How to Choose Materials for Renovation in Dubai

Material selection in Dubai is not only about aesthetics.

Climate, building type, community rules and usage scenario of apartment or villa strongly affect which solutions will last long and which will start deteriorating after a year.

CYFR Fitout looks at materials as part of system: Dubai climate, loads, operation, rent or living, service and subsequent AMC. Below – basic logic that can be used as guide when choosing finishes.

1. Key climate and building features in Dubai

Before discussing "what tile color", useful to remember several facts about Dubai:

• high temperature most of year;

• high humidity, especially near water and in poorly ventilated spaces;

• constant air conditioning operation;

• sharp temperature differences between outside and interior;

• often – intensive property use (rent, holiday home).

This means:

• materials must normally handle heat and humidity;

• adhesives, primers, grouts and waterproofing as important as "beautiful tiles";

• for rent better choose solutions that easier to maintain and repair in parts.

2. Floors: tiles, porcelain stoneware, engineered wood, vinyl

Floor is one of most loaded surfaces, and what works in Europe doesn't always handle Dubai conditions well.

Tiles and porcelain stoneware

Most common and logical choice for:

• bathrooms and wet zones;

• kitchen;

• corridors and common zones;

• balconies and terraces (with correct format and non-slip surface).

Pros:

• not afraid of moisture;

• easy to clean;

• doesn't fade like low-grade laminate;

• handles temperature changes well.

Cons:

• requires quality base preparation;

• with poor installation possible cracks and voids;

• feel always more "cold" than wood.

In apartments in Dubai Marina and JLT, as well as in most apartments in Dubai, porcelain stoneware often becomes "main working material" for floors and walls in wet zones.

Engineered wood and parquet

Give warmer and premium feel, but require:

• good base preparation;

• correct air conditioning and ventilation system;

• careful cleaning.

In CYFR projects engineered wood more often used:

• in bedrooms;

• in private zones;

• in premium projects where there's reasonable maintenance budget.

For rent with high tenant turnover this solution needs careful consideration: partial repairs can be harder than with tiles or quality vinyl.

SPC / LVT / vinyl

Modern vinyl flooring (SPC, LVT):

• moisture resistant;

• easier to install and replace individual elements;

• give warmer feel than tiles.

Can be considered:

• for bedrooms, offices, corridors;

• for rental properties where wear resistance and local repair possibility important.

Important not to skimp on quality: cheap vinyl can smell, warp and quickly lose appearance.

3. Walls: paint, decorative finishes, tiles

Paint

Basic solution for most interiors. In Dubai important:

• use paints with good washable surface (especially for rent and families with children);

• properly prime base;

• consider repairability: one thing accent wall with complex color, another – main background that needs easy touch-up.

CYFR usually recommends:

• neutral calm base colors with accents through furniture, lighting and textiles;

• especially for rental apartments – to not overload interior and ease future cosmetic repairs.

Decorative finishes and panels

Decorative plaster, 3D panels, slats and other solutions work well:

• in zones with lower risk of mechanical damage;

• in projects where there's request for visual differentiation (e.g., for expensive holiday homes or premium rent).

Important:

• use materials that not afraid of temperature changes and moderate humidity;

• consider how these finishes will behave near air conditioning and ventilation.

Wall tiles

Logical choice:

• for bathrooms and showers;

• for "backsplash" and zones near kitchen work surface;

• for wet and technical spaces.

Important points:

• correct format and joint selection;

• proper waterproofing behind tiles;

• not forget non-slip tiles for floor in wet zones.

4. Bathrooms: moisture resistance and waterproofing more important than pattern

Bathrooms in Dubai – zone where saving on materials and "preparation" almost always backfires.

Base: waterproofing and preparation

Before beautiful tiles important:

• quality base preparation;

• do waterproofing using proper technologies;

• correctly execute slopes to drains and outlets.

Poor waterproofing and slopes lead to:

• leaks to neighbors;

• water accumulation in corners;

• mold and finish deterioration.

Tiles and plumbing

For bathrooms CYFR recommends:

• tiles with adequate slip resistance coefficient for floor;

• proven plumbing and mixer brands;

• not skimp on hidden parts (concealed systems, mechanisms, traps).

For rent:

• better avoid too stain-prone and "finicky" surfaces;

• use solutions that easy to clean and hard to damage.

5. Kitchen: work surfaces, facades, hardware

Kitchen in Dubai often lives in mode:

• active cooking (especially in families);

• or opposite – mostly restaurant orders, but with load on sink and storage.

Countertops

Main options:

• quartz agglomerates and composites;

• artificial stone;

• porcelain stoneware countertops;

• quality laminated countertops in budget projects.

Key criteria:

• stain and moisture resistance;

• temperature resistance (though hot pots still better placed on trivets);

• repairability.

For rent in Marina and JLT most owners aim for materials that:

• visually perceived as "expensive";

• while not requiring super-delicate handling.

Facades and carcasses

For facades important:

• moisture and steam resistance;

• impact resistance;

• edge and finish quality.

Gloss, matte, enamel, film, veneer – choice depends on concept and budget. For rent better avoid too stain-prone dark glosses if no habit of careful care.

Hardware

Hinges, guides, soft-closers – what rarely visible on renders but strongly affects operation.

CYFR recommends:

• not skimp on basic hardware;

• use brands with clear warranty and component availability in UAE.

6. Villa materials: facades, garden, terraces, pool

For villas in Dubai to interior add:

• facades;

• garden and landscape;

• terraces and outdoor furniture;

• pool and surrounding zone.

Main points:

• facade materials must handle sun, sand and wind well;

• outdoor finishes (tiles, wood, composites) – withstand heating and not become "ice rink" or "ice rink reversed";

• materials around pool must combine slip resistance and comfort for bare feet.

When choosing outdoor materials CYFR usually:

• looks at operation experience in UAE and similar climates;

• considers master-developer and community requirements;

• includes solutions that easier to maintain and combine with AMC.

7. Materials and usage scenario: live, rent, sell

Correct material choice depends not only on budget, but also on how property will be used.

Live yourself

Can afford:

• more individual solutions;

• materials that require slightly more careful care;

• complex decorative elements if ready to care for them.

Long-term rent

Main criteria:

• wear resistance;

• cleaning and maintenance simplicity;

• local repair possibility.

Too "finicky" surfaces and delicate decorative solutions here rarely pay off.

Holiday home and premium rent

Here balance:

• "wow" effect;

• wear resistance and service.

CYFR often offers:

• make "skeleton" from durable and repairable materials;

• add emotional elements through lighting, furniture and decor that can be updated if needed.

Preparation for sale

Materials must:

• visually refresh property;

• not provoke buyer thoughts "everything here will need redoing";

• not go into too specific taste that will limit buyer pool.

8. How CYFR helps with material selection in real project

Instead of "just send client to tile showroom", CYFR:

• analyzes ownership scenario and budget;

• breaks property into zones by priority and load;

• offers several material packages by level:

• basic reasonable;

• optimal by quality/cost balance;

• extended for premium projects.

At same time considered:

• specific community requirements (Emaar, Nakheel, etc.);

• operation experience of same materials in UAE;

• further maintenance (AMC) and repairability.

Goal – so material selection doesn't turn into chaotic showroom tour, but is part of clear project logic: from engineering and budget to operation and AMC.

Conclusion: materials in Dubai need to be chosen considering climate, buildings and lifestyle scenario, not only by pictures.

If look at project holistically – engineering, finishes, service – apartment or villa stay "alive" long, and don't become source of constant minor problems a year after renovation.