Prime Highlights :
- Renovation projects range from AED700,000 for interior upgrades to over AED20 million for full transformations.
- One major project redeveloped an Emirates Hills villa over 18 to 24 months, covering full architecture and systems.
Key Facts :
- Dubai luxury villa renovation demand rises 35 to 50 percent over the past five years.
- Homeowners spend 10 to 25 percent of purchase price on renovations, with larger projects exceeding 30 percent.
Background :
Wealthy homeowners in Dubai are spending as much as $5.4 million, around AED20 million, to renovate luxury villas as limited availability in the city’s most sought-after communities narrows their options for moving.
Demand for high-end villa renovations has climbed an estimated 35 to 50 percent over the past five years, according to Dubai-based architecture and design consultancy Imperium Group.
The consultancy said buyers are purchasing villas in established communities including Emirates Hills, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Hills Estate, District One and Al Barari with major renovations already planned.
Around half of Imperium Group’s current luxury residential clients bought their villas with renovation work built into their plans from the start. Homeowners typically spend between 10 and 25 percent of a property’s purchase price on renovations, while larger projects can exceed 30 percent.
Karim Karam, founder of Imperium Group, said luxury homeowners today go well beyond upgrading finishes or refreshing interiors, with clients rethinking nearly every aspect of a property.
He said renovation has become part of the acquisition strategy itself, letting owners secure prime addresses while designing spaces suited to how they want to live rather than compromising on an existing layout.
Luxury renovations increasingly involve architectural redesign, structural changes and full replacement of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, alongside custom-built interiors, smart home technology, wellness facilities, separate show and service kitchens, and redesigned outdoor areas.
Imperium Group has completed between 30 and 40 luxury renovation projects over the past three years, with values ranging from around AED700,000 for targeted interior upgrades to more than AED20 million for full villa transformations.
One of its largest projects involved redeveloping an Emirates Hills villa over 18 to 24 months, covering architecture, structure, interiors, landscaping and smart home systems.
Karam said buyers now prioritize securing a preferred address first, knowing that almost everything else about a property can be redesigned, reflecting a market that has grown more mature and design-conscious.
