The questions people ask us
Before anyone signs anything, the same questions come up: what it costs, which approval applies, what the community allows, and who can be trusted with the money. These are our answers, written out properly, with the source for every rule and figure that is not our own.
How much does it cost to renovate a villa in Dubai?
Published Dubai villa renovation ranges, what they leave out, and why the per square foot figures disagree.
Read the guide Renovation approvalsHow do I know whether Dubai Municipality, Trakhees or DDA handles my renovation, and do I need a developer NOC as well?
Who supervises the land decides the authority, and the developer NOC has to be in hand before the permit application.
Read the guide Choosing a contractorHow do I know a Dubai renovation contractor is legitimate, and how should I pay them so I do not end up with half a project and no money?
Check the licence, the activity and the Municipality registration, then pay against inspected stages, not dates.
Read the guide Villa extensionsCan I extend my villa in Dubai, and what approval does it need?
Feasibility first: plot coverage, setbacks and the developer NOC decide an extension before cost does.
Read the guide Rented homesCan I renovate the apartment or villa I rent in Dubai, and what happens to that money when I leave?
Two conditions before you start, and one article that decides who owns the work when you leave.
Read the guide Apartment renovationCan I remove an internal wall or move the bathroom in my Dubai apartment, and what will building management require?
Structure and risers fix the layout. The building's own NOC, not the permit, is usually what stops the job.
Read the guide Design feesHow much do interior designers charge in Dubai, and what is included in the fee?
No authority in Dubai publishes a design fee scale. Four pricing models, and how to read a quote.
Read the guide Swimming poolsWhat does it really cost to build a swimming pool at a Dubai villa, and what does it cost to run once it is in?
Build ranges, the monthly running cost most owners underestimate, and the permit fee the market cannot agree on.
Read the guide Grass costsShould I put artificial or natural grass in my Dubai garden, what does each cost over five years, and does artificial turf get too hot in summer?
Contractors advertise artificial turf at AED 65 to 130 per sqm laid and natural lawn at AED 35 to 80. Water decides the five-year total.
Read the guide Unpermitted workI already did the work, or bought a property with changes someone else made. Can I get a retroactive NOC, and what happens if I do nothing?
No Dubai authority publishes a retroactive approval route, so the path runs through an ordinary modification submission.
Read the guide
Still your question? Ask the studio.
Send the property details and what you are trying to do. We answer the question you actually asked, and if it needs a site visit to answer properly, we say so.