Commercial Kitchen Fit Out Dubai: Costs, Approval & Timeline
A commercial kitchen fit out in Dubai is a back of house construction package covering stainless fabrication, cooking line, cold rooms, exhaust, fire suppression and MEP. Budgets typically start around AED 1,800 per square metre for a cloud kitchen and reach AED 7,000 or more per square metre for hotel production kitchens.
Why work with Monde
- Own workforce of 50+ specialists under our own licence
- Professional project managers leading every fit-out
- Commercial renovation and fit-out across the UAE
- F&B, retail, office and hospitality project experience
- Google rating 5 from 3 verified reviews
"The site was clean when they left. We needed them fast on a running job. They finished the renovation on time. Good work from start to end." Davranbek, 5/5
Monde holds a Google rating of 5 from 3 reviews.
The same licensed team that delivers commercial kitchen fit out Dubai projects also handles office, retail and hospitality spaces.
What a commercial kitchen fit-out in Dubai covers
Commercial kitchen design in Dubai starts with workflow, equipment cut sheets and heat load. The fit-out itself covers the back of house build, not the dining room.
A weak layout adds labour minutes to every order and can fail DCD inspection, so Monde fixes the cooking line, prep areas, wash-up and storage before finishes are selected.
- Stainless steel counters, shelves, sinks and pass-through units
- Cold rooms, freezers and under-counter refrigeration
- Cooking line with gas or electric equipment, set out for workflow
- Kitchen exhaust hoods, ducts, make-up air and fire suppression
- Floor drains, coving, slip-resistant flooring and wall cladding
- Electrical, plumbing, gas and ventilation tie-ins with local authority requirements
You can see similar back of house finishes in our F&B fit-out portfolio.
How much does a commercial kitchen fit-out cost in Dubai?
Realistic restaurant kitchen fit out cost Dubai ranges usually run from AED 2,500 to AED 5,500 per square metre. Cloud kitchens sit lower, and hotel production kitchens sit higher.
A 60 square metre cloud kitchen in Al Quoz with a light cooking line might land at AED 180,000 to AED 240,000. A 120 square metre full service restaurant kitchen in Business Bay with cold rooms, separate prep areas and a long exhaust run often lands at AED 420,000 to AED 600,000.
| Kitchen type | Typical size | Cost per m2 | Common total range | | Cloud kitchen | 40 to 80 m2 | AED 1,800 to AED 3,500 | AED 72,000 to AED 280,000 | | Restaurant kitchen | 60 to 150 m2 | AED 2,500 to AED 5,500 | AED 150,000 to AED 825,000 | | Hotel production kitchen | 150 m2 plus | AED 4,000 to AED 7,000+ | AED 600,000 and above |
These figures cover construction, MEP, stainless fabrication and commissioning. Owner supplied equipment such as combi ovens or fryers is usually excluded.
For a breakdown based on your menu and site, get a fixed quote for your commercial kitchen fit-out.
DCD kitchen approval and Dubai Municipality requirements
DCD kitchen approval Dubai covers grease exhaust, fire-rated ductwork, gas detection and suppression. Dubai Municipality also checks food safety surfaces, drainage and refrigeration.
- Appoint a licensed contractor and prepare kitchen layout, MEP and exhaust drawings.
- Submit DCD drawings for kitchen hood, ductwork, gas and fire suppression system review.
- Coordinate Dubai Municipality food safety requirements for wall finishes, drainage, washbasins and refrigeration.
- Install hoods, extract fans, make-up air, fire suppression, gas detection and emergency isolation.
- Complete authority inspections, snagging and handover with maintenance manuals.
The approval sequence is similar in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, but submission formats and inspection scheduling differ, so we adjust the drawing package early.
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Kitchen exhaust and fire suppression in Dubai
A code-compliant kitchen exhaust and fire suppression Dubai package usually starts around AED 35,000 to AED 90,000 for a single restaurant line. The cost depends on duct length, cooking equipment and the number of hoods.
- Type 1 hoods over grease-producing equipment
- Welded black steel or stainless duct with access doors
- Extract fan sized for the cooking line and make-up air
- Wet chemical or gas suppression above appliances
- Manual pull station, gas interlock and DCD inspection access
DCD inspectors look for these as a single package, not as separate items.
Timeline for a commercial kitchen fit-out
A standard restaurant kitchen fit-out in Dubai takes 6 to 12 weeks from site set-out to authority inspection. Cloud kitchens can be faster, and hotel production kitchens take longer.
- Site survey and equipment schedule: 1 to 2 weeks
- DCD and municipality submissions: 2 to 4 weeks, parallel with procurement
- First fix MEP and drainage: 2 to 3 weeks
- Stainless fabrication and cold room installation: 2 to 4 weeks
- Equipment installation and commissioning: 1 to 2 weeks
- Inspections and snagging: 1 week
Because Monde runs an own workforce of 50+ specialists under one licence, we sequence trades daily instead of waiting for subcontractors. A licensed project manager is on site full time, so changes get decided the same day. This can cut 2 to 3 weeks from a typical programme.
For the dining room side of the same project, read our restaurant fit out Dubai guide. For larger hotel or resort scope, see hospitality fit out Dubai.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a commercial kitchen fit out cost in Dubai?
A commercial kitchen fit out in Dubai typically ranges from AED 1,800 to AED 5,500 per square metre depending on kitchen type and equipment density. A small cloud kitchen may cost AED 72,000 to AED 280,000, while a full restaurant kitchen often falls between AED 150,000 and AED 825,000. Hotel production kitchens usually exceed AED 600,000.
What is the DCD kitchen approval process in Dubai?
DCD kitchen approval requires submission of kitchen layout, hood, ductwork, gas and fire suppression drawings to Dubai Civil Defence. Monde prepares the drawings, installs the approved package and coordinates the inspection. The process normally takes 2 to 4 weeks, depending on revisions and inspection slots.
How long does a restaurant kitchen fit out take in Dubai?
Most restaurant kitchen fit outs take 6 to 12 weeks from site set-out to final inspection. Cloud kitchens can finish in 4 to 6 weeks when the site is ready and approvals run in parallel. Hotel production kitchens may run longer because of larger MEP and cold room scope.
Do I need Dubai Municipality approval for a cloud kitchen?
Yes, a cloud kitchen still needs Dubai Municipality food safety approval in addition to DCD fire safety approval. The municipality checks washbasins, drainage, refrigeration, wall finishes and separation between raw and cooked prep. Monde coordinates both approvals from drawing stage.
What is included in kitchen exhaust and fire suppression in Dubai?
A Dubai kitchen exhaust and fire suppression package includes Type 1 hoods, grease ducts with access doors, extract fans, make-up air and wet chemical or gas suppression above cooking equipment. It also includes a manual pull station and gas interlock. DCD inspection access must be maintained.
