Put the quotes side by side one item at a time, not total against total. Find the items every quote prices and compare those first: that is the real price difference. Then list what only one quote prices, what quantities or specifications differ, and what nobody mentions. Ask each contractor to price the gaps before you choose. The worked example below shows a 30% gap shrinking to 15% once the scope matches.
A worked example: two quotes for one apartment refresh
Two contractors quoted the same two-bedroom apartment: new floor tiles throughout, a gypsum false ceiling with spotlights, one bathroom, and painting. The totals look far apart.
| Quote | Total of priced lines | Lines |
|---|---|---|
| Contractor one | AED 83,705 | 10 |
| Contractor two | AED 64,240 | 6 |
A 30% difference. The first instinct is that contractor two is cheaper. Line by line, the picture changes.
1. The items both quotes price
| Item | Contractor one | Contractor two | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porcelain floor tiles, supply and fix, 120 sq m | AED 26,400 (220/sq m) | AED 23,400 (195/sq m) | Same quantity, same material. Ask both which tile and thickness. |
| Gypsum false ceiling, 80 sq m | AED 12,000 (150/sq m) | AED 10,800 (135/sq m) | Comparable: same quantity and unit. Ask for board thickness. |
| Spotlights, 32 | AED 5,760 (180 each) | AED 5,120 (160 each) | Ask for the fitting brand and wattage. |
| Wall-hung WC, 2 | AED 7,600 | AED 6,400 | Brand not stated by either. Ask. |
| Bathroom wall tiles, 48 sq m | AED 12,480 (260/sq m) | AED 11,520 (240/sq m) | Comparable: same quantity and unit. Ask which tile. |
| Painting, whole apartment | AED 9,490 | AED 7,000 (lump sum) | Contractor two gives no area. Ask for coats and paint brand. |
| Like-for-like total | AED 73,730 | AED 64,240 | About 15% apart, and only the four rows with matching quantity and unit are truly like for like; the WC and painting rows still need the brand and area confirmed |
2. What only one quote prices
- Removing the existing floor tiles and disposal, 120 sq m: AED 3,000. Only contractor one. Someone has to do it. Is it in contractor two's tile rate, or excluded?
- Skirting, 95 lm: AED 4,275. Only contractor one. New floors without skirting leave a visible gap.
- Bathroom waterproofing, 18 sq m: AED 2,700. Only contractor one. Leaving this out is the most expensive omission on the list; a bathroom without waterproofing fails within a few years.
Those three lines are AED 9,975 of contractor one's total. If contractor two excludes them, the quotes are nearly level once you add them back. If contractor two includes them inside other rates, they are the cheaper quote by about 15% on the same work. You cannot know which until you ask.
3. What neither quote states
Neither mentions electrical work for the new spotlights, making good after the ceiling, protection of furniture, or who handles the building NOC. Each of these becomes a variation later unless it is written down now.
4. Terms
Contractor two asks for 60% in advance and 40% on completion; contractor one for 40%, 40% and 20% against milestones. Neither states validity or warranty. Payment terms are part of the price: a larger advance moves risk to you.
The questions to send each contractor
- Please confirm whether tile removal and disposal, skirting and bathroom waterproofing are included, and price them if not.
- Which floor tile (brand, size, thickness) and which paint (brand, number of coats) have you priced?
- Which WC and spotlight fittings have you priced? Please name them.
- Is electrical work for the new lights included? Who applies for the community NOC, and is the fee included?
- How long is the quote valid, and what warranty do you give on the work?
When the answers come back, re-run the comparison with the revised quotes. Choose on the like-for-like total and the specification, not the headline.
Do it with your own quotes
The free quote comparison tool does the matching above automatically: paste two or three quotes and it shows the line-by-line table, the like-for-like total, what only some quotes price and where specifications differ. Your quotes stay in your browser. To check a single quote's lines against published rates, use the quote checker. For what a scope should cost before you get quotes, see the villa and apartment cost guides, and for who to hire, how to choose a contractor.
Questions
Why do two renovation quotes for the same job differ so much?
Usually because they are not for the same job. One quote prices items the other leaves out (waterproofing, skirting, demolition, disposal), quantities differ, or the specification differs (porcelain versus ceramic, a named brand versus "equivalent"). Compare the items every quote prices first; the difference on those is the real price gap.
What should be in a renovation quote in Dubai?
One line per item with a description, quantity, unit, rate and amount; the materials and brands or grades; what is excluded; payment terms; validity; warranty; and who handles approvals and their fees. A lump sum for a whole room cannot be compared with anything.
Is the cheapest quote the best?
Not until you know it covers the same scope. A quote that leaves out waterproofing, disposal or making good looks cheaper and costs more later. Compare like for like, then judge price.
How many quotes should I compare?
Three for the same written scope is enough to see the pattern. More than that rarely changes the decision and costs each contractor a site visit.
Keep going
Sources
- SoukLocal quote comparison: the worked example uses the tool's built-in sample quotes (illustrative figures, not a real project), run on 3 November 2026
- Dubai Municipality: Law No. (7) of 2025 Regulating Contracting Activities (the registration a contractor must hold before you engage them)
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.