may be useful for initial scheduling, but it is not an authority service standard or a guaranteed maximum. Complex submissions and revisions can take longer.
Hidden Costs Checklist (Read Before You Sign)
- VAT — the standard UAE rate is 5%; confirm the treatment of each charge and whether quoted prices include VAT. Do not automatically apply VAT to refundable security deposits.
- Refundable deposits — building/community fit-out deposits lock up cash until handover.
- Change orders — agree how mid-project changes are priced before work starts.
- Snagging & defects — your contract should include a defects-liability period and aftercare.
- Contingency — hold 10–15% aside; in fit-out, surprises behind walls are normal, not exceptional.
- Furniture & soft finishes — often excluded from “fit-out” quotes; check whether FF&E is inside or outside your number.
How to Get an Accurate Quote (and Compare Fairly)
- Give every company the same brief and the same square footage — otherwise you are comparing different scopes.
- Demand an itemised breakdown: design fees, materials, labour, approvals, project management — separately.
- Ask which pricing model applies and whether figures include VAT.
- Visit completed projects, not just renders. (You can browse ours in the Project Gallery.)
- Whether design and execution are appointed together or separately, define responsibilities, coordination duties and the process for approving variations.
Frequently Asked Questions
This guide uses illustrative design-only allowances of AED 15–50 per sq ft for a defined scope, and integrated design-and-build allowances of AED 250–1,500 per sq ft across different finish levels. These are planning assumptions rather than verified market averages. Specialist scopes can fall outside these ranges; confirm deliverables and exclusions in an itemised proposal.
For early planning, this guide allows AED 250–700 per sq ft for a defined standard corporate design-and-build scope and AED 700–1,500 per sq ft for a premium specification. Confirm furniture, IT/AV, approvals, VAT and contingency separately.
A limited smaller-villa refresh may be budgeted at AED 150,000–350,000. A 4,500 sq ft premium design-and-build scope at AED 450–900 per sq ft implies AED 2,025,000–4,050,000 before the stated exclusions. Actual quotations depend on scope and existing conditions.
Inclusions vary. Confirm the applicable authority, building NOCs, submission services, inspections and refundable deposits in writing. Some costs may be included in the contractor’s offer; others may be payable directly by the client.
Fix the scope before you fix the budget: keep layouts unchanged where possible, choose furnishing-led renovation for apartments, phase the work, and get itemised quotes from two or three companies against the identical brief.
Initial execution allowances are 4–12 weeks for apartments, 14–24 weeks for villas and 8–16 weeks for offices, depending on scope and procurement. Confirm approval lead times separately; these are not guaranteed completion periods.
Get a Real Number for Your Project
For a project-specific budget, contact DRB Interiors, an interior design and fit-out company serving the UAE since 2010. Request a site assessment and an itemised proposal stating scope, inclusions, exclusions, approvals, VAT treatment and programme. Compare proposals against the same brief rather than relying on a single area-based rate.
Last updated: October 2026 · By DRB Interiors (ISO-certified interior design & fit-out company in Dubai, since 2010)
Pricing basis and references
The monetary ranges and example allowances above are illustrative planning assumptions, not published DRB tariffs. Authority charges must be confirmed against the current applicable schedule. Reference sources: Dubai Development Authority Fit-Out Permit service (dda.gov.ae); DMCC owner fit-out NOC guidance and Concordia JLT fit-out portal; UAE Government VAT guidance (u.ae); Cushman & Wakefield EMEA Office Fit Out Cost Guide 2026 (scope and benchmarking context); DRB Interiors project gallery (drbinteriors.ae/project-gallery/). Reviewed October 2026.
