KITCHEN
KITCHEN RENOVATION & DESIGN COST DUBAI 2026
The kitchen is consistently the most expensive room to renovate in any Dubai home — and for good reason. It involves cabinetry, countertops, plumbing, electrical work, tiling, ventilation, and appliance integration, all within one of the most used spaces in your house. Whether you are updating an apartment kitchen or designing a luxury villa kitchen from scratch, understanding the real costs helps you make confident decisions and avoid budget surprises.
This guide provides realistic kitchen renovation costs based on our 13+ years of delivering residential projects across Dubai, including villa renovations in Emirates Hills, apartment remodels in Dubai Marina, and custom kitchen cabinets from our in-house joinery workshop.
KITCHEN RENOVATION COST RANGES (2026)
■ BASIC KITCHEN REFRESH: AED 25,000–60,000 — Repainting or refacing existing cabinets, new countertops, updated hardware and fixtures, fresh tiling on the backsplash, and minor plumbing upgrades. Ideal for apartments and kitchens under 10 years old that need a visual update without structural changes.
■ MID-RANGE KITCHEN RENOVATION: AED 60,000–145,000 — New custom kitchen cabinets, stone or quartz countertops, upgraded appliances, new flooring, full electrical and plumbing updates, and improved lighting. This is the most common scope for Dubai apartment and townhouse kitchens.
■ LUXURY KITCHEN REMODEL: AED 145,000–250,000+ — European-quality cabinetry (Poggenpohl, SieMatic, or equivalent custom), natural marble or granite countertops, integrated premium appliances (Sub-Zero, Miele, Gaggenau), layout changes requiring plumbing and gas relocation, smart kitchen systems, and custom island designs. Standard for villa kitchens in Emirates Hills, Palm Jumeirah, and Dubai Hills.
These ranges cover materials, labour, and installation. They exclude loose appliances purchased separately (fridge, dishwasher, oven) unless integrated into the cabinetry design.
WHERE THE MONEY GOES: COST BREAKDOWN
■ KITCHEN CABINETS (45–60% OF BUDGET) — This is the single largest cost in any kitchen renovation. Standard cabinets start at AED 8,000–25,000 for modular kitchen units. Custom kitchen cabinets from a joinery workshop range from AED 20,000–50,000 for standard and AED 52,000–95,000+ for premium solid wood or lacquer finishes. Cabinet quality determines how your kitchen looks and how long it lasts.
■ COUNTERTOPS (15–20%) — Laminate: AED 300–600/sqm. Quartz: AED 800–2,000/sqm. Natural marble or granite: AED 2,500–5,000+/sqm. Countertop material choice has the biggest visual impact after cabinetry.
■ PLUMBING & ELECTRICAL (10–15%) — Sink relocation, new water points for dishwasher, gas connection for cooktop, upgraded electrical circuits for heavy appliances, and under-cabinet lighting. Moving plumbing or gas points significantly increases cost.
■ FLOORING & TILING (5–10%) — Kitchen flooring (porcelain, natural stone, or vinyl), backsplash tiling, and wall finishes. Anti-slip flooring is essential for safety.
■ VENTILATION & EXTRACTION (3–5%) — Range hood, ducting, and extraction to the building exhaust system. Villa kitchens require independent extraction; apartment kitchens connect to building risers.
MODULAR VS CUSTOM KITCHEN CABINETS IN DUBAI
One of the most important decisions in any kitchen renovation is whether to install modular kitchen units or custom-built cabinets. Here is how they compare:
■ MODULAR KITCHEN (AED 8,000–25,000): Pre-manufactured standard-size units assembled on site. Fast installation (1–2 weeks), lower cost, limited design flexibility. Best for apartments with standard kitchen layouts and tenants who may not stay long-term.
■ CUSTOM KITCHEN CABINETS (AED 20,000–95,000+): Built to exact measurements in a joinery workshop. Premium materials, unlimited design options, perfect fit for non-standard spaces. 4–8 week manufacturing lead time. Essential for villas, luxury apartments, and any kitchen with unusual dimensions or specific design requirements.
Dufit manufactures custom kitchen cabinets in our in-house joinery workshop, which eliminates subcontractor markups and gives us direct quality control over every cabinet, drawer, and hinge. This typically saves 15–20% compared to outsourced joinery while delivering higher precision.
KITCHEN DESIGN TRENDS IN DUBAI (2026)
Current kitchen design in Dubai is trending toward open-plan layouts that connect kitchen, dining, and living areas — especially in villa renovations. Handleless cabinetry with push-to-open mechanisms, integrated appliance panels that hide fridges and dishwashers behind cabinet fronts, waterfall-edge stone islands, and warm natural material palettes (wood, fluted glass, natural stone) are all defining the premium Dubai kitchen design in 2026.
Smart kitchen technology is also increasingly requested: touchless taps, integrated charging stations, smart ovens with app control, and automated lighting scenes. These additions typically add AED 10,000–30,000 to a renovation budget but are becoming standard in luxury villa kitchens.
KITCHEN RENOVATION TIMELINE
■ Basic refresh (cosmetic): 2–4 weeks
■ Mid-range renovation (new cabinets + countertops): 4–8 weeks
■ Luxury remodel (layout changes + custom joinery): 8–12 weeks
■ Add 1–2 weeks if Dubai Municipality permits are required for structural or MEP modifications
The biggest timeline variable is custom cabinetry manufacturing. Ordering cabinets from a joinery workshop with confirmed measurements as early as possible is the most effective way to keep your kitchen renovation on schedule.
HOW TO REDUCE KITCHEN RENOVATION COSTS
Keep the existing plumbing and gas layout wherever possible — relocating water and gas points is the fastest way to escalate costs. Reface or repaint existing cabinet boxes and replace only the doors and hardware if the structure is sound. Choose quartz over natural marble for countertops (similar visual impact, lower cost, easier maintenance). Invest in cabinet quality over appliance brands — cabinets last 15–20 years while appliances are replaced every 8–10 years. And work with a contractor who has an in-house joinery workshop to avoid subcontractor markups on the single largest budget item.
WHY DUFIT FOR YOUR KITCHEN RENOVATION
Dufit Interiors brings 13+ years of residential fit-out experience and an in-house joinery workshop to every kitchen project. We manufacture custom kitchen cabinets, walk-in wardrobes, and bespoke furniture under one roof — which means your kitchen renovation is managed by a single contractor from design through installation, with no subcontractor delays or communication gaps.
Explore our villa renovation and home remodeling services, read about office fit-out costs in Dubai, or learn how to choose the right fit-out contractor.