The kitchen is usually the room people put off the longest and then wish they’d done first. It’s where everyone somehow ends up at a gathering, it takes more daily wear than any other room, and when it’s dated or badly laid out, you feel it every single morning.
So at some point the thought arrives: let’s finally redo the kitchen. And right behind it comes the nervous one – what is this going to cost me?
Fair question, and a hard one to answer online, because the numbers you’ll find swing wildly. I’ve fitted and renovated kitchens across Dubai for years, from compact apartment galleys to villa kitchens with an island bigger than some bedrooms, and the honest truth is that “kitchen renovation” covers everything from a tidy reface to a full architectural rebuild. But there are clear bands, and once you understand what actually drives the price, the fog lifts. Let me walk you through it the way I would on-site.
A note on the numbers: the figures below are realistic 2026 Dubai ranges to set expectations, not a quote. Kitchens vary enormously with size, materials and layout, so the only accurate number is one you get after someone has seen your actual space. More on that at the end.
The short answer
For most Dubai kitchens, a renovation lands somewhere between AED 25,000 and AED 120,000+, depending on size, the quality of the cabinetry and worktops, and whether you’re changing the layout or just refreshing what’s there.
That’s a broad range, so let’s split it into the three tiers people actually fall into.
The three real budget tiers
1. The refresh / reface — roughly AED 25,000–45,000
This is the “the layout works, it just looks tired” kitchen. You’re not knocking anything about; you’re modernising the surfaces and hardware.
Typically includes:
- New cabinet doors and fronts (or refacing existing carcasses)
- New worktop / countertop
- New handles, hinges and soft-close mechanisms
- Updated splashback
- New sink and tap
- Fresh paint and lighting
For apartment kitchens and landlords prepping a unit, this is the sweet spot. If your existing cabinets are structurally sound, refacing gives you a near-new look for a fraction of a full rebuild.
2. The full renovation — roughly AED 45,000–90,000
The proper job. You’re stripping the kitchen out and rebuilding it — often keeping roughly the same footprint, but everything is new.
Typically includes:
- Full removal of the old kitchen
- New custom cabinetry throughout
- New worktops (quartz, granite or marble/stone)
- New sink, tap, and splashback
- Updated plumbing and electrical points for appliances
- New flooring or tiling if needed
- New lighting, including under-cabinet lighting
- Fresh paint and finishing
Most villa and townhouse kitchens sit here. This is where the room genuinely becomes new rather than tidied up.
3. The luxury / bespoke kitchen — AED 90,000 to AED 200,000+
Now we’re into custom territory: an island, tall bank ovens, integrated premium appliances, book-matched stone worktops, bespoke joinery, a pantry, smart lighting, the works. At this level, appliances alone can be a serious chunk of the budget.
The cost here is driven less by labour and more by materials and appliances — imported German or Italian cabinetry, high-end worktops, and brand-name appliances. If you’ve admired a showroom kitchen and thought “I want that,” this is the band it lives in.
Where the money actually goes
People assume the appliances are the big number. Sometimes they are – but on most renovations, the cabinetry is the heavyweight. Here’s the rough split on a typical full kitchen renovation:
| What you’re paying for | Roughly | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetry & carpentry | 30–40% | The bulk of the kitchen, and quality varies hugely |
| Worktops / countertops | 15–25% | Laminate vs quartz vs natural stone is a big swing |
| Appliances | 15–25% | Entirely your call — mid-range to premium is a wide gap |
| Plumbing & electrical | 10–15% | Especially if you’re moving the sink or hob |
| Flooring, tiling & finishing | 10–15% | Splashbacks, floors, paint, lighting |
The two levers you control most are cabinetry and worktops. The same kitchen, same size, same labour, can swing tens of thousands of dirhams purely on whether you choose standard units with a laminate top or bespoke joinery with a stone worktop.
The costs nobody warns you about
Here’s the part most price guides skip — and the reason kitchens “go over budget” when really the budget just wasn’t honest to start with.
Moving the plumbing or gas. Keeping the sink, hob and appliances roughly where they are is cheap. Relocating them — a new island with a sink, moving the hob to another wall — means new plumbing, drainage and electrical runs, and the price climbs quickly. Decide your layout before you fall in love with a floor plan.
Appliances are a separate universe. It’s easy to budget the kitchen and forget the fridge, oven, hob, hood, dishwasher and microwave can add up to a small fortune on their own. Decide early whether they’re in or out of your quote.
What’s hiding behind the old units. Until demolition starts, nobody truly knows — old leaks, corroded pipes, dodgy wiring behind the cabinets. A good team allows a little contingency; a suspiciously cheap quote pretends it won’t happen, then “finds” it mid-job.
Countertop reality. Natural stone is stunning but needs sealing and care; quartz is tougher and lower-maintenance but priced accordingly. The worktop is the surface you’ll touch every day, so it’s rarely the place to cut to the bone.
The “while we’re at it.” The classic budget-creeper. You start with doors and worktops and end up adding an island, a pantry, new flooring, better lighting… all reasonable, all worth deciding before the quote rather than during the job.
The cheapest quote and the cheapest kitchen are rarely the same thing. Cabinetry and worktops are what you open, touch and lean on every day for a decade – that’s where quality earns its keep. Save on the decorative extras, not on the bones.
What actually moves your price up or down
If you’re aiming for a particular band, these are your dials:
- Size – more units, more worktop, more labour. It dominates everything.
- Cabinetry quality – off-the-shelf vs custom carpentry and joinery. The single biggest swing.
- Worktop material – laminate vs quartz vs natural stone.
- Layout changes – keeping plumbing and the hob in place is far cheaper than moving them.
- Appliances – mid-range vs premium imported brands.
- Extras – island, pantry, tall units, under-cabinet lighting, smart features.
How long does it take?
Because you lose the use of your kitchen during the work, timing matters as much as money. Roughly:
- Refresh / reface: about 1–2 weeks
- Full renovation: about 3–5 weeks
- Luxury / bespoke: 6–8 weeks or more, especially if cabinetry or appliances are on order
The most common cause of a stalled kitchen isn’t the building work — it’s waiting on cabinetry, worktops or appliances to be delivered. Order everything well before demolition day.
Quick FAQ
What’s the cheapest way to renovate a kitchen in Dubai?
Refacing rather than replacing. If the existing cabinet carcasses are sound, you can fit new doors, worktops, handles and a splashback while keeping the layout and structure — a near-new look for far less than a full rebuild.
Why are kitchen renovation quotes in Dubai so different?
Usually because they’re not quoting the same kitchen. One includes solid custom cabinetry, a quality worktop and a contingency for hidden issues; another uses cheaper units and leaves extras out to look cheaper, then adds them mid-job. Always compare what’s included, not just the total.
Does the renovation cost include appliances?
Often not — check. Appliances (oven, hob, fridge, dishwasher, hood) are frequently quoted separately and can add a significant amount, so confirm whether they’re in or out of your quote from the start.
Is it worth renovating a kitchen in an investment property?
Often yes. The kitchen is one of the biggest factors in rental appeal and resale value in Dubai. For investment units, a smart reface usually gives the best return without over-spending.
How much does a kitchen renovation cost in Dubai?
Most fall between around AED 25,000 for a refresh and AED 120,000 or more for a full, high-quality renovation, with bespoke luxury kitchens climbing higher. The final figure depends mainly on size, cabinetry and worktop quality, layout changes, and appliances.
The honest bottom line
A Dubai kitchen renovation realistically runs AED 25,000 for a smart reface to AED 120,000+ for a full, high-quality rebuild, with bespoke kitchens going further. But the headline number matters far less than what’s inside it. Put your money into the cabinetry and worktop — the things you use every day — decide your layout and appliances before you get quotes, and insist on a contingency for the surprises behind the old units. Do that, and you’ll end up with a kitchen that still works beautifully long after you’ve forgotten what it cost.
Want a real number for your actual kitchen? That’s the only one worth having. ArabCare gives honest, itemised quotes after a free on-site visit — no vague “from” pricing. Book a free assessment, explore our kitchen renovation service, or read what Dubai homeowners say about us.
