Our Interior Design & Fit-Out Services
We structure every engagement around two clear models — and we are explicit about which one you are buying.
- Design-only — we produce the full creative and technical package: space planning, concept and mood-boards, 3D visualisations, material and furniture specifications, technical drawings, and a bill of quantities (BOQ) you can hand to any contractor. You own the design; you tender the build.
- Turnkey — we do all of the above and take responsibility for delivery: joinery, MEP coordination, finishes, fit-out works, authority approvals, site supervision, snagging and handover. One contract, one accountable team, one point of contact. For most homeowners this is the lower-stress route — it removes the gap where a designer blames the contractor and the contractor blames the designer.
Residential & Villa Interior Design
Whole-villa schemes in communities such as the Palm, Emirates Hills, Dubai Hills and Arabian Ranches — as design-only or turnkey.
- Scope — living and majlis, formal and show kitchens, bedrooms, walk-in closets, home cinemas, gyms and outdoor majlis areas
- Complexity — larger volumes, double-height spaces, landscaped indoor-outdoor transitions, and structural or layout changes requiring developer and authority approval
- Occupied renovations — we plan around the realities of homes where you intend to keep living during works
Apartment Interior Design
Apartment interiors in Downtown, Business Bay, Dubai Marina, JVC and MBR City — designed to maximise usable space and light.
- Regulations — buildings' owners' association and developer fit-out rules govern working hours, material movement and wet-area waterproofing standards
- NOC process — we manage the building-management paperwork so your renovation does not fall foul of community rules
- Finishes — acoustically and thermally sensible specifications for apartment footprints
Commercial & Office Fit-Out
Workplace design and fit-out from space planning and test-fits through to Cat-A and Cat-B works.
- Balance — brand expression, staff wellbeing and Dubai's regulatory environment
- Compliance — DEWA load, civil defence (fire and life-safety), landlord or free-zone authority approvals
- Deliverable — full technical drawings and approvals package required for sign-off
Retail Fit-Out
Store environments designed for footfall, lighting consistency and brand impact.
- Finishes — durable, high-traffic specifications and lighting
- Approvals — mall-management and municipality approval process handled end to end
F&B & Hospitality Fit-Out
Front- and back-of-house designed together — the heaviest regulatory scope of all project types.
- Materials — washable, heat- and humidity-tolerant specifications throughout
- Regulatory path — food-control approvals, kitchen extract and grease management, fire and life-safety, DEWA and drainage coordination
- Approvals — we coordinate the full multi-authority path F&B venues must clear before trading
Our Design & Delivery Process, Step by Step
Good interiors are not just drawn — they are sequenced. Turnkey projects follow all seven steps; design-only projects stop after Step 4.
1. Consultation & Brief
Free site visit. We measure the space, understand how you live or work, agree your budget band and timeline, and surface structural, MEP or regulatory constraints early — before they become expensive surprises.
2. Concept & Mood-board
We translate the brief into a design direction.
- Deliverables — spatial concept, layout options, material and colour palette, reference mood-boards
- You see and feel the intended look before any money is committed to drawings
3. 3D Visualisation
Photorealistic 3D renders of key spaces — where you make decisions cheaply.
- Moving a wall on a render costs nothing; moving it on site costs a great deal
- We iterate until the visuals match your vision
4. Technical Drawings & BOQ
Approved concepts become a full construction package.
- Includes — detailed joinery drawings, electrical and lighting layouts, MEP coordination, finishes schedules
- Itemised BOQ — converts the design into a fixed, line-by-line quote with no hidden charges
5. Approvals & NOCs
Before a single wall is touched, the project must be approved.
- We prepare and submit drawings to the relevant authority — Dubai Municipality or Trakhees depending on your community
- We secure the developer or owners'-association NOC and obtain DEWA clearance where required
- The short version: we handle it for you (full detail in the approvals section below)
6. Fit-Out & Site Supervision
Our team executes the build under continuous supervision.
- Works — demolition, civil and MEP works, joinery installation, finishes, final fixtures
- Standards — all to approved drawings and documented quality and safety standards aligned with ISO 9001 principles
- Communication — single project contact and regular progress updates
7. Handover & Snagging
- We walk the completed space with you and log every snag
- All snags closed out before handover
- You receive as-built information
- Fit-out works are covered by a workmanship and defects-liability warranty — typically the 12-month defects-liability period (DLP) common to UAE fit-out contracts
Interior Design Styles We Work In
We are not a single-look studio — we design to your taste and to the architecture of the space.
- Modern Luxury — rich materials, restrained palettes, statement lighting and bespoke joinery; the dominant language of high-end Dubai villas
- Contemporary — clean lines, open-plan living and a current, liveable aesthetic that ages gracefully
- Minimalist — pared-back, calm and disciplined, where every material and junction is deliberate
- Japandi — the fusion of Japanese simplicity and Scandinavian warmth; natural timbers, soft neutrals and quiet craftsmanship
- Arabic & Moroccan — arches, mashrabiya screens, geometric detailing, brass and rich textiles, executed with modern construction standards
- Classic & Neoclassical — symmetry, mouldings, panelled walls and timeless formality for those who want grandeur done properly
Most of our projects are a considered blend, anchored to how you actually want to live.
Designing for Dubai's Climate
Dubai's environment is genuinely demanding: prolonged summer heat above 45°C, high coastal humidity, intense ultraviolet light, fine airborne dust, and constant cycling between air-conditioned interiors and scorching exteriors. Designing well here is as much building science as aesthetics.
- Heat and timber movement — solid timber and natural veneers can cup or check when repeatedly cycled between a 24°C conditioned room and a hot, dry or humid environment. We specify engineered substrates, properly acclimatised timber, stable veneers and quality lacquers, and detail joinery with movement in mind so doors keep closing and panels stay flat.
- UV and fade resistance — south- and west-facing rooms receive punishing sun; untreated fabrics, rugs, artwork and some timbers fade noticeably within a year or two. We specify solution-dyed and UV-resistant fabrics, fade-tolerant finishes, and pair the scheme with the right glazing and shading strategy.
- Glare and glazing — floor-to-ceiling glass is beautiful and, unmanaged, brutal. We apply anti-glare and solar-control approaches: appropriate window treatments, layered lighting that works against bright daylight, and layouts that place screens, desks and seating out of harsh glare paths.
- Humidity, bathrooms and closets — coastal humidity plus enclosed wet areas is a recipe for mould and musty closets. We specify moisture-tolerant finishes, proper waterproofing and extract ventilation in bathrooms, and plan walk-in closets with airflow and, where needed, dehumidification.
- Dust — fine desert dust is relentless. We favour wipeable surfaces, sensible reveals and finishes that clean easily, and coordinate with the HVAC strategy so filtration actually helps.
- HVAC-aware layouts — cooling shapes the design, not an afterthought. We coordinate ceiling heights, bulkheads, grille positions, return-air paths and zoning with the layout from the start, so the space is comfortable, quiet and efficient.
Materials & Finishes We Specify
Our specifications are chosen for how they perform in Dubai, not just how they photograph.
- Marble & porcelain — natural marble for statement floors, feature walls and vanities where veining justifies the maintenance; large-format porcelain (including marble-effect slabs) where you want the look with far greater stain-, scratch- and heat-resistance — ideal for high-traffic and family homes
- Veneers & bespoke joinery — engineered, acclimatised veneers and substrates for wardrobes, modular kitchens, wall panelling and built-ins — chosen and detailed to stay stable in Dubai's heat cycles
- Fabrics & upholstery — UV-resistant, solution-dyed and easy-clean textiles for sun-exposed rooms and family living, with performance fabrics where children and pets are part of the picture
- Smart-home integration — lighting scenes, climate, shading, audio-visual and security planned into the electrical drawings from day one, wired correctly during fit-out rather than bolted on afterwards
- Lighting — layered architectural lighting (ambient, task and accent) with correct colour temperatures and dimming, designed to work both against intense daylight and as a warm evening scheme
Dubai Fit-Out Approvals & Permits, Explained
In Dubai you cannot simply start knocking down walls — interior fit-out and modification works require approval from the correct authority before works begin, and the right authority depends on where your property is. We manage this entire process.
Step 1 — Developer / Community NOC
Almost every project starts with a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the master developer or owners' association.
- Who issues it — Emaar, Nakheel, Dubai Properties, or your building's OA
- Why it matters — typically a prerequisite before any government authority will look at the drawings
- Community rules — approved working hours, contractor registration, security deposits and waste-removal requirements
Step 2 — Dubai Municipality or Trakhees
The single most important distinction in Dubai fit-out approvals is which authority has jurisdiction over your address.
- Dubai Municipality (DM) — default approvals authority for most of mainland Dubai
- Trakhees (regulatory arm of PCFC) — governs Nakheel-developed and free-zone communities: Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Islands, Jumeirah Park, Discovery Gardens, International City, Jebel Ali (JAFZA) and Dubai Maritime City, among others
Getting this wrong wastes weeks — submitting to DM for a Palm Jumeirah villa means rejection and resubmission. We confirm jurisdiction at the consultation stage and route drawings correctly the first time.
Step 3 — DEWA Clearance
Where works affect electrical load, distribution boards, or water and drainage connections, DEWA (Dubai Electricity & Water Authority) approval is required alongside the municipality/Trakhees permit. Significant changes need a DEWA-registered consultant/contractor to submit and sign off the works.
Step 4 — Inspection & Completion / Clearance Certificate
Once works are complete, the authority inspects the site against approved drawings.
- A completion or clearance certificate is issued on a satisfactory inspection
- For OA-managed buildings, the security deposit is released
- This certificate is your proof the works were done legally and to code — it matters when you sell, lease or insure the property
Typical Timelines
- Simple apartment fit-outs — approvals can move in a couple of weeks
- Villa modifications and commercial/F&B projects — commonly several weeks to a couple of months from submission to permit (more authorities, more inspections)
- We sequence approvals to overlap with design finalisation and procurement so paperwork is never sitting idle on your timeline
In short: we prepare the drawings, identify the correct authority, submit the NOC and permit applications, coordinate DEWA, and see the clearance certificate through — so you do not have to.
How Much Does Interior Design Cost in Dubai?
Honest answer: anyone quoting a firm price before seeing your space and brief is guessing. Cost is driven by scope, area, finish level and how much structural or MEP change is involved. All figures below are indicative starting points, exclude the 5% VAT that applies to interior design and fit-out services in the UAE, and are before a typical ~10% contingency.
Turnkey Fit-Out (full design-and-build), per sq ft
- Essential finishes — from AED 250 per sq ft (typically AED 250–450)
- Premium finishes — from AED 450 per sq ft (typically AED 450–800)
- Luxury / ultra-luxury finishes — from AED 800 per sq ft (typically AED 800–1,500)
Property-Type Multipliers
- Villas — ~1.8× apartment base rate
- Townhouses — ~1.4× apartment base rate
- Offices — ~1.3× apartment base rate
Design-Only
Priced per project — commonly as a percentage of the construction value. Tell us your scope and we will quote it.
What Drives Your Number Up or Down
- Proportion of bespoke joinery
- Natural stone versus porcelain
- Smart-home scope
- MEP and structural change involved
- Number of wet areas
- Authority-approval complexity of your community
A like-for-like refresh costs a fraction of a full strip-out and reconfiguration. Use our cost calculator for an instant indicative estimate, then book a free site visit and we will replace the estimate with a fixed quote, itemised, with no hidden charges.
Project Timelines & What to Expect
A realistic timeline has three streams that overlap — design, approvals and build — not three queues that wait for each other.
- Design (consultation → concept → 3D → technical drawings & BOQ) — a few weeks for an apartment, several weeks for a full villa; decision speed is the single biggest variable you control
- Approvals (NOC → DM/Trakhees → DEWA) — runs in parallel with late-stage design; see timelines above
- Fit-out (build → finishes → snagging → handover) — typically several weeks for an apartment refit, a few months for a comprehensive villa or commercial project
Scheduling Realities
- Ramadan and Eid — reduced working hours and community noise restrictions extend build programmes; we plan around them rather than pretend they do not exist
- Occupied renovations — for homes where you intend to keep living during works, we phase the works: sealing off zones, sequencing rooms so you retain a functioning kitchen and bathroom, and running dust control (negative-pressure sheeting, daily clean-down, protected walkways). We are candid at the briefing stage about which projects are genuinely livable-in and which are better done vacant.
Communities We Serve Across Dubai
We work throughout Dubai and across all seven emirates.
- Palm Jumeirah, Emirates Hills, Dubai Hills Estate, Arabian Ranches — villa communities
- Mohammed Bin Rashid (MBR) City, Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Dubai Marina — mixed residential and commercial
- Jumeirah, Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) — among many others
Because the correct approval authority (Dubai Municipality versus Trakhees) is community-specific, our familiarity with these areas is practical, not just geographic: we know which paperwork your address requires.
Why Choose The Property Masters
- A single accountable partner — design, fit-out, maintenance, home wellness and facilities management under one roof; the team that builds your home is the team that helps you maintain it — no hand-offs, no finger-pointing
- In-house coordination — one contract and one point of contact across design, approvals and build, rather than a chain of subcontractors you have to manage yourself
- Approvals handled — we identify the correct authority and run the NOC, DM/Trakhees, DEWA and clearance process for you
- Transparent pricing — a free site visit, then a fixed, itemised quote with no hidden charges; everything is +5% VAT, stated up front
- Licensed and certified — we hold the licences and certifications required to operate across the UAE and work to documented standards aligned with ISO 9001 quality principles
- A real warranty — fit-out works are covered by a workmanship and defects-liability warranty in line with standard UAE market practice
How to Choose an Interior Design Company in Dubai
Use this checklist on us and on anyone you compare us against:
- Licensing — are they properly licensed to design and carry out fit-out works in the UAE? Ask directly.
- In-house vs subcontracted — who actually does the work — their own team, or a chain of subcontractors they coordinate loosely? A single accountable team reduces risk.
- Approvals capability — do they understand the DM-versus-Trakhees distinction and handle NOC/DEWA/clearance themselves, or will that land on you?
- Fixed-price contracts — is the quote fixed and itemised from a BOQ, or an open-ended estimate that creeps? Insist on no hidden charges.
- Portfolio relevance — have they worked on spaces like yours — your community, your property type, your finish level?
- Warranty & aftercare — is there a defects-liability warranty, and crucially, will the same firm still be there to maintain the space afterwards?
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does interior design cost in Dubai?
It depends on scope, area and finish level. As an indicative guide, full turnkey fit-out starts from around AED 250 per sq ft for Essential finishes, AED 450 for Premium, and AED 800 per sq ft for Luxury (all excluding 5% VAT, before a typical ~10% contingency). Villas run around 1.8x an apartment's rate, townhouses 1.4x and offices 1.3x. Design-only is priced per project. We give you a fixed, itemised quote after a free site visit — try our cost calculator for an instant estimate.
What is the cost per square foot for a fit-out in Dubai?
Indicatively, full fit-out starts from around AED 250 per sq ft for Essential finishes, AED 450 for Premium and AED 800 per sq ft for Luxury (typically up to AED 1,500 at the top end), excluding 5% VAT. Property type adjusts the rate (villas ~1.8x, townhouses ~1.4x, offices ~1.3x an apartment base). The exact figure depends on bespoke joinery, stone versus porcelain, smart-home scope and how much MEP or structural change is involved. We confirm your number with a fixed quote after a free site visit.
What is the difference between design-only and turnkey?
Design-only means we deliver the creative and technical package — concept, 3D visuals, technical drawings and a bill of quantities — which you can hand to any contractor to build. Turnkey means we do the design and the build, plus approvals, supervision, snagging and handover, all under one contract with one accountable team. Turnkey is the lower-stress route for most clients.
Do you handle Dubai Municipality, Trakhees and DEWA approvals?
Yes. On turnkey projects we prepare the drawings, identify the correct authority — Dubai Municipality for mainland areas, or Trakhees for Nakheel and free-zone communities such as Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Islands and JAFZA — secure the developer or owners'-association NOC, coordinate DEWA clearance, and see the completion/clearance certificate through. You don't have to deal with the paperwork.
Which Dubai communities use Trakhees instead of Dubai Municipality?
Trakhees (the regulatory arm of PCFC) governs permitting in Nakheel-developed and free-zone communities, including Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Islands, Jumeirah Park, Discovery Gardens, International City, Jebel Ali / JAFZA and Dubai Maritime City, among others. Most other Dubai addresses fall under Dubai Municipality. We confirm jurisdiction for your address at the consultation stage so drawings are submitted correctly the first time.
How long does an interior design and fit-out project take?
Design typically takes a few weeks for an apartment and several weeks for a villa; approvals run in parallel; and fit-out commonly takes several weeks for an apartment refit or a few months for a comprehensive villa or commercial project. Decision speed and approval complexity are the biggest variables. Ramadan and Eid can extend programmes, and we plan around them.
What interior design styles do you work in?
We design across modern luxury, contemporary, minimalist, Japandi, Arabic and Moroccan, and classic/neoclassical styles. Most projects are a considered blend tailored to your taste and the architecture of the space, rather than a single fixed look.
Do you design both villas and apartments?
Yes. We handle whole-villa schemes in communities like the Palm, Emirates Hills, Dubai Hills and Arabian Ranches, as well as apartment interiors in Downtown, Business Bay, Marina, JVC and MBR City. Villas and apartments have different structural, layout and approval considerations, and we plan for each accordingly.
Can I live in my home during the renovation?
Often, yes. For occupied homes we phase the works, seal off zones, sequence rooms so you keep a functioning kitchen and bathroom, and run dust control to keep the rest of the home liveable. We are candid at the briefing stage about which projects are genuinely livable-in and which are better done vacant.
Do you supply the materials and furniture?
Yes. On turnkey projects we specify and supply all materials, finishes, joinery, lighting and furniture as part of the package, chosen for how they perform in Dubai's climate. On design-only projects we provide a full specification and schedule so your chosen contractor procures to the exact standard we've set.
Is VAT included in your prices?
Our quoted figures exclude VAT, and the standard 5% UAE VAT is added on top — stated clearly and up front. Your fixed quote after the free site visit shows the VAT line itemised, with no hidden charges.
Do you offer a warranty on your work?
Yes. Fit-out works are covered by a workmanship and defects-liability warranty in line with standard UAE market practice — typically the 12-month defects-liability period (DLP) common to UAE fit-out contracts. And because we also provide ongoing maintenance, the same team can continue to care for your space afterwards.
Is the consultation free?
Yes. The initial consultation and site visit are free. We measure the space, understand your brief and budget, flag any structural or regulatory constraints, and then convert it into a fixed, itemised quote with no hidden charges.
Can you integrate smart-home technology into the design?
Yes. We plan smart-home systems — lighting scenes, climate, shading, audio-visual and security — into the electrical drawings from day one, so everything is wired correctly during the fit-out rather than bolted on afterwards.