How Much Does an
Interior Design Cost in Dubai

Updated August 2026

If you’ve started asking interior design companies in Dubai for quotes, you’ve probably noticed the numbers don’t line up. One firm quotes AED 40,000, another quotes AED 140,000, for what sounds like the same apartment. That’s not necessarily anyone overcharging, it usually means the two quotes are covering different things. This guide breaks down exactly how interior design cost in Dubai is structured in 2026, so you can read any quote you receive and know what it actually includes.

The short version: design-only services in Dubai typically run AED 75–550 per square foot, while full turnkey interior design and fit-out, design plus materials, joinery, and installation, typically runs AED 250–1,500+ per square foot, depending on property type and finish level. For a typical 1,200 sq ft apartment, that puts a realistic turnkey budget somewhere between AED 90,000 and AED 300,000+, with luxury villas running well beyond that. The rest of this guide explains why the range is so wide, and how to figure out where your project actually sits.

How Interior Design Pricing Works in Dubai

Before looking at numbers, it helps to know how firms actually structure their fees, this is the part most guides (including our old one) skip, and it’s usually why two quotes look so different.

Per square foot. The most common model in Dubai. The firm quotes a rate per sq ft that either covers design only, or design plus full execution (turnkey). Always ask which one you’re being quoted.

Fixed package fee. A single total price for a clearly defined scope, common for smaller, well-specified projects like a single room or a compact office.

Percentage of project cost. Common with higher-end studios, typically 10–20% of total project spend. This aligns the designer’s incentive with your budget, but the fee rises as the project grows, so it’s worth capping it in the contract.

Hourly consultation. For advice only, layout suggestions, colour or material selection, without a full design engagement. Useful if you mainly need direction, not execution.

Design style also affects which model makes sense: a minimalist, off-the-shelf-friendly brief often suits fixed-fee pricing well, while a bespoke, highly custom style, imported stone, made-to-order joinery, integrated smart-home systems, tends to push firms toward per-sq-ft or percentage pricing, because the scope is harder to fix upfront. If a firm quotes you a flat fee for a highly custom brief, ask what happens if the design evolves.

At Mark Fitout, we work primarily on a per-sq-ft or fixed-package basis depending on project size, and we’ll tell you upfront which one fits your brief before you commit to anything.

Interior Design Cost by Project Size

These are the same four bands from our original guide, updated with 2026 per-sq-ft context so you can apply them to your own space rather than just reading a total.

Small-scale projects (a single room, a compact office, a studio refresh): typically AED 10,000–30,000+, or roughly AED 75–150 per sq ft for design-only work. This covers a focused brief, new finishes, furniture, and layout, without structural changes.

Medium-scale projects (an average-sized apartment or office): typically AED 30,000–100,000, in the AED 150–350 per sq ft range depending on whether you’re going design-only or turnkey. Most 1–2 bedroom Dubai apartments fall here.

Large-scale projects (spacious homes, larger commercial spaces): typically AED 100,000–350,000+, often AED 350–700 per sq ft for turnkey work with higher-spec finishes, custom joinery, and more complex MEP coordination.

High-end luxury projects: effectively open-ended, AED 800–2,000+ per sq ft is common for bespoke villas with imported materials, integrated smart-home systems, and fully custom furniture, and costs from a half-million to several million dirhams are realistic for larger luxury homes.

Interior Design Cost by Property Type

Project size only tells half the story, property type changes the cost structure too, and this is the piece our original guide didn’t cover at all.

Apartments. The most common starting point for Dubai interior design projects. A 1–2 bedroom apartment in a standard building typically lands in the medium-scale band above; layout is usually fixed, which keeps costs more predictable than a villa. See our dedicated apartment renovation page if you’re planning a fuller renovation alongside the design work.

Villas. Larger footprints, more rooms, and often more structural flexibility, which is exactly why villa budgets vary so widely, from AED 150,000 for a modest refresh to well over a million for a full luxury fit-out. Outdoor and landscaped areas, if included, add a separate line item. Our villa fitout and villa renovation teams handle this end-to-end.

Offices and commercial spaces. Priced differently again, commercial fit-outs typically run AED 150–700 per sq ft, and unlike residential work, MEP, partitioning, and authority approvals (Dubai Municipality, Dubai Civil Defence, DEWA) are a bigger share of the cost. See our commercial interior design and office fit-out pages for a fuller breakdown of what’s included.

Factors Influencing Interior Design Costs in Dubai

Project scope and size. The main driver of overall spend, bigger spaces and more complex briefs mean more materials, more labour, and a longer timeline. Our designers assess scope upfront through a proper space planning process, so your estimate reflects your actual space, not a generic average.

Design style and preferences. A minimalist, off-the-shelf-friendly style costs meaningfully less than a bespoke, highly custom one. Book-matched marble, imported joinery, and integrated smart-home systems are where luxury budgets escalate fastest, worth deciding early which of these actually matter to you.

Materials and finishes. Flooring, countertops, wall coverings, and furniture selection can shift a budget by tens of thousands of dirhams either way. We’ll always show you the cost difference between material tiers before you decide, not after.

Labour and professional fees. Designers, architects, contractors, and skilled tradespeople each carry their own cost, and coordinating them well (or poorly) affects your total. A project management approach that keeps one team accountable for the whole build tends to avoid the rework costs that come from managing separate contractors yourself.

Location and accessibility. Projects further from established supplier and contractor networks can carry higher logistics costs, worth asking about upfront if you’re outside a core Dubai district.

VAT. Often left out of quotes until the final invoice. The UAE applies a standard 5% Value Added Tax on goods and services, interior design and fit-out included, always confirm whether a quote is VAT-inclusive before comparing it to another.

Interior Design Cost in Dubai vs. the Rest of the UAE

If you’re comparing interior design cost in UAE more broadly, Dubai generally sits at the higher end of the national range, driven by material import costs, higher labour rates in premium districts, and demand for faster turnaround. Abu Dhabi pricing tracks closely with Dubai for comparable specification levels, while Sharjah and the Northern Emirates tend to run somewhat lower, mainly reflecting lower average property sizes and a different mix of finish levels rather than a fundamentally different pricing model. If you’re weighing interior design prices in the UAE across emirates, the biggest single factor is still specification level, not location, a luxury villa in Sharjah and a mid-range apartment in Dubai can easily cost the same.

How to Get an Accurate Interior Design Quote

This is the part most pricing guides, including our old one, skip, and it’s usually where clients overpay without realising it.

Ask which pricing model you’re getting. Per sq ft, fixed fee, or percentage, and whether it’s design-only or turnkey. Comparing a design-only quote to a turnkey one is comparing two different products.

Ask for an itemised breakdown, not just a total. A fair quote separates design fees, materials, labour, and project management, so you can see exactly where your budget is going and negotiate individual line items if needed.

Confirm what triggers a change order. Scope changes are normal, but you want to know upfront how they’re priced, not discover it mid-project.

Get more than one quote for the same brief. Give every firm the same brief and same square footage so the comparison is fair — a lower headline number is meaningless if it’s covering a smaller scope.

Visit real, completed work. Photos are easy to curate; a completed space tells you more about finish quality than any quote. You can browse examples of our own completed projects in our portfolio.

Frequently Asked Questions

What factors influence the cost of interior design in Dubai?

Project size, design complexity, designer expertise, material and finish selection, and location are the main drivers. Larger, more complex, more customised projects with premium materials cost more; a well-defined, simpler brief costs less.

How much does a small-scale interior design project in Dubai cost?

Typically AED 10,000–30,000+, or roughly AED 75–150 per sq ft for design-only work, depending on materials and the specific requirements of the space.

What’s the average cost for a medium-scale interior design project?

Around AED 30,000–100,000 for an average apartment or office, varying with design complexity and whether the work is design-only or turnkey.

Is interior design in Dubai priced differently for apartments, villas, and offices?

Yes, apartments and villas are priced on residential rates (roughly AED 75–700 per sq ft depending on tier), while commercial and office spaces run AED 150–700 per sq ft and carry additional costs for MEP and authority approvals.

Do interior design quotes in Dubai include VAT?

Not always, the UAE’s standard VAT rate is 5%, and it’s worth confirming directly with any firm whether their quote is VAT-inclusive before comparing prices.

How can I get an accurate estimate for my interior design project in Dubai?

Consult a firm directly, give them a clear brief and your exact square footage, and ask for an itemised, VAT-clarified quote. Getting quotes from two or three firms against the identical brief is the most reliable way to compare fairly.

Get a Free, Itemised Interior Design Quote

Every space is different, and a rate-per-square-foot figure can only tell you so much. If you’d rather have a real number for your actual project, Mark Fitout offers a free consultation and an itemised quote — no bundled fees, no surprises at handover. Get in touch and we’ll walk your brief through design, materials, and execution costs together.