Office fit-out is where underscoped quotes do the most damage, because so much of the cost is invisible until the work starts. A complete Dubai fit-out quotation should address all of the following — if any are missing, ask why.
Authority approvals
Fit-out works in Dubai typically need landlord NOC and approval from the relevant authority — Dubai Municipality, DDA, Trakhees, DMCC or the free-zone authority depending on location, plus Civil Defence for anything touching fire or life-safety systems. Confirm whether approval drawings, fees and follow-up are in the contractor's scope or yours.
MEP works
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing is the single most common exclusion. Lighting, power points, data, HVAC modifications, drainage for a pantry or washroom — these should be itemised, not assumed.
HVAC and the chilled-water / FAHU interface
Re-balancing the AC after partitions change the airflow is real work. A quote that adds partitions but ignores HVAC re-balancing will leave you with hot and cold zones.
Fire and life safety
New partitions usually mean relocating smoke detectors, sprinkler heads and emergency lighting, plus Civil Defence sign-off. This must be in the quote and the programme.
Joinery and finishes
Specify materials precisely: laminate grade, ironmongery brand, paint type and number of coats, flooring type and skirting. "As per design" is not a specification.
Making good, cleaning and handover
Removal of existing works, protection of common areas, post-construction cleaning, and as-built drawings are legitimate costs. So is a snagging period.
Defects-liability period
A serious contractor offers a defects-liability period (commonly 12 months) and states retention terms. No warranty at all is a warning sign.
Programme and payment
A week-by-week programme tied to milestone payments protects both sides. Match the payment schedule to delivered milestones, not to the calendar.
Compare the whole scope, not the bottom line
On QuotesDone, a multi-trade job like a fit-out is consolidated to one accountable turnkey contractor rather than scattered across five trades — and every quote is compared against the same scope, with missing items and spec deviations flagged automatically.
Prices are indicative market ranges at the date of writing, not an offer or a quotation. Ask for quotes on QuotesDone for your exact scope.