How much does a built in wardrobe cost in the UAE? What really sets the price
How a built in wardrobe is priced in Dubai and across the UAE: width, height, doors and the fittings inside, what a fair quote lists, and when built in beats freestanding.
By the Ajusteur team6 minute read
What sets the price of a built in wardrobe?
Width, mostly. A built in wardrobe is a row of boxes, one per bay, and every bay brings its own sides, back, shelves and door. Stretch the recess from two metres to three and you add a bay or two, with everything that comes with it.
Height comes next. If the wardrobe goes all the way up, the top usually becomes a row of cupboards for suitcases and the winter duvet you need twice a year. Then come the doors and whatever you put inside. Here is what moves the total, and how:
Per metre or per part: which quote can you check?
A price per running metre is handy for a first budget, and almost impossible to check. A metre of open shelves and a metre of drawers with a trouser pull out are very different things. The metre price rarely says which board, which hinges or how many drawers it assumes.
A quote by part lists every bay, door and fitting with its size. Swap one board door for a mirror and only that line moves. If a maker gives you a metre price, ask for the same wardrobe split into lines, then put the quotes side by side.
Hinged, sliding or mirror doors: what changes the price?
Hinged doors are part of the wardrobe itself, so the number of doors and their finish set that part of the bill. Sliding doors are a job of their own, with panels, frames and a track. Hardware makers sell sliding systems by door weight. One maker's running set for overlay doors, for example, carries doors of up to 50 kg each and comes with soft closing activators.
Neither type wins on price every time, so price the same opening both ways. Our sliding wardrobe doors hang from a ceiling track, in toughened glass, mirror with safety film or wood veneer, and our door makers make and fit them. Still torn? Read sliding or hinged wardrobe doors before you choose.
Inside: what is worth paying for?
Rails and shelves are the cheap part, and they do most of the work. Count your long hanging first. Kanduras, abayas and evening dresses want a bay with one high rail, while shirts and folded trousers can share a bay with two rails, one above the other.
Drawers cost more, because each one has its own box, runners and front. Ours run on full extension runners, so you can see the back of the drawer. Pull outs are the next step up. One maker's telescopic trouser rack, for example, hangs eight pairs on full extension runners between cabinet sides 500 to 600 mm apart.
Shelves should move, too. Look for rows of small holes inside the sides. That is the 32 mm system, and it lets you raise a shelf for boots or lower one for jumpers years from now.
Source: Hettich: Telescopic Amari trouser holder, 500 to 600 mm
Which wardrobe fittings earn their place?
In a wardrobe that reaches the ceiling, a pull down rail makes the top bay usable. You pull a rod, the rail comes down to you, and it goes back up gently with damping. One maker's wardrobe lift, for example, carries up to 10 kg and comes for inside widths of 440 to 610 mm or 600 to 1000 mm.
After that, spend where your habits are. A tie and belt pull out makes sense if you wear them every day. A jewellery drawer is lovely if it gets opened every morning. Skip the gadget you will use twice a year. A plain shelf costs little and never breaks.
Source: Häfele UK: Häfele Dresscode wardrobe lift (catalogue page 2.25)
Built in or freestanding: when does each win?
Freestanding wins in a short rental, or when the wardrobe is coming with you to the next flat. Built in wins in a recess with a column or an AC bulkhead, under a high ceiling, and against walls that are not square, because it is scribed to follow them. More on that choice in flat pack or made to fit.
Either way, it must be fixed to the wall. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission runs a campaign called Anchor It!, and its message is plain: anchoring furniture with drawers, doors and shelves to the wall prevents tip over injuries and deaths. A built in wardrobe is fixed as part of the fitting. A tall freestanding one needs an anchoring kit.
What should a fair wardrobe quote list?
Every line you pay for, with its size or count, and a total that says whether VAT is in. VAT in the UAE is charged at a standard rate of 5%, so it is worth asking. Ours look like this, with the prices filled in after we measure:
Source: UAE Ministry of Finance: Tax
When is the price fixed, and how do you pay?
Start with a photo from the doorway and rough sizes on WhatsApp. We reply with an estimate. Then comes the measuring visit, which is free, and a firm quote that only changes if you change the design.
For new quotes, you pay 50% to start, 25% on delivery to site and 25% at the end of installation. Board thickness is selected for each part and its load, typically 18 mm carcasses with 1 mm edge banding, soft close hinges and full extension runners. Ready for real numbers? Tell us about your recess on our page for built in wardrobes.
Quick questions
How much does a built in wardrobe cost in Dubai?
It depends mostly on the width, then the height, the doors and the fittings inside. Send a photo and rough sizes and we reply with an estimate. The firm price follows the free measuring visit.
Are sliding wardrobe doors more expensive than hinged ones?
Not always. Sliding doors bring panels, frames and a track. Hinged doors bring hinges and a finish on every door. Price the same opening both ways before you decide.
Can I add drawers or fittings to my wardrobe later?
Often, yes, if the sides are drilled on the 32 mm grid, because standard runners and fittings are made for it. Ask your maker before you sign.
Do you make built in wardrobes outside Dubai?
Send your location and a brief description. We confirm whether we can take on the project and the measuring arrangements before booking a visit.