You want fresh walls. What you're afraid of is the mess.
The painter who quotes AED 900 on the phone, then hits you with AED 450 in "extras" you never approved.
The crew that shows up two hours late, splashes your marble floor, calls it "done," and leaves streaks you can see from the sofa.
Search "best painting companies in Dubai" and you get a wall of near-identical listings — 4.9 stars, "7+ years," "open 24 hours" — and no honest way to tell the real professionals from the guy who bought a van last month.
So this guide does the opposite of a padded "top 10."
It gives you the exact checklist to identify and verify a genuinely good painter — the red flags that predict a nightmare, the real 2026 AED price ranges nobody wants to print, and where to get honest quotes from painters who've already been checked. Serving homeowners across Dubai and the wider UAE.
Why "top 10 painting companies" lists lie to you
Here's what those ranking articles won't admit.
Most "Top 10 Painting Companies in Dubai" posts are written by one company that conveniently ranks itself at number one. The other nine are filler.
The big booking apps look safer, but they run on commission — the platform takes a cut of every job, the painter earns less than you paid, and the pressure to hit a margin is exactly what fuels the surprise "AED 450 extra" mid-job. Read the recent reviews on any of them and you'll find the same complaint: charged more than the quote, no approval, no reply on chat.
And the single-company sales pages? Wall-to-wall keywords ("painting services Dubai" fourteen times), a demand for 50% cash upfront, and zero proof anyone actually verified the crew.
None of them give you what you actually need: a way to tell good from bad before you pay a dirham.
That's the whole point of what follows.
The 7-point checklist: how to identify the best painters in Dubai
The best painting companies in Dubai aren't the ones with the loudest ads. They're the ones that pass all seven of these — every time.
1. A written, itemised quote — before any work starts
A real professional inspects the space, then puts it in writing: surface prep, number of coats, paint brand and grade, ceilings, exact rooms, and the total.
If the "quote" is a single number shouted over the phone, you have no protection when the bill grows.
2. Prep and putty included, in writing
Filling cracks, sanding, priming, and taping is 60–70% of a good paint job. It's also the first thing cheap crews skip — then charge as an "extra" on day two.
The quote must say prep is included. No exceptions.
3. Named paint brand and finish
"Good quality paint" means nothing. A professional tells you the brand (Jotun, Caparol, National Paints, Asian Paints, Benjamin Moore) and the finish (matt, silk, or a washable emulsion that survives Dubai humidity and AC condensation).
4. Proof of verification — trade licence and identity
A legitimate Dubai painting company holds a valid trade licence and can show it. The crew should be the people the company actually employs — not a sub-contracted stranger who shows up in an unmarked van.
5. A workmanship guarantee
Good work is backed by a callback promise: if paint peels, bubbles, or patches show within a set period, they return and fix it free. Get the guarantee window in writing.
6. Real, recent, specific reviews
Ignore the star average. Read the newest reviews and look for detail — names, communities, "cleaned up after," "on time." Vague five-star praise with no specifics is the easiest thing in the world to buy.
7. Clean, transparent payment terms
A reasonable deposit is normal. A demand for 50–100% cash before a brush touches the wall is a red flag. The balance should be due after you've inspected the work in daylight.
Run any company through these seven. The best ones pass without flinching. The rest start making excuses at point one — which tells you everything.
Red flags that predict a bad paint job
If you see any of these, walk away. They cost far more than they save.
- A phone quote with no site visit. Nobody can price your walls accurately without seeing them.
- The cheapest bid by a mile. When one quote is 40% below the rest, the difference comes out of prep, coats, or paint quality — and you'll repaint within a year.
- "Extras" appearing mid-job. Prep, primer, and "fixing the wall" should be in the original quote. If they're surprises, that's a script, not an accident.
- No trade licence and no fixed address. If it goes wrong, you have no one to call.
- Pressure to pay everything upfront. Your leverage to get the job finished properly is the balance. Never surrender it.
- No guarantee. If they won't stand behind the work, they already know how it's going to look.
For a deeper walkthrough of the hiring process, read our homeowner's guide to choosing the best painting service in Dubai.
What painting actually costs in Dubai (honest 2026 AED ranges)
Here's the number the "AED 499" ads bury: the headline price is almost never the final price.
Painters often quote low to win the job, then add 30–50% for prep, primer, and wall repair once they're inside. Use these ranges to sanity-check any quote you're given. They assume proper prep, two coats, and mid-grade paint — the real cost of a job that lasts.
A few honest notes on those numbers:
- Labour is 60–70% of the bill. Paint quality makes up the rest. Cheap labour, not cheap paint, is usually where a low quote cuts corners.
- Premium and washable paints cost more — roughly AED 80–150 per gallon versus AED 30–50 for economy — and in Dubai's heat and AC humidity, they're worth it for kitchens, bathrooms, and high-traffic walls.
- Exterior villa painting costs more than interior because of scaffolding, weather-grade coatings, and prep against sun and sand.
Want the full breakdown by room, paint grade, and villa size? Our 2026 Dubai painting cost guide lays out every range.
Villa painting vs apartment painting: what's different
They're priced and planned differently, and knowing why keeps you from overpaying.
Apartment painting is usually interior only — walls and ceilings, often for a move-in or move-out. Many buildings require work to be scheduled within set hours and may ask for a move-in permit or contractor NOC, so a painter who knows Dubai building rules saves you the headache.
Villa painting often includes exterior walls, boundary walls, and multiple floors — which means scaffolding, weather-resistant exterior coatings, and a longer timeline. It's a bigger, more technical job, and it's where cutting corners on prep shows up fastest under UAE sun.
Whichever you need, the verification checklist above doesn't change. The best painters pass it for a studio and for a five-bedroom villa alike.
The honest shortlist: TaskRight's verified RightPro painters
Here's the problem with everything you just read: doing this vetting yourself, for five different companies, over the phone, is exhausting — and you still can't verify half of it.
So we did it for you.
TaskRight is a UAE home-services platform built on one simple promise most of the market can't make: 0% commission.
Every painter on TaskRight keeps 100% of what you pay them. We don't take a cut of the job.
Read that again, because it changes everything about the quote you'll get. When the platform skims a commission off every job — the way the big booking apps do — someone has to make that margin back. That "someone" is usually you, in the form of a padded quote or a surprise mid-job charge. Remove the commission, and you remove the built-in incentive to inflate your bill.
On top of that, our painters carry the RightPro badge — a verification mark that's earned, not bought. It means the trade licence, identity, and track record were checked before the painter ever appeared in your results.
Here's how it works:
- You tell us your job — apartment or villa, rooms, timing — in about 60 seconds.
- You get free quotes from verified RightPro painters near you.
- You compare, message, and hire the painter direct. No middleman marking up your price. No commission skimmed off the top.
We'd rather have a shortlist of painters homeowners genuinely rate than a padded "top 10" of names nobody checked.
Stop gambling on a shouted phone quote. Get free quotes from verified painters in Dubai and compare real professionals side by side — before you commit a single dirham.
👉 Find verified painters in Dubai →
Frequently asked questions about painting companies in Dubai
How much do painting services cost in Dubai?
Interior painting typically runs AED 10–25 per square metre, or roughly AED 500–1,300 for a single room. A studio starts around AED 400–900, a 2-bed apartment AED 900–2,500, and a 3-bed AED 1,100–3,500. Villas range from about AED 3,000 for a 4-bedroom up to AED 20,000 for large properties. These assume proper prep, two coats, and mid-grade paint.
What should I look for when choosing a painting company in Dubai?
A written itemised quote, prep and putty included in writing, a named paint brand and finish, a valid trade licence, a workmanship guarantee, recent and specific reviews, and payment terms that don't demand everything upfront. If a company can't tick all seven, keep looking.
How do I verify a painter is licensed and legitimate in Dubai?
Ask to see a valid UAE trade licence and confirm the crew are the company's own staff, not anonymous sub-contractors. On TaskRight, this is already done for you — every painter carries the RightPro badge, which is earned through verification of licence, identity, and track record, not paid for.
Does the painting price include paint and materials?
It should — but always confirm in writing. A proper quote covers labour, paint, primer, putty, and prep. The most common hidden-charge trick in Dubai is quoting labour only, then adding paint, materials, and "wall repair" once work has started. Get "materials included" stated on the quote before you agree.
How long does it take to paint an apartment or villa?
A single room usually takes a day. A full apartment runs two to four days depending on size and prep. A villa — especially with exterior work — can take one to two weeks. Extensive crack repair or multiple coats add time, so ask for a schedule in the quote.
Do I need to move out while my home is painted?
Usually not. Most painters work room by room and move your furniture to the centre under sheets. For a full villa repaint or heavy prep with strong fumes, many homeowners prefer to stay elsewhere for a night or two. Low-odour, low-VOC paints make staying put far more comfortable.
What are the red flags and hidden charges to watch for?
A phone quote with no site visit, a bid far cheaper than the rest, "extras" for prep or primer appearing mid-job, no trade licence, pressure to pay 100% upfront, and no workmanship guarantee. Any one of these can turn a cheap quote into an expensive repaint.
Which paint brands are best for Dubai's climate?
For interiors, washable emulsions from brands like Jotun, Caparol, National Paints, Asian Paints, or Benjamin Moore hold up well against AC condensation and humidity. For exteriors, use a weather-grade coating built to resist UAE sun, heat, and sand. Ask your painter which grade they're quoting — cheaper economy paint fades and needs repainting sooner.
What's the difference between villa and apartment painting?
Apartment jobs are usually interior only and may need building approval and scheduled hours. Villa jobs often add exterior walls, multiple floors, and boundary walls — meaning scaffolding, weather-resistant coatings, and a longer timeline. Villas cost more per job, but the quality checklist you use to vet the painter is identical.
Do painting companies in Dubai handle move-in and move-out painting?
Yes — move-in and move-out repaints are among the most common jobs, often a fresh coat of off-white to reset a rental. Prices for a standard move-out repaint typically start in the AED 500–1,500 range for an apartment, depending on size and how many coats are included. Confirm your building's timing rules and any required NOC first.
How many coats of paint do I need, and how often should I repaint?
Two coats is standard for an even, durable finish; a strong colour change or fresh plaster may need a primer plus two coats. Most Dubai homes benefit from repainting every 3–5 years for interiors and sooner for sun-exposed exteriors.
Are eco-friendly and low-VOC paints available in Dubai?
Yes. Low-VOC and zero-VOC paints are widely available and reduce fumes and odour — a real benefit if you have young children, pets, or want to stay home during the job. Ask your painter to quote a low-VOC option; most quality brands offer one.
Ready to skip the guesswork? Get free quotes from verified painters in Dubai, compare RightPro professionals side by side, and hire direct — with no commission inflating your price.
