Costs
What a fit-out costs in Dubai, and why every number you find disagrees
Design fees and construction packages cover different work. Compare the written inclusions before comparing rates; the examples below are published marketing ranges.
All figures come from contractor and agency marketing pages rather than audited datasets. They are indicative ranges for budgeting, not quotations. Every table on these pages names its source per row so you can judge the figure yourself. See how this site handles figures.
Fit-out rates per sq ft
Compiled AED per square foot ranges for design fees, basic and mid-range design services, plus turnkey and premium fit-out in Dubai, with the source of each figure and why the ranges overlap.
Design fees
Published design-only fee ranges for studios, apartments and villas in Dubai, how designers charge, and when a design fee pays for itself rather than adding cost.
Villa vs apartment
Why a villa costs more per square foot than an apartment in Dubai even at the same finish level, with the structural, MEP, access and external-work reasons spelled out.
Hidden costs
The items routinely missing from early fit-out budgets in Dubai: authority fees, provisional sums, long-lead procurement, access, snagging, and the contingency that should exist.
The headline ranges
| Scope | AED / sq ft | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Basic space planning and layouts (design only) | 100-200 | euphoriainteriors.com |
| Design development, sourcing and coordination | 300-500 | euphoriainteriors.com |
| Full turnkey design and fit-out | 250-1500+ | markfitout.com |
| Premium turnkey, move-in ready | 600-1000 | euphoriainteriors.com |
| High-end bespoke villa (imports, smart home, custom furniture) | 800-2000+ | markfitout.com |
The budget calculator uses only the fit-out package ranges. Add costs only if the chosen package excludes them, then set your planning reserve. See the hidden costs guide for items to check.
If you already have quotations and they differ wildly, read why two quotes for the same fit-out differ by a factor of three before you choose between them.
