Most kitchen budgets are decided by a single question: does anything move?
Keep the sink, the hob and the walls where they are, and a kitchen renovation is mostly joinery, worktops and appliances. Move any one of them, and you are into plumbing, drainage, electrics, sometimes gas, and often approvals. This guide explains what each path costs in Dubai and what the price guides tend to skip.
What a kitchen renovation costs in Dubai
Published 2026 price guides for Dubai put typical ranges roughly here:
| Scope | Typical range | Typical time on site |
|---|---|---|
| Basic refresh | AED 8,000 to 25,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Standard renovation | AED 30,000 to 85,000 | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Premium renovation | AED 85,000 to 180,000 | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Full remodel with layout changes | AED 120,000 to 260,000+ | 8 to 14 weeks |
As a reference point, a 10 square metre apartment kitchen with standard cabinets, quartz worktops, new fittings and no layout change commonly lands around AED 45,000 to 70,000.
Where the money goes
Cabinets are usually the largest single line. Modular units start around AED 8,000 to 18,000, semi-custom MDF or lacquer around AED 18,000 to 40,000, and fully custom joinery AED 40,000 to 100,000 or more.
Worktops are priced per linear metre and vary widely:
| Worktop | Typical price per linear metre |
|---|---|
| Laminate | AED 150 to 350 |
| Solid surface | AED 500 to 900 |
| Granite | AED 600 to 1,200 |
| Quartz | AED 700 to 1,500 |
| Porcelain slab | AED 800 to 1,800 |
| Marble | AED 900 to 2,500+ |
Appliances range from around AED 15,000 for a solid mid-range set to AED 80,000 or more for premium built-in brands. If you are buying them yourself, give your contractor the exact models before the cabinets are made, because built-in ovens, fridges and dishwashers each need specific cut-outs and ventilation gaps.
The expensive question: what moves?
Moving the sink, dishwasher, cooker or gas point triggers plumbing, drainage, electrical and approval work, and published guides put that at an extra AED 8,000 to 20,000 or more. That figure hides a few things worth understanding:
- Drainage needs a fall. A sink moved to an island needs a drain route with a gradient back to the stack. In a villa on a slab, that can mean cutting a channel in the floor.
- Gas is regulated. Gas work in Dubai has to follow Dubai Civil Defence safety rules and is carried out by licensed gas companies. If you are moving a gas hob, factor that in. Many clients avoid the question entirely by switching to induction.
- Electrics. Induction hobs and double ovens each need their own dedicated circuit. Check the board has capacity before you plan three new built-in appliances on one wall.
Opening up to an open-plan kitchen
Removing the wall between kitchen and living area is one of the most requested changes in Dubai villas, and one of the most likely to affect resale value in either direction.
Before anything else, you need to know whether the wall is load-bearing. If it is, the opening needs an engineer’s design, a beam, a Dubai Municipality permit and, in most communities, a developer NOC. Our villa renovation permits guide explains that process.
Going open-plan also changes how the kitchen has to work. Cooking smells and heat now reach the living room, so extraction stops being optional.
Planning for heat and extraction
Duct to the outside where you can. A recirculating hood filters grease but puts the heat and moisture back into the room. In an open-plan layout, a ducted extractor with a short, straight run to an outside wall makes a noticeable difference.
Size the hood to the hob. The hood should be at least as wide as the cooking surface, and wider for high-heat cooking.
Give appliances room to breathe. Built-in fridges and ovens need the ventilation gaps their manufacturers specify. Squeezing them into tight joinery shortens their life, and in a Dubai summer a fridge working in a hot, unventilated cavity works much harder.
Protect the sink run. Use moisture-resistant carcasses under and beside the sink, and seal every cut edge. Swollen cabinet bases around the sink are one of the most common kitchen repairs we see.
Lead times
The site programme is only part of the timeline. Custom joinery commonly takes several weeks to manufacture, and imported appliances or stone slabs can take longer. Confirm availability before you set a demolition date, so you are not living without a kitchen while you wait for a delivery.
What to check in a kitchen quote
- Cabinet material and carcass specification, including what is used around the sink.
- Worktop material, thickness, edge profile and number of joins.
- Whether appliance installation, cut-outs and ventilation are included.
- Any plumbing, drainage, electrical or gas changes, listed separately.
- Who applies for approvals if anything structural or MEP moves.
- Extraction: ducted or recirculating, and the duct route.
- Lead times for joinery and appliances, and what happens if they slip.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my cabinets and just change the worktop and doors?
Yes, if the carcasses are sound. Replacing fronts, worktop and fittings is the basic refresh tier and avoids most of the cost and disruption.
Do I need approval for a kitchen renovation?
Cosmetic work usually does not. Moving plumbing, electrics, gas or any wall usually needs a community or building NOC, and structural work needs a Dubai Municipality permit.
Gas or induction?
Induction is easier to install anywhere in the room, keeps the kitchen cooler, and avoids moving a gas line. Gas remains a preference for some cooks. If you are changing the layout, induction usually makes it simpler.
How long will we be without a kitchen?
For a standard renovation, plan on four to six weeks without a working kitchen once demolition starts. A temporary setup with a microwave and a fridge in another room helps.
Planning a kitchen renovation?
Kitchens are a core part of our interior renovation work in Dubai. We will check what can move, what it will involve, and give you an itemised quote before any work starts.