If you've compared a villa renovation cost guide (ours included) to an apartment quote and noticed the apartment's per-sqft number looks higher, you're not imagining it. Apartments genuinely do cost more per square foot to renovate than villas at the same finish tier — and the reason is simple arithmetic, not padding on the quote.
Why apartments cost more per sqft than villas
A kitchen costs roughly the same whether it sits inside a 700 sqft studio or a 4,000 sqft villa — the cabinetry run might be shorter, but sink, plumbing rework, electrics, and installation labour don't scale down proportionally. The same applies to bathrooms. These are largely fixed costs per project, not per sqft costs.
In a large villa, a AED 85,000 kitchen might work out to roughly AED 21 per sqft of the total property. In a 700 sqft apartment, that same kitchen is closer to AED 120 per sqft. Spread that logic across bathrooms too, and it's clear why smaller units carry a higher per-sqft rate — even though the total project cost is much lower.
Apartment renovation cost by unit size
Using the same base renovation rate (AED 95-145/sqft), flooring, wall finishes, and standard-tier kitchen and bathroom costs used across our pricing model, here's how the per-sqft number shifts by apartment size at a standard finish tier:
| Unit Type | Approx. Size | Standard Tier (AED/sqft) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1-Bedroom | 600 – 800 sqft | 320 – 535 |
| 2-Bedroom | 1,000 – 1,400 sqft | 290 – 480 |
| 3-Bedroom | 1,600 – 2,000 sqft | 275 – 450 |
| 4-Bedroom+ | 2,200 – 2,800 sqft | 240 – 430 |
Assumes one kitchen and bathroom count scaling with bedroom count, base renovation and PM, mid-range porcelain flooring, and premium paint. Premium and luxury finishes shift every tier upward by roughly 35-55%.
💡 Get a number for your exact unit
Our Renovation Cost Calculator accounts for your actual size and room count rather than a generic per-sqft average — useful for apartments especially, where averages can mislead.
What's different about apartment renovations versus villas
- No exterior, garden, or pool scope — the entire budget goes into interior finishes, which is part of why the interior per-sqft rate looks higher in isolation.
- Building management approvals — most towers require a renovation permit or NOC from building management or the owners' association, plus sometimes a refundable damage deposit, on top of any Dubai Municipality or DEWA requirements.
- Working hours and access restrictions — many buildings restrict noisy works to certain hours and require use of service lifts, which can affect timelines more than it would for a standalone villa.
- Structural limitations — load-bearing walls are more common and more restrictive in apartment buildings than in most villas, which limits how much layout can realistically change. See our Apartment Renovation service page for what's typically feasible.
⚠ Don't budget off a villa per-sqft number for an apartment
Because of the fixed-cost effect above, applying a villa's AED 250-450/sqft standard-premium range to a small apartment will usually under-budget it significantly. Always ask for apartment-specific pricing, ideally broken down by room rather than blended into one number.
Full project cost examples
Putting the per-sqft numbers into real totals, at a standard tier:
- 1-Bedroom (700 sqft): roughly AED 225,000 – 375,000
- 2-Bedroom (1,200 sqft): roughly AED 350,000 – 575,000
- 3-Bedroom (1,800 sqft): roughly AED 495,000 – 810,000
For a full framework on how to structure a renovation budget from first number to final payment, see our step-by-step budgeting guide — the same principles apply whether you're renovating an apartment or a villa.
How long does an apartment renovation take?
A full apartment renovation typically takes 6 to 12 weeks, depending on size and whether layout changes are involved. Smaller units with a straightforward scope (finishes only, no layout change) can sometimes complete in 5-6 weeks, while larger units with kitchen relocation or extensive electrical rework can run closer to 14 weeks. Building access restrictions — service lift booking, permitted working hours — often add more to the timeline than the physical work itself, so confirm your building's rules with management before setting expectations.
Get an Estimate for Your Apartment
Enter your unit size and finish preferences for an instant, itemised estimate.
Try the Cost CalculatorFrequently asked questions
How much does apartment renovation cost per sqft in Dubai?
Standard-tier apartment renovation typically costs AED 240-535 per sqft in Dubai, with smaller units (studios and 1-bedrooms) at the higher end of that range and larger 3-4 bedroom units at the lower end, due to fixed kitchen and bathroom costs being spread over less floor area.
Why do apartments cost more per sqft to renovate than villas?
A kitchen and bathrooms cost roughly the same whether a unit is 700 sqft or 4,000 sqft. In a smaller apartment, those fixed costs are spread across far less floor area, which pushes the per-sqft rate up even though the total project cost is lower.
Does apartment renovation cost include building management fees?
No. Most towers charge a separate renovation permit or deposit fee to the building management or owners' association, plus sometimes a refundable damage deposit. These are building-specific and should be confirmed with your building management before work starts.
