Cost Guide
What actually shapes office fit-out cost in Dubai — scope, finishes, MEP and authority pathways.
A process guide for Commercial & Hospitality office fit-out in Dubai — what drives cost, how KOJ prices scope, and which approvals sit inside the programme. No invented AED bands. Clear next steps from Festival Tower.
What drives office fit out cost in Dubai
Cost is a product of scope and constraint — not a public square-metre band. These are the drivers KOJ measures before any proposal.
Floor area & density
How much space you fit out, and how tightly desks, rooms and support spaces are packed.
Starting condition
Cat A, shell and core, or a live refurbishment — each changes civil, MEP and programme risk.
Finish level
Standard commercial through premium Hospitality-grade materials and detailing.
Custom joinery
Volume and complexity of millwork, reception pieces and specialist furniture interfaces.
MEP deltas
Power, HVAC, fire and data changes beyond the base-build — often the quiet cost driver.
Approvals & programme
DM, DCD, DEWA, Trakhees, DDA, DMCC and landlord NOCs shape both duration and contingency.
How KOJ prices a Dubai office fit-out
We price after we understand your floor — not from a published band. Four steps keep Commercial & Hospitality proposals honest.
01 — Site visit & brief
We review the floor, landlord manuals and your move-in date.
02 — Scope definition
Cat A vs Cat B, partitions, joinery, MEP deltas and FF&E interfaces — listed line by line.
03 — Authority route
Confirm DM/DCD/DEWA/Trakhees/DDA/DMCC and landlord NOC pathways before drawings freeze.
04 — Itemised proposal
Clear scope, programme shape and exclusions — ready for Commercial & Hospitality decision-makers.
Dubai approvals that sit inside the cost
Fit-out approvals in Dubai depend on the building, free zone and master developer. KOJ confirms the route at brief stage and coordinates submissions with design and construction.
Dubai Municipality (DM)
Building and fit-out submissions where DM jurisdiction applies.
Dubai Civil Defence (DCD)
Fire and life-safety approvals coordinated with design and construction.
DEWA
Power and utility connections when loads or meters change.
Trakhees
Free-zone and designated-area pathways where Trakhees is the authority.
DDA / DMCC
Dubai Development Authority and DMCC routes for relevant districts and free zones.
Landlord / OAM NOC
Building-management approval before disruptive works — confirmed early, not as an afterthought.
Typical programme shape (not a quote)
A healthy Dubai office fit-out programme runs in parallel tracks — design, authority submissions and site works — sequenced around your opening date.
01 — Brief & survey
Align space, landlord rules and opening date.
02 — Concept & technical design
Layouts, joinery and MEP coordination drawings.
03 — Authority submissions
Parallel tracks for municipality/free-zone, civil defence and utilities.
04 — Construction & handover
Fit-out, snagging and documented close-out.
Cat A vs Cat B — why cost changes
Cat A
The landlord base-build: ceilings, raised floors, core MEP and fire systems ready for an occupier. Your starting point — not your finished workplace.
Cat B
Your interior — partitions, meeting rooms, reception, joinery, lighting and finishes. Crossing from shell and core, or changing MEP, usually moves both cost and programme.
Authority stack for Dubai office fit-out
KOJ Interiors confirms the route at the brief stage, prepares submission drawings and documentation, and coordinates authority comments with design and site teams — so resubmissions do not silently extend your programme.
Live environments and cost control
Phased delivery
When Commercial & Hospitality spaces stay open, KOJ phases fit-out around daily operations — night working, temporary protection and staged handovers.
Cost clarity
Access routes, working windows and protection are planned into cost and programme from the start — not discovered mid-build.
Districts where we deliver office fit-out
From Festival Tower we support these districts with the same ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 systems used across 5,000+ projects since 2018.
DIFC
Business Bay
Downtown Dubai
Dubai Marina / JLT
DMCC
JAFZA
DAFZA
Dubai Silicon Oasis
Commercial & Hospitality — who this guide is for
Corporate HQ
Banking & finance
Executive offices
Boardrooms
Hospitality workplaces
Client reception
Regional offices
Proof without invented prices
KOJ Interiors is part of Kamal Osman Jamjoom Group. Scale and certifications already on kojinteriors.com — 5,000+ projects across the GCC since 2018, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018. Head office: 17th Floor, Festival Tower, Dubai Festival City.
Related Dubai delivery
Executive Offices, Dubai
Precision-led office fit-out inside a prominent high-rise, with custom joinery and coordinated services.
Corporate Banking, Abu Dhabi
Financial headquarters interior delivery with approvals discipline across the capital.
Next step
Start with the Dubai city page
Use our Fit Out Company in Dubai page for sector proof, district coverage and FAQs, then share your brief for an itemised cost proposal.
Need Abu Dhabi approvals detail?
For ADM/DMT, ADCD, ADDC/TAQA, Estidama and landlord NOC pathways, see Office Fit Out Abu Dhabi Approvals — the companion guide for the capital.
Cost & approvals FAQs
Need a Dubai office fit-out cost proposal grounded in your floor plate? Our Festival Tower team is ready to help.
Are you an office fit out contractor or a design company?
Both. Choose Design & Build for one team from concept to handover, or Build Only when your designer's drawings are already approved.
What drives the cost of an office fit out in Dubai?
The main factors are floor area, the starting condition of the space (Cat A or shell and core), the level of finishes and joinery, MEP changes, furniture and AV scope, authority and building approvals, and the programme. Phased working inside an occupied office also shapes the plan. We prepare a clear, itemised proposal after a site visit and brief, so every line of scope is visible from the start.
How much does an office fit-out cost in Dubai?
Floor area, finishes, joinery, MEP, approvals and programme each play a part. KOJ Interiors reviews the space and brief first, then sets clear scope and pricing — so decisions land early, with full visibility. Read our fit out Dubai cost guide.
How long does an office fit-out take in Dubai?
Office fit-out timelines in Dubai are set by floor area, design complexity, approvals and site conditions. KOJ Interiors confirms the programme once the scope is clear, aligns sequencing before work begins and manages delivery to defined milestones, with fast-track project coordination when a move-in date calls for speed.
Do you handle office fit-out approvals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
Yes. KOJ Interiors prepares submission drawings, coordinates documentation with building management and the relevant authorities, and manages compliance and approval follow-up for office fit-outs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Approvals stay aligned with the design and construction programme, so your project moves to site with confidence.
Can you refurbish our office while the business stays open?
Yes. KOJ Interiors uses phased fit-out delivery to refurbish offices inside working buildings. We sequence each area around daily operations, keep occupied zones safe and clean, and hand over completed areas in stages, so your teams, visitors and clients keep working comfortably throughout the refurbishment.
What is the difference between Cat A and Cat B fit-out?
Cat A is the landlord’s base-build finish: ceilings, raised floors, core MEP distribution and fire systems, ready for an occupier. Cat B is the occupier’s interior fit-out: partitions, meeting rooms, reception, joinery, lighting, finishes and branding. KOJ Interiors confirms the right scope with you during the brief.
Do you deliver office fit-out in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. KOJ Interiors has an office in Abu Dhabi, and our work in the capital includes a financial headquarters fit-out, an auditorium and corporate interior of approximately 3,000 sqm, and The Airport Lounge refurbishment at Abu Dhabi International Airport, all delivered by the same accountable team.
What is included in an office fit-out?
A KOJ Interiors office fit-out includes space planning and interior design, detailed drawings and joinery documentation, MEP and site coordination, submission drawings and approval follow-up, civil and interior works, ceilings, flooring and wall finishes, custom joinery and lighting, then site supervision, snagging, handover and post-handover assistance.
Do you offer design and build for office fit-out?
Yes. KOJ Interiors offers Design & Build for offices, with one accountable team from space planning and concept design through technical drawings, approvals, fit-out and handover. If your design team has already completed approved drawings, our Build Only model delivers the fit-out execution, site coordination, quality control and handover.
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