You want to renovate your villa in Dubai. The first thing you Google is the cost. And most of what you find is either too vague to be useful or clearly written to get you on a phone call.
So we are going to skip that. This page has real numbers, in AED, broken down by room, by finish level, and by villa size. You can use them to build an actual budget before you speak to anyone.
We are Liger Interiors. We have renovated villas in Villanova, Murooj Al Furjan, Tilal Al Furjan, Arabian Ranches 3, Dubai Hills, DAMAC Hills, and Mirdiff Hills. The pricing below comes from 2026 market rates in Dubai, checked against what we see on our own projects.
What Does Villa Renovation Cost Per Square Foot?
Per sqft pricing is the quickest way to get a ballpark figure. Measure your villa’s built-up area and multiply.
AED 150 to 350 per sqft (cosmetic). Fresh paint, new flooring, swap out light fixtures, minor carpentry. Nothing structural. The layout stays the same. Works well for villas in JVC, Springs, or Meadows that are in decent shape and just need a refresh.
AED 350 to 600 per sqft (mid-range). This is what most people actually mean when they say “I want to renovate.” New flooring everywhere, full painting, new kitchen with proper cabinetry and countertops, bathroom retiling, updated fixtures, maybe one or two walls moved. Some electrical work.
AED 600 to 1,000 per sqft (premium). Custom joinery in every room, stone countertops, quality tiles or marble, smart home features, lighting redesign, layout changes. Wardrobes, TV units, storage, all built to measure.
AED 1,000 to 1,500+ per sqft (luxury gut renovation). Italian or German cabinetry, natural marble everywhere, Miele or Gaggenau appliances, full layout redesign, complete MEP overhaul, landscaping, pool, smart home. The works.
Quick way to estimate
3,500 sqft villa × AED 400/sqft (mid-range) = about AED 1,400,000. 2,500 sqft villa × AED 250/sqft (cosmetic) = about AED 625,000.
This is a planning number. It is not a quote. Your real cost depends on which rooms you touch, whether walls need to come down, and what materials you pick.
Cost by Villa Size
All figures below are for mid-range finish. Premium will be higher.
2-bed villa or townhouse (1,500 to 2,000 sqft): AED 150,000 to 400,000
3-bed villa (2,500 to 3,500 sqft): AED 250,000 to 500,000
We have done 3-bed villa renovations in Villanova and Al Furjan for AED 250,000 to 300,000. That included feature walls in every bedroom, SPC flooring, false ceilings, full painting, and new lighting. You can see one of those projects in Murooj Al Furjan here.
4-bed villa (3,500 to 5,000 sqft): AED 400,000 to 800,000
5-bed or larger (5,000+ sqft): AED 600,000 to 1,200,000
Villas also come with costs that apartments don’t have. Landscaping. Pool resurfacing. Exterior painting. Driveway. AC ducting in the ceiling voids. These can add AED 50,000 to 300,000+ depending on what shape they are in.
Room-by-Room Breakdown
Knowing what each room costs helps you decide where to spend and where to hold back.
Kitchen: AED 45,000 to 200,000+
The kitchen eats the biggest share of most renovation budgets. A basic redo with new cabinet fronts, countertops, and a splashback runs about AED 45,000. Go to a full custom kitchen with stone tops, built-in appliances, handleless cabinets, and an island, and you are looking at AED 90,000 to 120,000. If you need to move the plumbing (relocate the sink or the gas point), add AED 10,000 to 20,000 on top.
One thing that saves money in kitchens: keep the sink, cooker, and drainage where they are. The moment you start rerouting pipes and electrical lines, costs jump.
We handle kitchen renovations as part of our full renovation services, from design through to the last cabinet handle.
Bathrooms: AED 25,000 to 70,000 per bathroom
A standard bathroom redo (new tiles, vanity, sanitaryware, shower screen, waterproofing) costs AED 25,000 to 35,000. A master ensuite with a walk-in rain shower, freestanding tub, and marble finishes goes above AED 60,000.
Do not skip waterproofing to save AED 3,000 to 5,000. Fixing water damage later costs AED 30,000+. We have seen it happen, and it is always more expensive and more stressful than doing it right the first time.
A 4-bed villa with 4 bathrooms could spend AED 100,000 to 200,000 on bathrooms alone. If budget is tight, do the master ensuite properly and keep the other bathrooms simpler.
Flooring: AED 30,000 to 150,000+
Porcelain tiles from local suppliers cost AED 80 to 150 per sqm. Italian marble goes for AED 400 to 1,200 per sqm. SPC flooring sits around AED 60 to 120 per sqm and handles Dubai heat and humidity better than engineered wood.
For a 3,500 sqft villa, full flooring replacement usually falls between AED 40,000 and AED 120,000 depending on what you pick.
We used SPC in a herringbone pattern for the ground floor of our Murooj Al Furjan project. Clean look, holds up well, good value.
Painting: AED 8,000 to 25,000
Full interior paint for a 3-bed villa using a brand like Jotun runs AED 8,000 to 15,000. Specialty finishes, textured walls, or accent painting adds AED 5,000 to 10,000.
False ceilings and lighting: AED 15,000 to 50,000
Gypsum ceilings with cove lighting and downlights can change how a villa feels more than most people expect. Cost depends on how many rooms you cover and the design complexity.
Joinery and wardrobes: AED 30,000 to 150,000
Built-in wardrobes, TV units, shoe cabinets, shelving. MDF with laminate is the budget option. Solid wood or lacquered finishes cost more. Price depends on the total length of joinery in metres.
This is actually where Liger Interiors started. We were a feature wall and joinery specialist before we became a full renovation company, and it is still what we do best.
AC and MEP: AED 20,000 to 80,000
Older villas, anything built before 2015, often need AC duct replacement, electrical panel upgrades, or plumbing fixes under the slab. This is the cost that surprises people the most because you cannot see the problem until you start opening things up.
Pool, landscaping, exterior: AED 30,000 to 350,000+
Pool resurfacing starts around AED 80,000. A full pool renovation with new filtration and decking runs AED 150,000 to 350,000. Landscaping, exterior paint, and driveway tiling add on top of that.
What Makes the Price Go Up or Down?
Scope. A cosmetic job costs a fraction of ripping out the kitchen, moving walls, and rewiring the electrics. This is the biggest factor by far.
Materials. Same bathroom, same size, same labour. Porcelain tiles at AED 80/sqm versus marble at AED 600/sqm. The material alone can triple the cost of a room.
Villa size. A 2,000 sqft townhouse in JVC and a 7,000 sqft place in Emirates Hills need different amounts of everything. Labour, coordination, time.
Current condition. If the pipes are leaking behind the walls, or the AC ducts have deteriorated, or the electrical panel is outdated, that adds cost you cannot predict from photos. A proper site visit catches these before you commit.
Community. Emirates Hills and Palm Jumeirah contractors charge more. JVC, Al Furjan, DAMAC Hills are more competitive.
Season. Summer in Dubai (June to September) is slow season for contractors. A lot of them offer 10 to 15 percent off, faster start dates, and more attention because they have fewer projects running at the same time. Material suppliers run summer promotions too.
Your contractor. A DED-licensed company with real project management, a detailed Bill of Quantities, and a warranty costs more than an unlicensed crew. But the difference shows up in the quality of the finish, and in what happens when something goes wrong.
Permits and NOCs: The Cost People Forget
If your villa is in a gated community (Emaar, Nakheel, DAMAC, Meraas, Dubai Properties), you need a No Objection Certificate from the developer before any work starts. Even cosmetic work.
NOC processing takes 2 to 6 weeks and costs AED 2,000 to 10,000. You usually have to put down a refundable security deposit of AED 2,000 to 20,000 as well.
If you are doing anything structural (knocking down walls, adding a room, extending the footprint), you also need a Dubai Municipality building permit. That means engineering drawings from a licensed consultant and another 2 to 6 weeks of waiting.
Palm Jumeirah is its own situation. Renovations there go through Trakhees, not Dubai Municipality, with separate Nakheel NOC requirements.
Total permit and NOC costs for a typical villa renovation: AED 8,000 to 30,000. Architectural drawings for structural projects add another AED 5,000 to 20,000.
One thing to know: if you start work before the NOC is approved, even if it is just bringing materials inside or doing minor demolition, you can get a stop-work order and fines up to AED 50,000.
We handle all the permit paperwork as part of our project process. You don’t need to deal with it.
How Long Does It Take?
Cosmetic refresh: 4 to 8 weeks Mid-range renovation (kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, painting): 8 to 12 weeks Full renovation with MEP and layout changes: 12 to 20 weeks Big structural renovation with extensions: 6 to 18 months
A kitchen on its own takes 4 to 8 weeks. Each bathroom takes 3 to 5 weeks.
The things that cause delays are almost always the same: homeowners changing their minds on materials after demolition has started, late NOC approvals, and scope changes during construction. Pick your materials and lock your design before the first wall comes down. That one decision prevents most of the timeline problems we see.
Our standard villa renovation projects come with a detailed schedule shared during the initial consultation. Smaller makeovers run 4 to 6 weeks. Full villa renovations take 3 to 6 months.
7 Ways to Spend Less on Your Renovation
Do everything at once. Renovating the full villa in one go costs 15 to 25 percent less per room than doing it over two or three years. One mobilisation, one set of contractor overheads.
Renovate in summer. Contractors are quieter June to September. Better rates, faster starts, more of their attention on your project.
Keep the plumbing where it is. Moving kitchen or bathroom plumbing adds AED 10,000 to 20,000 per room. If the layout works, put that money into better finishes instead.
Buy UAE-made joinery. Local factories produce good quality cabinetry and stone work at 30 to 50 percent less than importing from Europe. A lot of it is Italian-designed but manufactured here, so you get the look without the import markup.
Put your money in the kitchen and bathrooms. These two give you the best return. AED 100,000 spent there adds more value than the same amount on flooring and paint.
Get line-by-line quotes. Ask for itemised pricing, not lump sums. When you can see every line, you can spot where to cut without losing quality where it matters.
Plan 2 to 3 months ahead. Contractors give better prices when you are not in a rush. Last-minute projects cost more because you are paying for schedule disruption.
About Liger Interiors
We are a DED-licensed interior design and renovation company based in Downtown Dubai (License 1155959). Our founder, Swati Kubal, manages and supervises every project herself along with our core team. She has 13 years in the industry. When we say hands-on, we mean she is on site, checking the work, talking to the contractors, solving problems in person.
We started in 2023 building feature walls. Clients kept asking us to do more, so we grew into full renovations. We have now completed projects across Villanova, Murooj Al Furjan, Tilal Al Furjan, IMPZ, Arabian Ranches 3, Dubai Hills, DAMAC Hills, and Mirdiff Hills. A lot of our work comes from repeat clients and word-of-mouth referrals from those communities.
43 Google reviews. 4.9 rating.
Our consultation packages:
Basic: AED 2,000 Premium: AED 2,800 Superior: AED 3,000
Each one includes a detailed assessment of your villa, design direction, and a full scope of work.
Typical budgets for Liger Interiors projects:
Studio apartment makeover: from AED 120,000 1-BHK apartment makeover: from AED 160,000 3-bed villa renovation: AED 250,000 to 300,000
Joinery and feature walls are project-specific. We quote those based on what you need.
Talk to us. Or see how we work.
Questions People Ask Us
How much does it cost to renovate a 3-bedroom villa in Dubai?
For a 3-bed villa between 2,500 and 3,500 sqft, you are looking at AED 250,000 to 500,000 for a mid-range renovation. Premium with imported materials and custom joinery runs AED 500,000 to 900,000. A cosmetic refresh (paint, flooring, new fixtures) can start from AED 150,000.
What is the cheapest way to renovate a villa?
Paint the walls (AED 8,000 to 20,000), replace the flooring in the main areas (AED 12,000 to 30,000), and update the kitchen countertops (AED 15,000 to 30,000). Keep the existing layout. Choose porcelain over marble. Do all rooms at once instead of in stages.
Do I need a permit?
Yes. If your villa is in a gated community, you need a developer NOC. If you are making structural changes, you also need a Dubai Municipality building permit. Even for cosmetic work, most communities require a NOC from the building management. Skipping this can mean fines up to AED 50,000 and a stop-work order.
How long does a full renovation take?
Most full interior renovations (kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, painting, joinery) take 8 to 16 weeks of construction time. Add 2 to 6 weeks at the start for NOC processing. Large structural projects with extensions can take 6 to 18 months.
Is summer really cheaper?
Yes. Contractors have fewer projects running. Many offer 10 to 15 percent lower rates. Material suppliers run promotions. Start dates are faster. If your schedule allows it, summer is the best time to renovate.
What does renovation cost per square foot?
Cosmetic: AED 150 to 350/sqft. Mid-range: AED 350 to 600/sqft. Premium: AED 600 to 1,000/sqft. Luxury: AED 1,000 to 1,500+/sqft. These are 2026 Dubai market rates.
How much does a kitchen renovation cost?
A basic kitchen starts around AED 45,000 (new fronts, countertop, splashback). A full custom kitchen with stone tops, built-in appliances, and handleless cabinets runs AED 90,000 to 120,000. Changing the layout and moving plumbing adds AED 10,000 to 20,000.
Should I renovate or buy a new villa?
Add up your renovation cost, then compare it to the price gap between your current villa and the one you would buy. Don’t forget the 4% DLD transfer fee, agent commission, and moving expenses on the new purchase. In a lot of cases, renovating works out cheaper and you end up with a villa that is set up the way you actually want it.