Curtain alterations in Dubai are usually quoted by the work on each existing panel, not simply by the number of windows. Public examples put basic shortening around AED 30–60 per panel, while lining and heading changes cost more and may need new materials. Collection, cleaning, measuring, removal and rehanging are not automatically included.
The most expensive mistake is approving a cut before the finished drop, hanging system and fabric condition are agreed. This guide is for curtains you already own: shortening, resizing, replacing lining and changing the header. For a completely new set, see our Dubai curtain-buying cost guide.
Curtain alteration prices: use the same panel and task definition
These are public provider examples checked on 16 October 2026, not Bestimate prices or market averages. A panel means one separate curtain piece; a pair normally has two. A window with two sheers and two heavier drapes has four physical panels, though a provider may define its package differently.
Published per-panel alteration examples
| Work on existing curtains | Floorland's published example | Confirm before accepting |
|---|---|---|
| Shorten and hem | AED 30–60 per panel | Lined or unlined fabric, hem finish, measurement responsibility |
| Lengthen | AED 50–100 per panel | Usable allowance or new joining fabric; visible seam and colour match |
| Replace/add blackout or thermal lining | AED 80–180 per panel | Whether lining fabric, removal of old lining and finishing are included |
| Change the heading | AED 70–140 per panel | Tape, hooks or other parts; remaining finished length and track compatibility |
| Adjust width | AED 40–90 per panel | Reducing versus joining panels, fullness and pattern matching |
Floorland publishes the task-specific figures above. As a separate comparison, Decor Studio lists simple hemming at around AED 30 per panel and groups several more involved alterations at AED 50–120 per panel. The providers do not establish identical material, transport or VAT inclusions in those price passages. Their figures should not be merged into one all-inclusive tariff.
Before asking “How much for two curtains?”, state whether that means two individual pieces, two pairs or two complete windows with both sheer and blackout layers. Also state the current panel dimensions and the requested work. That small clarification prevents an apparently doubled quotation later.
Price changes to your existing curtain panels, with collection and rehanging made explicit.
Open the full curtain alteration quote comparison. Use your written prices: unknown costs remain unresolved, and comparable totals appear only after both scopes are confirmed.
Build a complete alteration order before comparing totals
Ask each provider to price the same panel schedule, with fabric and labour separated where appropriate. Use the tool to compare whole-order totals, adding only priced items excluded from that order. Do not add a lining charge again if it is already included in the quoted panel price. Unknown charges remain unknown, not zero.
Illustrative arithmetic only: four panels at a fictional AED 45 each total AED 180. Adding a fictional AED 80 collection-and-rehanging charge gives AED 260. If all items are taxable and quoted exclusive of 5% VAT, the result is AED 273. This is a calculation example, not a package offer. The FTA states the standard UAE VAT rate is 5%; use the provider's confirmed tax basis.
Agree the finished drop before fabric is cut
“Remove ten centimetres” can be ambiguous if the hooks, heading or track position will also change. Agree the final finished length from a clearly defined hanging reference to the bottom edge, with the actual hardware in its intended position. Ask the person taking responsibility for the final fit to measure, record the reference point and approve the alteration.
Specify the desired relationship to the floor: clear of it, just touching it or deliberately pooling. Where the floor or track is uneven, ask how the finished hem will be judged across the window. Do not assume one measurement from another room or a nominal product label is sufficient.
A practical curtain alteration order sheet
| Record for each window | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Panel count and layer: sheer, face curtain and separate lining | Different layers may need different work; a pair is not one panel |
| Existing width and length; agreed finished drop | Separates the current object from the target result |
| Current and proposed heading/hardware | A heading change can change how much usable length remains |
| Requested hem, lining and width work | Prevents a shortening quote from becoming a full remake by assumption |
| Measuring, takedown, collection, delivery and rehanging responsibilities | Defines who checks the fit and which visits are included |
| Any defect, care label and previous cleaning/shrinkage | Records the starting condition before an irreversible alteration |
Where the fabric is valuable or several rooms need identical work, ask whether one agreed sample panel can be completed and checked before the rest are cut. Confirm any extra visit or sample charge. Keep the signed-off dimensions and photographs with the order; a general “make it look right” instruction is harder to evaluate afterwards.
When shortening is simple—and when it is not
Plain, unlined panels
A straightforward bottom hem is often the simplest alteration, but the quote still needs to identify the finish. Ask whether the work will be sewn, bonded or temporarily folded and whether the chosen method suits the material and future care. A low price does not tell you which method is included.
Lined and blackout curtains
The face fabric and lining need to hang correctly together. Ask whether both layers will be adjusted, how the lining will finish at the bottom and what happens to weights or decorative borders. Coated blackout material should be assessed for deterioration before work; replacing sound lining is different from remaking a damaged curtain.
Lengthening or joining
Extra length may require releasing usable hem allowance or adding fabric. Neither guarantees an invisible result. Ask to see the proposed seam location and fabric match, and whether old fold marks or sun-faded areas may remain visible. If the existing fabric is too damaged, request a separate replacement comparison rather than paying for alteration on the assumption it will look new.
Custom Curtains Dubai describes resizing, relining and reheading as distinct services. Use those distinctions in your enquiry; do not treat every type of work as a basic hem.
Should curtains be cleaned before alteration?
Make this a fabric-specific decision. Dirt, previous shrinkage and a change in the way a curtain hangs can affect the target length. Check the care label and ask the cleaner or alteration specialist whether cleaning or settling should happen before final measurement. Do not wash every curtain at home as a blanket preparation step.
For example, IKEA's GINSTMOTT product guidance recommends washing that particular fabric before cutting or hemming because it can shrink. This Saudi product page is cited only for its fabric-care sequence, not as a UAE purchase recommendation. It is not permission to wash velvet, coated blackout or an unidentified lined curtain. Our curtain-cleaning guide covers the separate care-method decision.
If cleaning is included, ask who is responsible for inspection, care decisions, final measurements and any change in dimensions. A laundry pickup quote and a made-to-measure alteration order are different promises even when one business offers both.
Header conversion is not track repair
Changing eyelets, pleats or heading tape affects how the curtain hangs. Ask the provider to inspect the existing rail or rod and specify compatible hooks, gliders or tape. Converting a header may consume fabric at the top; confirm the finished drop before the old header is removed. For wave-style results, the curtain construction and hardware must be considered together rather than just adding a different tape.
If the curtain jams because a bracket is loose, gliders are damaged or the track is bent, start with the mechanical problem. Sewing will not fix it. Use our curtain track and rod repair guide to scope that work separately. Do not authorise cutting until any change in track height or position is settled.
Collection, fitting and the final acceptance check
Confirm who removes the curtains, whether hooks stay with each labelled panel, how each window's pieces remain identifiable and whether the provider brings them back on hangers, folded or ready to fit. If you arrange your own removal, do not climb unstable furniture or reach an unsafe height.
Agree a completion date only after the provider has seen the actual job, particularly for lining material, complex headings or several windows. Ask what happens if a new defect is discovered in the workshop: additional work should be priced and approved before proceeding.
At handover, check the panels on the intended hardware. Look at the hem across the whole opening, matching pair lengths, lining visibility, seams and the ability to open and close the curtain. Record a concern before the provider leaves and compare it with the agreed dimensions and finish, not an undefined promise of “perfect fit”.
For a curtain-alteration request, provide the number of panels and layers, current and target measurements if known, the work needed and whether collection or rehanging is required. Photographs of the whole curtain, header and care instructions can help. Crop or blur customer names, addresses, unit numbers, order labels, barcodes and unrelated faces; retain only relevant care symbols or material information. Keep private access details in booking fields.
Have your requirements ready? Compare curtain alterations quotes with a free request, or check the matching service. Confirm the written scope and availability before booking.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to shorten curtains in Dubai?
Public examples checked in October 2026 include AED 30–60 per panel at Floorland and around AED 30 per panel for simple hemming at Decor Studio. Confirm fabric, lining, measurement, transport, rehanging and VAT before comparing them with your total.
Is a curtain pair charged as one panel or two?
A pair normally contains two separate panels, but package descriptions vary. Ask the provider to write the physical piece count and layers into the quote. Two windows with sheer and blackout pairs can mean eight panels, not two.
Can blackout curtains be shortened?
Often they can, after the fabric, coating and lining are assessed. Ask whether both layers are included, how the hem will be finished and whether existing material damage limits the result. Do not assume an ordinary unlined-panel price applies.
Can curtains be made longer after moving?
Possibly, if usable hem allowance or suitable joining fabric is available. Ask about visible seams, colour differences and the maximum achievable finished drop before approving the work. Lengthening is not a guarantee of an invisible match.
Do alteration prices include taking down and rehanging?
Not automatically. Have measuring, removal, collection, delivery, hardware and fitting listed individually or explicitly included in one total. Also agree who is responsible for checking the final fit on the actual track.
Review notes
Reviewed 16 October 2026. The guide focuses on altering retained curtains, not purchasing a new curtain system. Final feasibility, care method and price depend on inspection of your fabric and hardware.
