“How long will it take?” is the first question every apartment owner asks, and the honest answer is that a full renovation in Dubai runs 10 to 16 weeks from mobilisation — plus 4 to 6 weeks of approvals before that. This guide gives you a week-by-week map so you can plan around the works, whether you are staying in the building or moving out temporarily. For a timeline pinned to your own unit, our apartment renovation team provides a fixed programme after one site visit.
Before the clock starts: approvals (4–6 weeks)
Construction time only begins after approvals are cleared. For a full apartment renovation that involves layout or MEP changes, expect:
- Building management NOC: 3–10 working days
- Dubai Municipality or Trakhees permit (if required): 10–20 working days
- Drawing preparation and client sign-off: 5–7 days
Cosmetic-only renovations skip the civic permit and can start within 2 weeks of the NOC. Do not accept a contractor start date that does not account for this front-end window.
Week 1–2: Protection and demolition
The first days on site are about protection, not destruction. The team protects lift lobbies, corridors and doors with ply and protective film — required by building management to protect your damage deposit. Then demolition begins: existing partitions, old tiling, kitchen and bathroom fittings, and old ceiling come out. Debris is bagged and removed via the approved route (chute or manual). By end of week 2 the unit is back to slab and structural walls.
Week 3–4: MEP rough-in
With the space exposed, electrical, plumbing and HVAC runs are installed. New conduit, water supply lines, drainage and AC ducting are routed to the new layout. This is the phase where discoveries happen — corroded copper, non-compliant wiring, failed old waterproofing — and why a 10% contingency exists. Our apartment renovation process budgets for these findings up front so they do not stall the programme.
Week 5: Waterproofing and inspection
Wet areas are waterproofed and left to cure. Where a civic permit applies, this is typically an inspection checkpoint — the authority signs off waterproofing before tiling can proceed. Skipping this inspection is a compliance failure that can force re-opening of finished bathrooms later.
Week 6–8: Plastering, partitions and ceilings
New stud partitions go up, gypsum ceilings are formed, and all walls are plastered and squared. This is the phase where the new layout becomes physically visible. Door frames are set. By end of week 8 the unit reads as a series of rooms again rather than an open shell.
Week 9–11: Tiling, flooring and wall finishes
Bathroom and kitchen tiling first, then living-area flooring — porcelain, vinyl or engineered wood depending on your spec. Wall paint and feature finishes follow. Material lead times matter here: large-format Italian slabs can add 2–3 weeks if not ordered at approval stage. We order long-lead materials during the approvals window so they land exactly when tiling starts.
Week 12–13: Joinery, kitchen and bathroom fit-out
Cabinets, wardrobes, doors, kitchen counters and bathroom vanities are installed. Stone counters are templated after cabinets are set, then fabricated and fitted — allow 7–10 days for that loop. Sanitaryware, taps, showers and mirrors go in.
Week 14: MEP second-fix and lighting
Switches, sockets, light fixtures, AC grilles and final electrical connections are installed. The unit is now functionally complete — lights on, water running, AC cooling.
Week 15: Snagging and finishing
A full snag list is walked with the owner. Paint touch-ups, silicone, cleaning, minor adjustments. Final building management inspection for deposit release is booked. The unit is deep-cleaned and handed over.
Week 16 onward: Defect period
A 12-month defect liability period follows handover. Minor issues — a sticking door, a hairline crack, a tap that needs reseating — are returned and fixed under warranty. This is standard on every apartment renovation we deliver in Dubai.
How bedroom count changes the timeline
- Studio — 8–11 weeks. One wet area, one kitchen, single zone.
- 1-bedroom — 10–13 weeks. The baseline used above.
- 2-bedroom — 12–15 weeks. Second bathroom adds a tiling and fit-out cycle.
- 3-bedroom — 14–18 weeks. Three wet areas plus maid’s room in many cases.
What slows a renovation down
Three things reliably extend a Dubai apartment programme: late material selections (the single biggest cause), authority inspection rescheduling, and change orders after demolition. Lock your finishes before approvals, use a contractor registered with your authority, and freeze the scope on paper. Do those three and your renovation will finish on the date you were promised.
