- As of June 2026, kitchen cabinet refacing in Dubai is usually a good option when the cabinet boxes are solid and you mainly dislike the colour, doors, handles or hinges. It is not the same as a full kitchen renovation, which can involve demolition, plumbing, electrical work, countertops, appliances and approvals.
- For planning, small cabinet refreshes can start around AED 600-2,500+ for handles, hinges and minor fixes. Cabinet repainting or wrapping often lands around AED 2,000-9,000+ for many apartment kitchens, while replacement doors/fronts or partial custom cabinetry can move into AED 4,000-35,000+ depending on size, finish, hardware and labour.
- Choose refacing if the layout works, the carcasses are dry and square, and you want a cleaner look without moving services. Choose a full kitchen renovation if the layout, water damage, countertop, sink, electrical sockets, hood/duct or appliances also need major work.
Last updated: June 2026
Kitchen cabinet refacing in Dubai sits between a quick handyman visit and a full kitchen renovation. Instead of ripping out the whole kitchen, you keep the existing cabinet boxes where possible and update what people actually see and touch: doors, drawer fronts, handles, hinges, paint, laminate wrap, side panels and sometimes the countertop edge.
This matters because Dubai kitchen quotes can look confusing. One provider may quote a cabinet repaint, another may quote new doors only, and a renovation contractor may quote a full strip-out. Those are not the same job. If you are comparing a refresh against a full kitchen remodel, start with Bestimate's broader Kitchen Renovation Cost Dubai guide. This article focuses only on cabinet-level decisions: when refacing is enough, when it is a false economy, and what to ask before booking.
Kitchen Cabinet Refacing Cost in Dubai: 2026 Planning Ranges
Use these as planning benchmarks, not fixed quotes. Cabinet prices in Dubai depend on the number of doors and drawers, cabinet height, material, finish, hardware quality, access, whether the kitchen is occupied, and whether countertops, backsplash or MEP work are included. Product-only examples can look cheap, but installation, measuring, hinges, side panels, filler pieces and removal usually change the total.
| Cabinet option | Dubai planning benchmark | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware refresh Handles, knobs, hinges, soft-close adjustments | Around AED 600-2,500+ for many small to medium kitchens, excluding premium hardware | Cabinets look acceptable but doors feel loose, noisy or dated. |
| Cabinet repainting Prep, sanding, primer and spray/roller finish | Often AED 2,000-7,000+ for apartment kitchens; larger villa kitchens can cost more | Solid doors with an outdated colour and no major water swelling. |
| Vinyl or laminate wrapping Visible faces wrapped without replacing all boxes | Often AED 2,500-9,000+ depending on door count, film quality and edge detail | Rental-friendly or budget refresh where finish durability is understood. |
| Replacement doors and drawer fronts Keep boxes, replace fronts and often hinges/handles | Around AED 4,000-18,000+ depending on quantity, finish, sizing and hardware | Layout works, boxes are solid, but doors are damaged or style is wrong. |
| Partial custom cabinetry New pantry, island panels, tall units or damaged sections | Around AED 8,000-35,000+ depending on joinery, accessories and finish | You need extra storage or selected damaged cabinet boxes are beyond repair. |
| Most or all cabinets replaced New boxes, fronts, fittings and full joinery coordination | Use the same cabinet benchmarks as the full renovation guide: modular around AED 8,000-18,000, semi-custom around AED 18,000-40,000, and custom joinery around AED 40,000-100,000+ | Water damage, poor layout, weak boxes or a major redesign. If countertop, plumbing or electrical work is included, compare as a full renovation. |
Refacing vs Full Kitchen Renovation
The simplest test is this: are you changing the look of a working kitchen, or are you changing how the kitchen functions? Refacing is mainly a visual and hardware upgrade. Full renovation changes the kitchen as a system: layout, plumbing, electrical points, hood/ducting, countertops, backsplash, appliances and sometimes approvals.
| Question | Refacing may be enough | Consider full renovation |
|---|---|---|
| Do you like the layout? | Yes, storage and appliance positions work. | No, you need a new sink, hob, fridge or island position. |
| Are the cabinet boxes sound? | Boxes are dry, square and fixed firmly to wall/floor. | MDF is swollen, shelves sag, wall cabinets are loose or water-damaged. |
| Are services moving? | No plumbing, gas, hood duct or socket relocation. | Any relocation of water, drainage, gas, heavy electrical or ventilation. |
| Is the countertop staying? | Countertop is level, not cracked and still fits the look. | Countertop replacement affects sink, backsplash, hob cut-out or wall tiles. |
What Cabinet Refacing Usually Includes
A proper quote should count the visible components, not just say "reface kitchen". Ask providers to list upper doors, lower doors, drawer fronts, tall cabinet panels, end panels, kickboards, handles, hinges, soft-close runners, shelves, paint/wrap material and disposal. If the quote includes a countertop or backsplash, separate that cost so you can compare fairly.
- ✓Cabinet boxes are dry and firmly fixed
- ✓Layout and appliance positions already work
- ✓Doors are flat enough to paint, wrap or replace
- ✓You want less disruption than full demolition
- !Swollen MDF near sink, dishwasher or floor
- !Loose wall cabinets or uneven cabinet boxes
- !Countertop is cracked, sagging or poorly supported
- !You need new sockets, plumbing or hood duct changes
Door Count, Access and Occupied-Home Practicalities
Cabinet refacing is less about apartment-versus-villa labels and more about how many visible parts must be measured, removed, finished and refitted. Dubai apartments often have tighter work areas, lift access rules and building restrictions on noisy work. Villas and townhouses may give contractors easier access, but kitchens can include pantry units, island panels, maid-room service areas or outdoor kitchen links. The bigger the kitchen, the more door count matters.
- For apartments, confirm lift protection, working hours, parking, disposal and whether any building approval is needed before drilling or noisy work.
- For villas, ask whether the quote includes pantry units, utility cabinets, island side panels and tall storage units.
- For rentals, choose reversible improvements where possible: handles, hinges, repainting with approval, or selected doors rather than full demolition.
- For owner-occupied homes, compare cabinet refresh against countertop and lighting upgrades; sometimes a clean cabinet job plus new lights creates most of the visual impact.
When a Cabinet Job Becomes Renovation Work
For simple cabinet door replacement, painting, wrapping or handle changes, the job is often treated as interior finishing work. But the scope changes once the cabinet work touches services or building rules. If the work includes wall changes, new drainage, sink relocation, electrical relocation, gas-related work, hood duct changes, structural work or building common-area impact, ask your building manager, developer or relevant authority before booking.
Dubai Municipality publishes building permit procedure guidance for work that affects approved building standards and specifications. In apartment towers, the practical first step is usually building management or developer NOC guidance. For villas, developer community rules may also matter, especially when contractors need access, waste removal or noisy work windows.
What to Count Before Asking for Cabinet Quotes
The easiest way to compare quotes is to send the same scope to every provider. Count your doors and drawers, photograph the kitchen from wide and close angles, and mention whether you want repainting, wrapping, replacement fronts, new hardware or partial custom cabinets. A provider who measures carefully before quoting may not be the cheapest, but the risk of misaligned doors and surprise extras is lower.
| Quote line item | Why it matters | Ask this |
|---|---|---|
| Door and drawer count | Most cabinet work scales with visible fronts. | How many fronts are included and what size assumptions are used? |
| Finish type | Paint, wrap, laminate and new doors age differently. | What material/paint system is used and what warranty applies? |
| Hinges and handles | Old hinges can ruin the feel of new doors. | Are soft-close hinges, runners and handles included or separate? |
| Countertop and backsplash | These often turn a cabinet job into renovation work. | Is any stone, sink, tile or silicone work included? |
| Timeline and disruption | Occupied homes need dust, smell and kitchen-use planning. | How many days will the kitchen be unusable? |
How Bestimate Helps Compare Cabinet Pros
Bestimate helps you describe the cabinet scope once and compare available local Pros by price, timing, finish, hardware and warranty. For cabinet work, the best quote is usually the one that explains what happens to the existing boxes, what gets replaced, and what is excluded from the visible refresh.
Updated June 2026. Bestimate reviewed its live Kitchen Renovation Cost Dubai guide to avoid duplicating the broad renovation topic. We also checked public product benchmarks from IKEA UAE kitchen cabinets/fronts, IKEA UAE cabinet doors/fronts, IKEA UAE worktops, and official Dubai Municipality building permit procedures.
Price ranges are planning benchmarks, not fixed quotes. Final pricing depends on door count, finish, carcass condition, hardware, countertop/backsplash scope, approvals, access, warranty, VAT and whether the job remains cabinet-only or becomes a wider renovation.
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Bestimate reviews UAE home-service guides for local pricing context, service-scope clarity, source support and quote-comparison accuracy.
This cabinet refacing guide was checked in June 2026 against Bestimate's live service taxonomy, existing kitchen renovation content, public UAE product-price examples and Dubai approval guidance. It is written as a cabinet-specific decision guide, not a duplicate full kitchen renovation article.
Frequently asked questions
How much does kitchen cabinet refacing cost in Dubai?
As of June 2026, simple kitchen cabinet refreshes in Dubai can start around AED 600-2,500+ for hardware and minor fixes. Repainting often lands around AED 2,000-7,000+ for many apartment kitchens, wrapping around AED 2,500-9,000+, and replacement doors/fronts or partial custom cabinets can reach AED 4,000-35,000+ depending on scope.
Is cabinet refacing cheaper than kitchen renovation?
Usually yes, if the cabinet boxes, layout, countertop and services can stay. Refacing focuses on visible cabinet fronts and hardware. Full kitchen renovation becomes more expensive because it may include demolition, plumbing, electrical work, countertops, backsplash, appliances and approvals.
Should I repaint, wrap or replace kitchen cabinet doors?
Repaint when the doors are solid and you want a colour change. Wrap when you want a fast visual refresh and understand edge durability limits. Replace doors when the existing fronts are damaged, warped, badly shaped or not worth refinishing.
When is cabinet refacing not worth it?
It is often not worth it if the cabinet boxes are swollen from water, wall cabinets are loose, the layout is poor, the countertop is failing, or you need to move the sink, hob, hood duct or sockets. In those cases, compare a full kitchen renovation quote.
Do I need approval for kitchen cabinet refacing in Dubai?
Simple cabinet painting, wrapping, hardware replacement or door replacement may not need the same approval as structural or MEP renovation, but apartment residents should still check building management rules for noise, contractor access and disposal. If the job moves plumbing, electrical, gas, ventilation, walls or building services, ask for approval guidance first.
What photos should I send for a kitchen cabinet quote?
Send wide photos of the full kitchen, close-ups of doors and drawer fronts, photos under the sink, hinges, handles, damaged areas, side panels and countertop edges. Also count doors and drawers, mention apartment or villa, and say whether the home is occupied during work.
Can I use IKEA cabinet doors for a Dubai kitchen refresh?
Sometimes, but only if sizing and cabinet system compatibility work. Public IKEA UAE product pages show AED product prices for cabinet fronts and doors, but product cost is not the same as installed cost. Measure carefully and confirm hinges, hole positions, fillers and side panels before assuming they will fit existing cabinets.
How long does kitchen cabinet refacing take?
Small hardware jobs can finish in a day. Painting, wrapping or replacement fronts often take several days, especially if doors are removed, prepared off-site, sprayed, dried, refitted and adjusted. Custom cabinet sections can take longer because measuring, fabrication and installation are separate steps.
