Apartment Renovation Cost in Dubai Marina and JLT

Dubai Marina and JLT are among most popular areas for rent and living in Dubai.

High-rise towers, water views, ready infrastructure — all this makes renovation here not just expense, but tool for increasing value and rental income.

At same time price spread is huge: two projects of same area can differ in budget by factor of two.

Below we'll break down what makes up apartment renovation cost in Marina and JLT, what realistic budget ranges are and how CYFR approaches assessment.

1. What budget ranges to talk about at all

If looking at market overall, many contractors name such benchmarks:

standard renovation in Dubai often falls into range approximately from 1000 to 1500 AED per m² with average materials and without complex remodeling; premium projects easily go above 2000 AED per m²

in other sources for UAE very wide ranges given: conditionally from "basic" level to expensive premium renovation with engineering and custom furniture, where upper limit can multiply exceed starting

For Dubai Marina and JLT makes sense to focus on upper part of these ranges, because:

these are liquid areas with expected higher finish level;

tenants and buyers here accustomed to certain standard;

buildings themselves often more complex in engineering and rules than in conditional JVC.

Simplified can look like this (for residential apartments, without furniture and appliances):

careful cosmetic: approximately from 800 to 1200 AED per m²;

"normal" renovation for living or stable rent: approximately from 1200 to 2000 AED per m²;

deep renovation with remodeling, engineering and premium materials: from 2000 AED per m² and above.

This is not CYFR price list, but market plus averaged experience. Actual budget always calculated based on specific work scope and specification.

2. Budget examples for typical apartments in Marina and JLT

Important: examples below are illustration of order of numbers, not commercial proposal.

Typical studio or compact 1BR (area about 40–60 m²):

light refresh (paint, small lighting upgrade, partial finish replacement): conditionally from 40000–60000 AED;

more serious upgrade with kitchen and bathroom: range can be from 70000–110000 AED depending on materials and appliances.

1BR–2BR about 70–100 m²:

finish, lighting update and partial kitchen/bathroom update: often falls into range approximately 80000–150000 AED;

full redesign with new kitchen, bathrooms, built-in furniture and engineering refinement can go into 150000–250000 AED and above for premium materials and complex solutions, especially in waterfront towers

3BR and large apartments:

here layout, number of bathrooms and finish level wishes strongly affect.

Range for serious renovation easily goes into 200000–400000 AED and above, if talking about premium solutions, smart home and custom furniture.

CYFR in its calculations always starts not from one "magic" number per m², but from detailed BoQ:

each item has quantity, rate and zone assignment.

3. Why Marina and JLT usually more expensive than "average" area

3.1. Tower rules and noise restrictions

In high-rise towers of Dubai Marina and JLT almost always there are:

strict time windows for noisy work;

restrictions on weekends and holidays;

requirements for common zone protection (elevators, lobbies, corridors).

This affects:

project duration (grows due to limited hours);

organizational costs (material logistics, crew planning);

fines and deposits that contractor must account for in risks.

3.2. Elevators, access and logistics

Most materials go through freight elevators and common zones:

protective screens, underlays, floor covering in corridors needed;

lifting large elements (countertops, glass, furniture) takes more time;

sometimes need to order special delivery or split deliveries into several stages.

All this doesn't make renovation "golden", but adds constant overheads that don't exist in simple low-rise projects.

3.3. Engineering and building systems

In Marina and JLT:

often centralized air conditioning and ventilation systems;

limited access to risers and technical shafts;

strict fire safety and soundproofing requirements.

Any interventions in:

ventilation,

fire alarm systems,

air conditioning system

must comply with building rules and often coordinated through management company or master-developer. This adds:

time for approvals;

requirements for contractor (experience, licenses, technical documentation);

additional work on integrating solutions with building infrastructure.

4. What affects final price per m² most

If discard "marketing noise", budget in Marina and JLT affected primarily by:

Intervention depth

Just paint walls and replace lighting — this is one scenario.

Remodeling, kitchen move, wet zone changes and serious engineering — completely different budget and timeline level.

Bathroom and kitchen work volume

Kitchens and bathrooms — most expensive renovation zones.

More there:

tiles and complex layouts;

engineering (moves, podiums, drains);

custom furniture;

more noticeable this is in overall estimate.

Material and brand level

Tiles, plumbing, kitchens, hardware, lighting — market spread very large.

Two visually similar solutions can differ in price by 2–3 times.

Furniture and built-in solutions

Especially for rent in Marina and JLT owners often want:

thoughtful storage systems;

built-in cabinets sized for specific layout;

compact solutions for small bedrooms and studios.

All this adds cost, but gives clear plus to rent and liquidity.

Approvals and timelines

Stricter deadlines and more non-standard solutions, higher risks for contractor — meaning more carefully he'll include buffer in estimate.

5. How to approach budget planning if apartment in Marina or JLT

Most logical to go step by step:

First goal

Why you're doing renovation:

live yourself;

rent long-term;

bring property to "top of market" for rent;

preparation for sale.

From goal depends both target finish level and reasonable budget.

Then "minimum / optimal / maximum" scenario

CYFR usually offers 2–3 scenarios:

minimum reasonable: what must be done so property is livable and safe;

optimal: balance of aesthetics, engineering and payback;

extended: when important to make lifestyle solutions and premium materials.

Such approach helps not "shoot blindly", but see what you get for each additional dirham.

And only then — exact numbers

Specific estimate formed from:

measurements;

drawings and layout solutions;

selected materials and brands.

General overview of factors affecting cost can be seen in article

Cost of Renovation in Dubai: Main Factors.

6. How CYFR calculates and manages projects in Marina and JLT

CYFR Fitout works with Marina and JLT as "engineering" objects, not just "apartments with view".

Approach:

first detailed brief and scenario understanding (living, rent, sale);

apartment and specific tower rules survey;

basic BoQ with division by zones and work types;

priority coordination: what mandatory, what "wishlist", what can be left for second stage.

During project:

change log maintained so any additional work recorded and coordinated;

for owners who don't live in Dubai, regular reports with photos and videos made;

separate attention to common zone protection and communication with building management.

Our task — so renovation in Dubai Marina or JLT:

increases property value and income;

while passes predictably by timelines and budget,

and doesn't turn into endless series of surprises.

7. Brief conclusion

Apartment renovation in Dubai Marina and JLT almost always more expensive than in "average" Dubai areas, but this justified by:

higher expected finish level;

tower complexity and their engineering;

potential rental rate and liquidity growth.

Realistically:

for careful refresh can fit into relatively compact budgets;

for serious rebuild and premium level need to allocate noticeably larger range, especially for 2BR and 3BR.

If you're planning renovation in Marina or JLT and want to understand:

does it make sense to invest in specific apartment;

what finish level will give reasonable ROI;

how to fit within budget and approval constraints,

CYFR team can help go through path from initial analysis to detailed estimate and turnkey implementation.