Checking a renovation contractor in Dubai comes down to a few questions you can ask before you sign. Does the company hold a trade licence? Is the scope written down? Who is responsible for the approvals? How and when do you pay? The checks below suit homeowners planning to renovate an apartment, villa or townhouse, and they apply to any company you shortlist, including REDO. If you are still setting a budget, read what drives renovation costs in Dubai first.
What a renovation contractor does
A renovation contractor is responsible for carrying out the works: the site team, the trades, the materials and the schedule. A designer draws the space, and a fit-out company usually delivers a commercial interior. Many homeowners prefer one company to handle design, approvals and works under a single contract. If that is what you want, ask each company to say which of the three it covers and who is accountable for each. REDO is a licensed renovation company in Dubai, and our turnkey renovation service is built around one contract from design to handover.
Check the trade licence first
In Dubai a business may carry out an economic activity only under a licence from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly DED). Ask to see the licence, check that the company name matches your quote and contract, and verify the number yourself on the DET licence search. REDO's licence is DET 751468, held by CONNECT SERVICES MIDDLE EAST L.L.C, and you can verify it the same way.
A trade licence is the starting point, not the whole answer. For decoration works in Dubai Municipality areas, only approved contractors can apply for the permit and carry out the work, so ask whether the company has that approval.
Agree the scope in writing
Most disputes start with a scope that lived only in conversation. Before you accept a quote, make sure it lists:
- the rooms and the work in each, from demolition to finishes
- who supplies which materials and fittings, and to what specification
- what is excluded, such as furniture, appliances or specialist items
- how changes to the scope are priced and approved before the work is done
- site rules, including working hours, access and waste removal
Your building's management company also sets rules for works, contractor access and working hours, so ask how the contractor will comply with them.
Ask who handles the approvals
Small cosmetic jobs, such as painting or changing light fittings, usually need no permit. Work that changes walls, ceilings, partitions, flooring in larger units, electrics or plumbing needs approval before it starts. Which authority approves it depends on where the property is: Dubai Municipality, the Dubai Development Authority, Trakhees or the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority.
In a jointly owned building, changes to the structure, the outside appearance or the common parts need the approval of the master developer, the Dubai Land Department and the competent authority. Changes to your electrical installation need DEWA's prior approval, and work that touches fire alarms, sprinklers or escape routes must meet Civil Defence requirements.
Ask the contractor to state in writing which approvals they handle and which you must provide, such as the owner's written consent or the developer's NOC. Our guide to renovation permits in Dubai explains each step.
Ask how the work is managed
Find out who runs the site day to day and how you will hear about progress. A named project manager, regular updates and one clear contact for questions matter more than a polished brochure. Ask what happens at handover too: how remaining defects are listed, who fixes them and how you confirm they are done.
Understand the payment stages
Payment should follow the work, not run ahead of it. A written payment schedule ties each instalment to a stage of the job, such as an approved design or completed works, and the final payment to handover. Be cautious if a company asks for most of the money before work starts. REDO itemises its quotes by room and by trade, links each payment to a completed stage, and takes the final payment after snagging.
Ask what the warranty covers
Get the warranty in the contract, with what it covers, what it excludes and how to make a claim. REDO offers a 1-year warranty on key installations. Whatever a contractor promises, a promise made only in conversation is hard to enforce.
Look for experience that matches your project
Ask for work like yours: an apartment, a villa or a townhouse, at a similar scale. REDO has 10+ years of experience, with 150+ residential and 50+ commercial projects, and a team of 100+ employees led by Andrew Meyer, Head of Projects.
Red flags to watch for
- The company will not give a licence number, or the name on the licence differs from the name on the quote.
- The quote is a single line with no breakdown of scope.
- Work is due to start before the approvals are in place.
- A large share of the price is due upfront.
- There is no written contract or no process for pricing changes.
- The warranty is vague or only verbal.
Compare quotes on scope, not only the total
Ask several licensed companies to quote against the same brief. When totals differ, the gap is usually in what is included. A lower figure with a thinner scope is not a saving. When you are ready, you can ask REDO for a free estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a renovation contractor's licence in Dubai?
Ask for the licence number and look it up on the DET licence search. Check that the business name and the licensed activity match the quote and the contract.
Do I need a contractor, or can I hire trades separately?
Both work. With separate trades you coordinate the sequence, the approvals and the responsibility yourself. A single contractor gives you one point of accountability for the whole job.
How long will my renovation take?
Kitchens take 2–6 weeks, bathrooms 1–3 weeks and apartments 2 weeks–3 months. Villas are scoped individually.
Should I pay everything before the work starts?
No. Tie each payment to a stage in a written schedule, and keep the final payment for handover.
