Office fit out Dubai: costs, process and approvals
A Dubai office fit out is the work that turns a commercial shell or dated office into a workspace that fits your team, brand and DED approval requirements. This guide covers Cat A and Cat B scopes, realistic AED rates, timelines, permits and how to choose a licensed office fit out company Dubai tenants can rely on.
Why work with Monde
Monde handles commercial renovation and fit-out across the UAE. We hold a Google rating of 5 from 3 reviews. These are the practical points we lead with on office projects.
- Commercial renovation and fit-out across the UAE
- Own workforce of 50+ specialists
- Licensed under Monde Arabian Building Contracting LLC
- Professional project managers leading every site
- Experience across offices, retail, F&B and hospitality
- Direct coordination for DED and DM approvals
What does a Dubai office fit out include?
Most tenant office fit outs are a mix of Cat A base works and Cat B tenant-specific scope. Cat A prepares the base building. Cat B makes the office ready for your team.
Cat A scope
- Ceilings and lighting
- Basic MEP first fix
- Raised floors or floor screed
- Toilets and shell-level fire safety
- Lobby and lift lobby finishes where required
Cat B scope
- Meeting rooms and office partitions
- Branded reception and joinery
- Pantry, breakout and server room finishes
- Furniture, fixtures and equipment
- Final MEP and data connections
Strong commercial office design Dubai plans separate meeting rooms from quiet work zones and puts the pantry away from the reception. Our office interior fit out Dubai team installs partitions, joinery and data after MEP is signed off. A 150 sqm unit in Business Bay usually needs full Cat B over a Cat A ready shell. A DIFC unit may already have Cat A in place, which shifts budget to joinery and furniture. For a fuller breakdown of the tenant-specific scope, see our Cat B office fit out Dubai guide.
The office fit out process in Dubai
The process moves from survey and design through DED and DM approvals, MEP works, partitions, joinery and final handover. A licensed office fit out company in Dubai manages this as one controlled programme.
- Site survey and test fit
- Concept design and detail drawings
- Department of Economy and Tourism approval plus Dubai Municipality submissions
- MEP first fix, ceilings and partitions to DEWA and Dubai Municipality requirements
- Joinery, finishes, FF&E and final data
- Snagging, authority inspections and handover
office fit out plans at a construction site" loading="lazy" decoding="async" /> Our project managers coordinate office fit out drawings and site conditions before work starts.
Office fit outs only work when site control and handover are planned together. A recent Monde review noted:
The site was clean when they left. We needed them fast on a running job. They finished the renovation on time.
Davranbek Tashbayev, 5/5 Google review
Dubai office fit out costs per square metre
A practical Cat A office fit out in Dubai usually costs between AED 650 and AED 950 per square metre. A full Cat B with quality joinery and MEP modifications typically runs from AED 1,200 to AED 2,500 per square metre.
| Scope | Typical AED range |
|---|---|
| Cat A base works | AED 650 to 950 per sqm |
| Cat B mid-range | AED 1,200 to 1,800 per sqm |
| Cat B high-end | AED 1,800 to 2,500 per sqm |
For a 250 sqm office in Dubai Marina, a mid-range Cat B fit out at AED 1,800 per sqm is roughly AED 450,000. That excludes furniture, IT, curtains and licensing fees. If you are budgeting by area, use our office fit out cost in Dubai guide.
Monde finishes pantry and breakout joinery to the same standard as the main office.
How long does a 100 to 500 sqm office fit out take?
A 100 to 200 sqm Cat B office fit out in Dubai usually takes six to nine weeks once approvals are in place. A 400 to 500 sqm project can run ten to fourteen weeks depending on MEP changes and joinery volume.
For a 100 sqm office, Cat A works may be four to six weeks. Add two to three weeks for full Cat B. For a 500 sqm office, design approval often takes two to three weeks before construction starts. In Abu Dhabi, municipality review can add one to two weeks if the drawings need revisions. Sharjah and Abu Dhabi may also have separate inspection requirements, so we set handover dates accordingly.
DED office fit out approvals and commercial-only mistakes
Most office fit outs in Dubai need a fit out permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism, the authority many still refer to as DED, before site work starts. DED office fit out approvals are not a formality. They set the route for MEP, fire safety and final handover.
Common mistakes on office renovation Dubai projects include:
- Treating a commercial office like a residential renovation
- Starting MEP works before drawings are approved
- Overlooking free zone vs mainland permit routes
- Buying furniture before final test fit dimensions
- Not checking building NOC requirements
Monde's team has been described as professional and well organized on recent projects:
Their team is professional and well organized. They understand site conditions, client requirements, material coordination, and execution.
hayat Berhe, 5/5 Google review
How to choose a licensed office fit out company in Dubai
Choose a contractor with a UAE trade licence, an in-house workforce and a project manager who owns the approval file. Ask to see completed office projects and confirm the trades on site are the same team you were quoted.
- Check the trade licence and project references
- Confirm the workforce is in-house or directly managed
- Review the company's office fit-out portfolio
- Ask for a programme that includes DED or DM submissions, MEP, joinery and snagging
- Get a written cost breakdown before agreeing deposit terms
Monde operates under Monde Arabian Building Contracting LLC with an own workforce of more than 50 specialists. You can view our office fit-out portfolio online. If you are planning a fit out, get an office fit-out quote from our team.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an office fit out cost in Dubai?
A basic Cat A fit out in Dubai usually costs AED 650 to AED 950 per square metre. A Cat B fit out with partitions, joinery and MEP changes typically ranges from AED 1,200 to AED 2,500 per square metre. A 200 sqm office often lands between AED 260,000 and AED 500,000 excluding furniture and IT.
How long does a 200 sqm office fit out take in Dubai?
A 200 sqm Cat B office fit out usually takes six to nine weeks once local approvals are in place. A Cat A fit out can take four to six weeks. If the unit needs major MEP changes or custom joinery, allow an extra two to three weeks.
Do I need DED approval for an office fit out in Dubai?
Yes, most office fit outs need a fit out permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism or the relevant free zone authority. Works that affect MEP, fire safety or layout usually require drawings submitted by an approved consultant. Your fit out contractor should manage this file.
What is the difference between Cat A and Cat B office fit out?
Cat A covers base building works such as ceilings, lighting, raised floors and mechanical first fix. Cat B covers the tenant-specific works that make the space ready for daily use, including partitions, meeting rooms, pantry, joinery and furniture. Most tenants need both scopes.
Can Monde handle an office fit out in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah?
Yes, Monde completes commercial renovation and fit-out across the UAE. We coordinate local authority requirements in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah with our in-house team. Timelines and costs vary depending on site conditions and municipality approvals.
