BATHROOM
BATHROOM RENOVATION & DESIGN COST DUBAI 2026
After the kitchen, the bathroom is the second most impactful renovation you can do in a Dubai home — and the one where cutting corners causes the most expensive problems. Unlike a living room refresh that is primarily cosmetic, bathroom renovation involves waterproofing, plumbing, drainage, tiling, electrical work for lighting and heated elements, and ventilation — all in a compact space where moisture is the constant enemy.
This guide provides realistic bathroom renovation costs based on our 13+ years of residential project delivery across Dubai, including villa renovations with multiple luxury bathrooms, apartment remodels, and guest bathroom upgrades.
BATHROOM RENOVATION COST RANGES (2026)
■ BASIC BATHROOM REFRESH: AED 15,000–35,000 — New tiles (walls and floor), fresh paint on non-tiled surfaces, updated fixtures (taps, shower head, towel rails), new mirror and lighting, and minor plumbing repairs. Keeps existing layout and plumbing positions. Ideal for guest bathrooms or rental property upgrades.
■ MID-RANGE BATHROOM RENOVATION: AED 35,000–80,000 — Complete demolition and retiling, new vanity unit with basin, frameless glass shower enclosure, updated plumbing, new waterproofing, upgraded lighting with dimmers, heated towel rail, and improved ventilation. This is the most common scope for main bathrooms in Dubai apartments and townhouses.
■ LUXURY BATHROOM REMODEL: AED 80,000–150,000+ — Natural stone tiling (marble, travertine, limestone), freestanding bathtub, custom vanity with natural stone top, rainfall shower system with body jets, underfloor heating, smart toilet, custom mirror with integrated lighting, bespoke joinery for storage, and premium fixtures (Grohe, Hansgrohe, Axor, Gessi). Standard for master bathrooms in villas across Emirates Hills, Palm Jumeirah, and Dubai Hills.
These ranges cover materials, labour, waterproofing, and installation. Per-bathroom costs decrease when renovating multiple bathrooms simultaneously, as trades can be shared and materials purchased in larger quantities.
WHERE THE MONEY GOES: COST BREAKDOWN
■ TILING — WALLS & FLOOR (25–35%) — Porcelain tiles: AED 50–300/sqm. Natural stone (marble, travertine): AED 300–1,500/sqm. Large-format tiles (1200x600mm or larger) are trending in Dubai bathroom design for a seamless, contemporary look. Labour for bathroom tiling is higher per sqm than other rooms due to cutting complexity around fixtures, niches, and drain points.
■ PLUMBING (15–25%) — The most variable cost item. If you keep existing pipe positions, plumbing cost is modest. Relocating a toilet, moving shower drainage, or adding a bathtub where none existed before significantly increases cost due to floor cutting, pipe rerouting, and additional waterproofing requirements.
■ VANITY & STORAGE (10–20%) — Off-the-shelf vanity units: AED 2,000–8,000. Custom vanities built in a joinery workshop with natural stone tops: AED 8,000–30,000+. Custom bathroom joinery — including medicine cabinets, linen storage, and floating shelves — adds function and luxury.
■ SHOWER ENCLOSURE (8–15%) — Standard glass partition: AED 2,000–5,000. Frameless glass enclosure (walk-in or hinged): AED 5,000–15,000. Rainfall shower system with thermostatic mixer and body jets: AED 3,000–15,000 for the fittings alone.
■ WATERPROOFING (5–8%) — Non-negotiable. Multi-layer membrane applied to floor and wet walls, with flood testing before tiling. AED 3,000–8,000 per bathroom depending on size. This is the most important invisible investment in any bathroom renovation — failed waterproofing leads to structural damage, mould, and neighbour disputes in apartments.
■ ELECTRICAL & LIGHTING (5–10%) — IP-rated downlights, mirror lighting, heated towel rail, underfloor heating, extractor fan, and shaver socket. All bathroom electrical work must comply with UAE safety regulations for wet areas.
BATHROOM DESIGN TRENDS IN DUBAI (2026)
Current bathroom design in Dubai is moving toward spa-inspired spaces that combine natural materials with clean, contemporary lines. Large-format porcelain or natural stone tiles with minimal grout lines create a seamless, luxurious aesthetic. Walk-in showers with curbless (level-access) entry are replacing traditional shower trays. Freestanding bathtubs — particularly in oval and sculptural forms — remain the centrepiece of luxury villa bathrooms.
Fluted glass partitions, backlit mirror cabinets, floating vanities with vessel basins, and warm metallic fixtures (brushed brass, matte black, brushed nickel) are all defining premium bathroom design across Dubai in 2026. Smart toilets with integrated bidets, heated seats, and automatic lids are increasingly common in high-end residential projects.
WATERPROOFING: THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP
We cannot overstate this: waterproofing is the single most critical element in any bathroom renovation. In Dubai, where many homes are in multi-storey apartment buildings, a waterproofing failure does not just damage your own property — it causes water ingress to the unit below, resulting in ceiling damage, mould growth, and potential legal liability.
Dufit applies a multi-layer waterproofing system to every bathroom renovation: liquid membrane on the floor and wet walls (minimum 1.8m height in shower zones), reinforcement tape at all corners and pipe penetrations, and a 48-hour flood test before any tiling begins. We photograph and document every waterproofing stage for your records and building management compliance.
BATHROOM RENOVATION TIMELINE
■ Basic refresh (cosmetic): 1–2 weeks
■ Mid-range renovation (full retile + new fixtures): 2–4 weeks
■ Luxury remodel (layout changes + custom joinery): 4–6 weeks
■ Multiple bathrooms (3–5 in a villa): 6–10 weeks (run in parallel)
The biggest timeline factor is tile and fixture lead times. Premium European tiles and designer sanitary fixtures can take 4–8 weeks to arrive in Dubai. Selecting materials early — ideally before demolition begins — keeps your renovation on schedule.
HOW TO REDUCE BATHROOM RENOVATION COSTS
Keep existing plumbing positions wherever possible — moving a toilet or shower drain is the single most expensive change. Choose porcelain tiles that replicate natural stone (modern porcelain is virtually indistinguishable from marble at a fraction of the cost). Invest in quality waterproofing and plumbing — these are invisible once tiled over but catastrophic if they fail. Choose a mid-range vanity unit and upgrade the tap and basin for a luxury look at a lower cost. And renovate multiple bathrooms at the same time to benefit from trade efficiency and bulk material pricing.
WHY DUFIT FOR YOUR BATHROOM RENOVATION
Dufit Interiors brings 13+ years of residential fit-out experience to every bathroom project. Our in-house teams cover plumbing, tiling, waterproofing, electrical, custom joinery for vanities and storage, and glass shower enclosures — all managed as a single contractor with one project manager and one quality standard. No subcontractor coordination required from your side.
Explore our house renovation and villa interior design services, read about kitchen renovation costs in Dubai, or view our completed residential projects.