In 2026, a full central (ducted) AC system in Dubai runs roughly AED 25,000 to AED 90,000+ installed — a ducted 2-bed apartment lands near the bottom, a 4–5 bed villa near the top, and ductwork alone can be half the bill.
That is a wide spread, and it is exactly where homeowners get quietly overcharged. One contractor quotes AED 35,000, the next quotes AED 70,000 for the same villa, and nobody explains why. This guide breaks the number down by home size, separates equipment from ductwork from labour, and shows you how to get a quote you can actually trust.
This is the central and ducted guide. If you only need wall-mounted split units, read the dedicated AC Installation Cost in Dubai guide instead — splits are a different price world.
Central AC cost in Dubai at a glance
These ranges are for a complete ducted system — indoor and outdoor units, ductwork, grilles, thermostat, and installation. Bigger homes need more tonnage and longer duct runs, which is what moves the number.
💡 How the numbers add up
A 4-bed villa needs roughly 12–16 tons of cooling. At AED 2,500–5,000 per ton you are looking at AED 35,000–60,000 in equipment, then add AED 20,000–35,000 for ductwork, grilles, controls and labour. That is how a single villa lands anywhere from AED 60,000 to AED 90,000+ — the spread is real, not a markup excuse.
Central vs ducted vs split: which one is yours?
These three terms get mixed up constantly in Dubai, and the confusion costs homeowners money. Here is the plain version.
Split AC
One indoor unit, one outdoor unit, one room. Cheapest to buy and install (roughly AED 1,800–4,000 per unit fitted), but visible on the wall, and a whole villa needs many of them. Best for apartments adding cooling to one room, or villas on a tight budget. Full breakdown is in the AC Installation Cost guide.
Ducted AC
Hidden indoor units in the ceiling void push cool air through concealed ducts to flush grilles in each room. No wall units, even temperatures, quiet, premium look. This is what most people in Dubai actually mean when they say "central AC" for a villa or a chiller-free apartment. Most expensive to install because of the ductwork.
Central / district cooling
In many Dubai apartments and master communities, cooling is supplied by a district provider like Empower or Emicool. Chilled water comes to your home and you pay per Refrigeration Ton consumed — there is no compressor to install or replace. If your building is on district cooling, you do not buy a central system at all; you only maintain the fan coil units and grilles inside. More on this below.
✅ Quick rule
Villa or chiller-free apartment, want a clean ceiling and even cooling → ducted. One hot room or tight budget → splits. Already on Empower/Emicool district cooling → you do not install a central system, you just pay per ton.
What actually drives the cost
Four things move a central AC quote more than anything else. Understand these and you can read any quote in 30 seconds.
- Tonnage. Dubai's 45°C summers mean homes need serious cooling — budget roughly one ton per 35–45 sqm of conditioned space. A 4-bed villa often needs 12–16 tons. More tons, more equipment, more cost.
- Ductwork run. The single biggest variable. Long, complex duct runs through tight ceiling voids cost far more than short straight ones. Ductwork commonly makes up 40–50% of a full installation.
- Zones. A zoned system lets you cool the bedrooms at night and the majlis by day, independently. It adds roughly AED 8,000–15,000 but slashes your DEWA bill over time.
- Brand and efficiency. A premium inverter unit costs more upfront than a basic on/off unit but runs far cheaper in a Dubai summer. This is where the long-term money is.
Running cost: the DEWA angle
In Dubai, AC is 60–70% of a villa's DEWA bill in summer. The cheapest system to install is rarely the cheapest to own. A basic non-inverter unit can quietly cost you thousands more in electricity every year than an efficient inverter system cooling the same space.
⚡ Spend on efficiency, not just sticker price
Paying AED 8,000–12,000 more for a high-efficiency inverter ducted system can pay itself back in two to three Dubai summers through lower DEWA bills — then keep saving every year after. Ask every contractor for the unit's efficiency rating, not just the price.
Install timeline
A fresh ducted install in an empty or under-renovation villa typically takes 5 to 10 working days: ductwork routing, unit placement, grilles, electrical connection, controls, then commissioning and balancing. Retrofitting ducts into a finished, furnished home takes longer and is messier because ceilings have to be opened and made good again. Replacing an existing ducted system (units swapped, ducts reused) can be done in 2–4 days.
Hidden costs nobody mentions in the quote
A headline price of "AED 45,000 for the system" can become AED 55,000 by the time you switch it on. Watch for these.
- Ductwork and grilles. If a quote looks suspiciously low, check whether full ductwork and proper grilles/diffusers are included or "extra."
- Smart thermostat / controls. Zoning controllers and smart thermostats are often priced separately.
- DEWA electrical load check. A large system may need a dedicated circuit or panel work, which must be done by a DEWA-registered electrical contractor.
- Building / community NOC. Most villa communities and apartment buildings require a No Objection Certificate from the developer or owners' association before AC works begin.
- Removing and disposing of the old system. Stripping out old units and ducts is labour and may be billed on top.
- Making good. If ducts go into finished ceilings, plastering and painting afterwards is a real cost — confirm who pays for it.
Apartment vs villa: read this first
Apartments. Many Dubai apartments are on district cooling (Empower, Emicool) or are "chiller-free." If you are on district cooling, you do not buy a central system — cooling is delivered as a utility and you pay per ton consumed, plus demand charges. A chiller-free apartment has its own ducted or split units that you own and replace yourself. Know which one you have before anyone quotes you for a "new central AC."
Villas. Most Dubai villas own their AC outright, which means a full ducted system is yours to buy, run, and eventually replace. This is where the AED 45,000–90,000+ numbers live, and where getting a fair, itemised quote matters most.
Red flags when getting central AC quotes
⚠️ The overcharge trap
On a single villa we have seen quotes range from AED 40,000 to AED 80,000 — for genuinely similar work. The gap is almost never quality. It is who you happened to call. An itemised, per-zone quote from a verified contractor is the only way to know you are paying a fair price.
How to get a fair central AC quote
- Get three quotes from verified contractors, each after a site visit.
- Insist on a per-zone, per-line breakdown: tonnage, units, ductwork, grilles, controls, electrical, NOC, removal, and making good.
- Confirm the unit brand, model and efficiency rating in writing — not just "premium unit."
- Ask what is excluded. The honest answer to "what's not in this price?" tells you everything.
- Get the warranty in writing — units and workmanship, with durations.
Every installer on TaskRight is RightPro-verified and works on transparent, honest pricing — zero commission means no inflated quotes to cover a platform's cut. You get the real number.
👉 Find verified AC installers in Dubai →
Central AC cost in Dubai: FAQ
How much does central AC cost for a Dubai villa?
A full ducted system runs roughly AED 45,000–65,000 for a 3-bed villa and AED 60,000–90,000+ for a 4–5 bed villa, including equipment, ductwork, grilles, controls and installation.
Is ducted AC cheaper than splits?
No. Splits are cheaper to install because there is no ductwork. Ducted costs more upfront but gives even cooling, a clean ceiling, and no wall units. For a single room, splits win; for a whole villa, ducted is the premium choice.
What does central AC cost per ton in Dubai?
Ducted equipment alone is roughly AED 2,500–5,000 per ton. Once you add ductwork, grilles, controls and labour, the installed cost per ton is higher — which is why the full-system numbers matter more than the per-ton sticker.
Do I need a permit or NOC to install central AC?
Most villa communities and apartment buildings require a No Objection Certificate from the developer or owners' association before AC works. Electrical connection for a large system must be handled by a DEWA-registered contractor. A serious installer manages this for you.
My apartment is on Empower/Emicool — do I install central AC?
No. On district cooling, chilled water is supplied as a utility and you pay per Refrigeration Ton consumed plus demand charges. You only maintain the fan coil units and grilles inside your home, not a central system.
How long does a ducted AC install take?
A new install in an empty or renovating villa usually takes 5–10 working days. Replacing an existing ducted system can be 2–4 days. Retrofitting ducts into a finished, furnished home takes longer.
Prices reflect 2026 averages and may vary by provider, scope, and season.
