Most people ask about interior design cost first and about scope second. It works better the other way round. Two villas of the same size in New Cairo, or two apartments on the same floor in Riyadh, can end up with very different budgets because one keeps the developer's finishes and the other replaces floors, ceilings, lighting, kitchen and wardrobes.
This guide explains how design, finishing and fit-out prices are built in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and for our clients in the UAE. It deliberately contains no figures: prices move with materials, exchange rates and scope, and any published range would mislead more than it helps. Instead, it shows you how to reach a number you can trust.
The three ways interior design is charged
Before comparing numbers, check which model each offer uses. A design-only fee and a turnkey price are not comparable, even for the same home.
Turnkey suits owners who cannot be on site often, for example clients in the UAE or the Gulf finishing a home in Egypt: one team handles every supplier, and decisions are approved remotely on drawings, samples and site reports.
| Model | What you receive | Who manages the site | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design only | Concept, 3D visuals, working drawings and specifications | You, or a contractor you appoint | Owners who already have a trusted contractor |
| Design and build | Design, BOQ, procurement and execution under one contract | The design-and-build company | Villas, apartments and commercial fit-outs with a fixed date |
| Turnkey | Design and build plus furniture, accessories and styling | The design-and-build company, up to move-in | Clients abroad or with little time to manage suppliers |
Descriptive only. Under design and build, the design fee is usually part of one agreed contract rather than a separate line.
What drives interior design and finishing cost
Scope and starting condition
A core-and-shell villa, a semi-finished compound unit and a finished apartment you want to renovate are three different projects. Strip-out and corrections to poor existing work add real cost.
Area and complexity
Area matters, but wet areas, curved ceilings, double-height spaces and staircases cost more per square metre than open plan living.
Finish level and materials
Natural stone versus porcelain, imported versus local sanitaryware, veneer versus lacquer. Imported items also carry longer lead times.
MEP and smart systems
Air-conditioning in the Gulf heat, lighting control, smart home and low-current systems are often the largest hidden items in a villa finishing budget.
Joinery and FF&E
Kitchens, wardrobes, wall panelling and loose furniture, made and supplied with our manufacturing partners, can rival the finishing works themselves.
Programme and rules
A compressed programme, night work in a mall, compound working hours, deposits and façade rules, or authority approvals in Riyadh all change the price.
Location adds its own layer. On the North Coast, salt air rules out some metals and finishes. In Riyadh, dust and heat shape the choice of glazing, sealants and HVAC. These are not luxuries: choosing the wrong material early is the most expensive decision in a project.
How we build a fixed quote
Survey
We measure the space, check existing services and read the developer's or landlord's rules.
Concept
Layouts, mood and material direction in 3D, so the level of finish is agreed visually before it is priced.
Detailed design
Working drawings, MEP layouts, joinery details and a finishes schedule that names every material.
BOQ and value engineering
Quantities are measured and priced item by item. Where the total exceeds the target, we propose alternatives that keep the look and performance.
Fixed quote
You receive a fixed quote in EGP or SAR for the agreed scope, with a programme and a payment schedule tied to progress.
Because design, BOQ and site sit with one team under design and build, the price is built on the same drawings the site will use. Our process runs under an ISO 9001:2015 certified quality system.
How to compare finishing and fit-out quotes
The cheapest total is often the least complete. The same test applies to a commercial fit-out cost, where you should also check who pays the landlord's fit-out deposit and authority fees, whether night work in a mall is included, and which MEP changes to the base building have been allowed for.
- Same drawings and specification for every bidder, or the totals mean nothing.
- Brands and models named for tiles, sanitaryware, lighting and HVAC, not "or equivalent".
- Clear exclusions: furniture, appliances, smart home, landscape, permits and deposits.
- Provisional sums listed separately, so a low total is not hiding open items.
- A programme, a payment schedule linked to progress, and warranty terms in writing.
How to protect your interior design budget
Freeze the design
Approve layouts, finishes and joinery before ordering. Changes after that cost time and money.
Use allowances wisely
Where a choice is still open, such as a chandelier, agree an allowance and close it early.
Keep a contingency
Hold a reserve outside the contract for surprises behind walls and for upgrades you decide on later.
