Most Dubai apartment renovations start with an NOC from the building's management or owners' association. Painting and new floors need no Dubai Municipality permit. Moving partition walls, plumbing or wiring needs a permit from the authority for the area: Dubai Municipality, Trakhees or the DDA. Changes to the structure or outside look of the unit also need master developer and Dubai Land Department approval under Law No. 6 of 2019.
Here for the numbers? Every published price band, per sq ft and by apartment size, with its source and date, is in apartment renovation costs in Dubai. This guide covers what you can change, who approves it and how the job runs.
What can you change in a Dubai apartment?
Inside finishes, usually; the structure, the outside and the common parts, only with approvals. Law No. 6 of 2019 lets an occupant make substantial alterations to the structure or external appearance of a unit only after the master developer, the Dubai Land Department and the competent authority approve them. Common parts may be used only for their intended purpose.
| Change | What it needs | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Repainting, light cosmetic work | No Dubai Municipality permit; confirm with your building | Dubai Municipality (2023); Property Finder |
| New floor finishes | No Dubai Municipality maintenance permit; towers may set acoustic and waterproofing conditions | Dubai Municipality (2023); Property Finder |
| Kitchen or bathroom that changes plumbing, wiring, ventilation or layout | Building NOC and an authority permit | Property Finder |
| Electrical upgrades, air-conditioning ducting or load changes | Building NOC and an authority permit | Property Finder |
| Adding or removing partition walls | Building NOC and an authority permit | Property Finder |
| Minor structural repairs | Dubai Municipality self-maintenance permit, issued online | Dubai Municipality (2023) |
| Structure or external appearance of the unit | Master developer, Dubai Land Department and authority approval | Law No. 6 of 2019, Article 39 |
| Common parts (corridors, shared areas) | Use only for their purpose; never converted to private property without Dubai Land Department and authority approval | Law No. 6 of 2019, Articles 17 and 39 |
If you change something without approval, the same law makes you liable to put right any damage at your own expense. Your building's management regulation binds you as an owner and binds your tenant too.
Who approves an apartment renovation?
The building first, then the permit authority for the area if the scope goes beyond cosmetic work.
- Building NOC: From the management company, owners' association or developer that runs the building (Owner asks; building issues)
- Drawings, where the scope needs a permit: Walls, plumbing, wiring, air-conditioning (Licensed engineering consultant)
- Permit from the authority for the area: Dubai Municipality, Trakhees or the DDA (Consultant or contractor submits)
- Works under the building's rules: Hours, lift booking, floor protection, deposit (Contractor)
- Completion inspection, where the authority requires it: Trakhees: Modification Completion Certificate before you use the space (Contractor or consultant)
| Authority | Permit, as it names it | Who applies | Published time | Published fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Municipality (most of the mainland) | Building permit through the Dubai Building Permit System; self-maintenance permit for minor structural repairs | Landowner, contractor or consultant (self-maintenance permit) | Not in the sources we opened | Not in the sources we opened |
| Trakhees (PCFC areas) | Modification Permit, for completed buildings | Applicant or consultant, online | 7 working days from payment approval (target) | As per project specification |
| Dubai Development Authority (DDA zones) | Building Modification Permit, for completed buildings | Contractor | 2 working days (estimated) | AED 1.0 per sq ft of additional or relevant built-up area, plus AED 20 |
Property Finder (September 2025) estimates authority permit costs of about AED 1,500 to 2,500 for an interior-only apartment scope and AED 2,500 to 4,000 with MEP changes, before consultant fees. Not sure which authority covers your building? Use which authority approves my job. If your building is in a Nakheel or other PCFC area, read Trakhees approval in Dubai.
What does an apartment renovation include?
It depends on the tier. Binghatti (August 2026) describes five, from a light refresh to a luxury renovation:
| Tier | What it may include | Approvals, usually |
|---|---|---|
| Light refresh | Painting, minor repairs, selected lighting or fixture replacements, limited flooring | Building NOC |
| Targeted upgrade | A kitchen or bathroom upgrade, flooring, painting, selected joinery, limited electrical or plumbing work | Building NOC; a permit if plumbing or wiring changes |
| Full mid-range | Kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, ceilings, lighting, painting, MEP coordination, handover cleaning | Building NOC and an authority permit |
| Premium | Higher-grade materials, custom joinery, stone or quartz surfaces, upgraded bathrooms, detailed lighting | Building NOC and an authority permit |
| Luxury or penthouse | Bespoke joinery, imported finishes, extensive MEP work, smart-home systems | Building NOC and an authority permit; consultant drawings |
Tier descriptions from Binghatti. The approvals column applies the permit list in the table above; your building and authority decide in each case.
How much does an apartment renovation cost?
A full mid-range renovation runs about AED 60,000 to 120,000 for a studio and AED 100,000 to 200,000 for a 1-bedroom, by Binghatti's August 2026 ranges.
| Apartment | Cosmetic or partial (AED) | Full, mid-range (AED) | Premium (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 25,000 – 60,000 | 60,000 – 120,000 | 120,000 – 200,000+ |
| 1 bedroom | 50,000 – 100,000 | 100,000 – 200,000 | 200,000 – 350,000+ |
Larger apartments, costs per sq ft and what pushes a budget up are in apartment renovation costs in Dubai. For modelled ranges by finish, see the Dubai renovation price index; to price your own plan, use the Budget Planner.
How long does an apartment renovation take?
About 6 to 10 weeks on site for a full studio or 1-bedroom renovation and 8 to 16 weeks for a 2 or 3-bedroom, by Binghatti's estimates. Approvals come first:
- Building or developer NOC: about 7 to 14 days, varying by community (Property Finder).
- Authority permit: Trakhees targets 7 working days from payment approval for a new Modification Permit; the DDA estimates 2 working days for a Building Modification Permit. Property Finder puts authority review at 10 to 15 working days for simple projects.
- Completion: in Trakhees areas, the Modification Completion Certificate has a 3 working day target after the inspection request.
Durations by scope and what makes jobs run late: how long a renovation takes in Dubai.
When can contractors work, and is there a deposit?
Your building sets the hours, and most towers take a refundable deposit. Property Finder says most towers limit noisy work to weekdays and set hours, and that deposits are commonly AED 2,000 to 5,000, refunded if the common areas stay undamaged.
- City-wide hours: Gulf News (updated 23 October 2025) reports that Dubai Municipality allows construction from 6am to 8pm on weekdays and 7am to 8pm at weekends. Outside those hours, residents can report noise in the Dubai Municipality app, on 800900 or at [email protected].
- Gated communities and private towers: the same report says to contact the developer or community management, as the municipal app does not cover them.
- Before deliveries: book the service lift, protect floors and walls, and tell the building and your neighbours. Our checks for apartment works list what to agree with the building.
How should you pay for an apartment renovation?
In stages tied to work you can see, with everything in writing. Binghatti advises recording payment stages, variations, completion, retention, snagging and warranties in the contract, and confirming which fees and building deposits the price includes.
- Ask who applies for the building NOC and any permit, and who pays the fees and deposit.
- Tie each payment to a stage, not a date, and agree variations in writing before the work.
- Keep a retention until snagging is done.
Published stage ladders, deposits and retention: renovation payment terms in Dubai. To line up two or three offers, use the quote comparison tool.
How do you check an apartment renovation contractor?
Check the licence and the Contractor Register before you sign. Under Dubai Law No. 7 of 2025, in force since 8 January 2026, no company may operate as a contractor unless it is licensed and on the register, and owners may not engage an unregistered contractor. It applies on the mainland and in special development and free zones. Existing contractors have until 8 January 2027 to comply.
- Look up the trade licence and its activities, then the register status: check a contractor, step by step.
- Read how to check a contractor's licence and what the Contractor Register means.
- In Trakhees areas, consultants and contractors in charge of design or site work must have their engineers accredited by Trakhees.
- Ask for proof of insurance: what to ask for.
Questions
Do I need permission to renovate my apartment in Dubai?
Almost always from the building: most managed buildings want an NOC from the management company or owners' association first. Painting and new floors need no Dubai Municipality permit. Moving partition walls, plumbing or wiring also needs a permit from the authority for the area.
Can I remove a wall in my Dubai apartment?
Only with approval. Adding or removing partition walls is listed among works that need a permit, and changes to the structure or outside look of a unit need the master developer, the Dubai Land Department and the permit authority to approve under Law No. 6 of 2019.
Who issues the permit for an apartment renovation?
The authority for the area: Dubai Municipality on most of the mainland, Trakhees in PCFC areas such as Nakheel communities, and the Dubai Development Authority in its zones. Trakhees calls it a Modification Permit and targets 7 working days; the DDA Building Modification Permit takes about 2 working days.
How much does it cost to renovate an apartment in Dubai?
Published 2026 ranges put a full mid-range renovation at about AED 60,000 to 120,000 for a studio and AED 100,000 to 200,000 for a 1-bedroom. Cosmetic work costs less and premium work more; the cost guide has every band and source.
What hours can contractors work in a Dubai apartment?
Your building sets them. Most towers limit noisy work to weekdays and set hours, so check the owners' association conditions. Gulf News reports Dubai Municipality allows construction from 6am to 8pm on weekdays and 7am to 8pm at weekends.
Keep going
Sources
- Dubai Legislation Portal: Law No. (6) of 2019 Concerning Ownership of Jointly Owned Real Property: alterations to structure or external appearance need master developer, DLD and competent authority approval; common parts; building management regulation binds owners and occupants (Articles 6, 16, 17, 39), opened 4 November 2026
- Dubai Media Office: Dubai Municipality launches new service (13 August 2023): no permit for painting and non-structural fixes such as floors; self-maintenance permit for structural repairs through the Dubai Building Permit System, opened 4 November 2026
- PCFC Trakhees: Client Procedure for obtaining Modification Permits (PCFC-TRK-CED-MF-CP-01, Rev. 02, September 2024): Modification Permit for completed buildings, online application, 7 working day target, fees per project, opened 4 November 2026
- PCFC Trakhees: Client Procedure for requesting Modification Completion Certificate (PCFC-TRK-CED-MF-CP-02, Rev. 02, December 2022): no occupancy before the certificate, 3 working day target, opened 4 November 2026
- PCFC Trakhees: CED Accreditation Requirements (CEDGR-7, 5 May 2015): consultants' and contractors' engineers on Trakhees projects must be accredited, opened 4 November 2026
- Dubai Development Authority: Building Modification - Permit: completed buildings, contractor applies, 2 working days, AED 1.0 per sq ft, appointment letter signed by owner, consultant and contractor, opened 4 November 2026
- Binghatti: Apartment renovation cost in Dubai (12 August 2026): totals by size and tier, tier definitions, 6–10 and 8–16 weeks on site, approvals and payment records, opened 4 November 2026
- Property Finder: Dubai building code and permits for home renovations (21 September 2025): works that need a permit, NOC before the authority, deposits AED 2,000–5,000, tower work hours, permit cost estimates, NOC and review times, opened 4 November 2026
- Gulf News: How to report construction noise complaints in Dubai (updated 23 October 2025): permitted hours and complaint channels, opened 4 November 2026
- Al Tamimi & Co: A new era for contractors in Dubai, an overview of Law No. (7) of 2025: in force 8 January 2026, owners may not engage unregistered contractors, applies in free zones, compliance by 8 January 2027, opened 4 November 2026
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by community and authority: confirm with the authority or your consultant before you start work.