Best renovation company in Dubai for villas, kitchens and full-home upgrades
First Unicorn Interiors delivers complete villa renovations from AED 150,000 with 8–12 weeks timelines and 3-year warranty. In-house teams manage DM permits and DEWA inspections for every project.
- Full villa renovation starts AED 150,000
- Kitchen packages begin AED 45,000
- Bathroom refresh from AED 25,000
- Nakheel NOC required for Palm projects
- Dubai Municipality permit always mandatory
- Typical cost
- AED 25K – AED 150K
- Timeline
- 8–12 weeks
- Approvals
- Nakheel NOC · Dubai Municipality permit · DEWA electrical approval · RERA compliance certificate
First Unicorn Interiors has completed more than 800 renovation projects across Dubai’s key master-planned communities since 2015. Every project begins with a site survey that records existing MEP layouts, load-bearing walls and developer-specific finishing standards. In Palm Jumeirah villas we routinely coordinate with Nakheel for NOC approval before any demolition, ensuring that structural modifications to waterfront plots comply with marine setback rules. Our in-house joinery team fabricates custom kitchen carcasses using moisture-resistant MDF rated for Dubai’s 80 percent summer humidity. Electrical upgrades follow DEWA’s latest 2023 wiring regulations, including mandatory RCBO protection on all new circuits. Clients receive a single project manager who schedules weekly inspections with Dubai Municipality engineers and maintains a digital folder of stamped drawings. Material procurement is handled locally through approved vendors in Al Quoz, reducing lead times on marble, quartz and European sanitary ware. The three-year warranty covers both workmanship and selected fixtures, with on-site response within 48 hours for any warranty claim. Final handover includes DEWA meter final reading, RERA compliance certificate and a digital as-built file stored for future resale reference.
Kitchen renovations for Dubai apartments and villas start at AED 45,000 and typically span four to six weeks. We replace existing carcasses with 18 mm marine plywood frames finished in high-pressure laminate or polyurethane. Countertops are offered in 20 mm or 30 mm quartz from brands such as Silestone and Caesarstone, both tested for thermal shock in Gulf conditions. Integrated appliances include 90 cm induction hobs, 177 cm built-in fridges and 60 cm pyrolytic ovens, all supplied with three-year manufacturer warranties. Extraction hoods are ducted to external walls in line with DM fire-safety codes; recirculation units are only used where structural constraints prevent external venting. Lighting layouts incorporate 3000 K LED strips under wall cabinets and 4000 K downlights over work zones, meeting DEWA energy-efficiency thresholds. Clients in Jumeirah Golf Estates often request hidden appliance garages to maintain minimalist aesthetics required by the community design review panel. All kitchens receive a final DEWA electrical inspection and a signed compliance certificate before handover. Our fixed-price contracts protect against currency fluctuations on imported fittings, locking the AED 45,000 starting figure for 60 days after contract signing.
Bathroom renovations priced from AED 25,000 focus on waterproofing, ventilation and accessibility upgrades. We apply two-component cementitious membranes to floors and walls up to 1.8 m before tiling, exceeding Dubai Municipality minimum requirements. Ventilation fans are sized at 10 air changes per hour and interlocked with lighting in compliance with DEWA guidelines for wet areas. Shower enclosures use 10 mm tempered glass with anti-limescale coating suited to Dubai’s hard water supply. Underfloor heating cables rated at 150 W per square metre are installed beneath porcelain tiles to offset marble’s natural coolness during winter months. Grab rails and shower seats are offered as optional accessibility packages for multi-generational villas in Emirates Hills. Sanitary ware selections include wall-hung WCs with concealed cisterns and 60 cm vanity units finished in moisture-resistant lacquer. All pipework is pressure-tested to 1.5 times working pressure before tiling commences. Projects in older Jumeirah 1 properties often require full soil and waste line replacement to meet current DM drainage gradients. Final sign-off includes a DEWA water-connection inspection and a waterproofing warranty certificate valid for five years.
Full villa renovations averaging AED 150,000 cover structural modifications, MEP upgrades and complete interior fit-out across 400–600 sqm plots. We begin with a RERA-registered engineer preparing structural calculations for any wall removal or pool-deck extension. Nakheel or Emaar NOCs are processed in parallel with Dubai Municipality permit applications, typically taking 10–14 working days. Electrical distribution boards are upgraded to 3-phase 63 A supplies where EV charger installation is planned, following DEWA’s 2024 connection guidelines. Air-conditioning systems are replaced with inverter-driven units achieving SEER 18 or higher, mandatory for new DM green-building credits. Flooring choices include 1200×600 mm porcelain in living areas and engineered European oak in bedrooms, both rated for underfloor heating. Built-in wardrobes are fabricated with 12 mm plywood carcasses and soft-close hardware tested to 50,000 cycles. Kitchen and bathroom packages are integrated into the overall timeline so that wet-area waterproofing cures before cabinet installation. Weekly progress photos are uploaded to a client portal, and staged payments are released only after DM inspection sign-off at each milestone. The three-year warranty covers all MEP works and joinery, with annual service visits included at no extra charge.
Pool and outdoor renovation packages start at AED 145,000 and include shell resurfacing, filtration upgrades and deck tiling. Existing gunite shells are inspected by a structural engineer before any resurfacing; cracks wider than 2 mm require injection repair using epoxy grout. New filtration systems feature variable-speed pumps and cartridge filters sized for 6-hour turnover rates, meeting Dubai Municipality health and safety regulations. Deck finishes use 20 mm porcelain pavers with anti-slip rating R11, suitable for barefoot traffic in 45 °C summer temperatures. LED niche lights and automatic pH controllers are integrated into smart-home systems for remote monitoring via mobile app. Projects on Palm Jumeirah require additional Nakheel marine NOC because of proximity to the sea wall. Drainage channels are connected to existing storm-water networks with backflow preventers as required by DM civil defence. Final handover includes a pool-water chemistry report and a one-year equipment warranty. Clients in DAMAC Hills frequently request integrated outdoor kitchens with built-in barbecues and refrigeration drawers rated for external use.
Villa extension projects priced from AED 120,000 add 30–60 sqm of new living or bedroom space. Structural design follows Dubai Municipality concrete design code 2019 and requires a Khalifa-approved structural engineer stamp. Foundations are excavated to 1.2 m depth and waterproofed with bituminous membranes before pouring 35 MPa concrete. External walls use 200 mm AAC blocks finished with 25 mm external insulation to meet Dubai Green Building Regulations for thermal transmittance. Windows are double-glazed with low-E coating and argon fill, achieving U-value 1.8 W/m²K. MEP services are extended from the existing villa distribution board with dedicated RCBO protection. Air-conditioning is provided by a new outdoor unit sized for the additional load, connected to the main DEWA meter. Interior finishes match the existing villa specification, including skirting, architraves and paint colour matched to the original batch number. Extensions in Emaar communities such as Arabian Ranches require an additional community NOC confirming that setbacks and elevations comply with master-plan guidelines. Completion timelines average 10 weeks including permit issuance and final DM inspection.
Material selection for Dubai renovations must account for extreme temperature swings and high salinity. We specify porcelain tiles with PEI rating 4 or higher for high-traffic zones and water absorption below 0.5 percent. Natural stone is pre-sealed with fluoropolymer impregnators before installation to resist staining from date-syrup spills and hard-water deposits. Kitchen worktops use quartz with resin content above 7 percent to prevent thermal cracking near hobs. Sanitary fittings are selected from European brands holding ESMA certification for low lead content. Lighting fixtures carry DEWA-approved drivers with power factor above 0.9. Cabinet hardware is 304-grade stainless steel to resist corrosion in coastal areas such as Jumeirah Bay. All imported materials arrive with commercial invoices stamped by Dubai Customs, allowing RERA-registered contractors to claim zero-rated VAT on residential renovation works. Waste management follows DM construction and demolition guidelines; 70 percent of demolition waste is diverted to approved recycling facilities in Jebel Ali. Clients receive a material schedule listing every SKU, supplier and warranty period before work commences.
Contractor selection in Dubai should verify RERA registration, DEWA-approved electrical contractor status and valid Dubai Municipality trade licence. First Unicorn Interiors maintains all three credentials and carries AED 5 million professional indemnity insurance. Site supervisors hold DM-issued golden visas and have completed the mandatory 40-hour health and safety course. We maintain a dedicated joinery workshop in Al Quoz Industrial Area 3, allowing rapid production of custom millwork without reliance on third-party factories. Payment schedules follow RERA escrow guidelines: 10 percent on contract, 30 percent after demolition and waterproofing, 30 percent after MEP rough-in, 20 percent after tiling and painting, and 10 percent on handover. All client deposits are held in a RERA-approved escrow account at a Dubai bank. Change orders are documented with signed variation sheets and cost impact calculated within 48 hours. Weekly site meetings include the client, project manager and site engineer; minutes are stored digitally for five years. Emergency contact numbers for the project manager and site supervisor are provided at contract signing.
Climate considerations influence every renovation decision in Dubai. External walls receive additional insulation to reduce air-conditioning loads during 45 °C summer peaks. Roof terraces use reflective membranes with solar reflectance index above 80 to lower surface temperatures. Windows are fitted with external shading where community rules permit, reducing direct solar gain by 30 percent. Kitchen extractor ducts are insulated to prevent condensation in humid coastal zones. Bathrooms incorporate timer-controlled extraction fans that continue running for 15 minutes after light switch-off. Pool equipment is housed in shaded enclosures with ventilation grilles sized for 20 air changes per hour. Irrigation lines for new landscaping are separated from potable water with backflow preventers per DEWA regulations. Smart thermostats are programmed with setback temperatures during unoccupied hours, achieving 15 percent annual energy savings. Clients receive a post-handover energy report comparing pre- and post-renovation DEWA bills for the first three months.
Project documentation includes as-built drawings, warranty booklets and digital keys for smart locks. All drawings are uploaded to the Dubai Building Permit portal within 48 hours of DM approval. Clients receive laminated emergency shut-off diagrams for water, electricity and gas. Maintenance schedules list filter-cleaning intervals for air-conditioning cassettes and descaling procedures for water heaters. Spare tiles and paint are provided in labelled boxes for future touch-ups. A dedicated aftercare WhatsApp group remains active for three years, allowing direct communication with the project manager. Annual service visits include filter replacement, sealant inspection and minor touch-up painting at no additional cost. For resale purposes we supply a renovation summary letter addressed to Dubai Land Department confirming that all works were permitted and inspected. This documentation accelerates title transfer when the property is sold within the warranty period.

Definitions
- NOC
- No Objection Certificate issued by master developer before renovation work starts
- MEP
- Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing systems that must meet DEWA and DM codes
- RERA
- Real Estate Regulatory Agency that registers contractors and protects client deposits
- DLD
- Dubai Land Department that records property title changes after structural works
- Villa Extension
- Addition of new rooms or pool decks requiring structural engineer sign-off and DM permit
How we run a villa renovation project
- Initial survey. Our engineer records existing MEP routes, load-bearing walls and developer finishes. Measurements are uploaded to CAD within 24 hours for accurate pricing.
- Design and permit. 3D renders and material boards are presented. Nakheel or Emaar NOC and Dubai Municipality permit applications are submitted in parallel, typically approved within 14 days.
- Demolition and waterproofing. Strip-out is completed with dust containment. Cementitious membranes are applied to all wet areas and pressure-tested before tiling begins.
- MEP rough-in. Electrical and plumbing upgrades follow DEWA and DM codes. New distribution boards and air-conditioning pipework are installed and inspected.
- Tiling and joinery. Porcelain and natural stone are laid to laser levels. Custom kitchen and wardrobe carcasses are fitted with soft-close hardware.
- Finishing and inspection. Painting, fixture installation and final cleaning precede Dubai Municipality final inspection. DEWA meter readings are recorded.
- Handover and warranty. Digital as-built files, warranty certificates and maintenance schedules are handed over. Three-year warranty registration is completed on-site.
Planning a renovation? Fixed-price quote in 24 hours
Free site visit for projects over AED 10,000. 3-year warranty on all works.

Tier comparison
| Tier | Scope / spec | Typical AED |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Laminate cabinets, ceramic tiles, standard DEWA-approved switches | AED 150,000-220,000 |
| Mid-range | Quartz worktops, porcelain floors, inverter AC, LED lighting | AED 250,000-350,000 |
| Premium | European sanitary ware, solid wood flooring, smart home integration | AED 400,000-550,000 |
| Ultra-luxury | Book-matched marble, custom millwork, full Crestron automation | AED 600,000+ |
Frequently asked questions
How long does a full villa renovation take?
Do I need a Nakheel NOC for Palm Jumeirah work?
What is included in the AED 150,000 villa package?
Are payments held in escrow?
Can I keep my existing air-conditioning units?
What warranty is provided on workmanship?
Free quote — same-day reply
WhatsApp the team on +971 58 565 8002. 800+ projects delivered. 3-year craftsmanship warranty.
WhatsApp +971 58 565 8002Sources & references

Recent work across Dubai.
A glimpse of current First Unicorn projects — interiors, kitchens, bathrooms, pools and glasswork.
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