The cheapest painter in Dubai is almost never the cheapest paint job. In 2026, the quote that looks like a steal is usually the one that costs you twice: thin single-coat coverage that ghosts within months, cheap interior emulsion peeling off a humid bathroom wall, furniture splattered because nobody masked the room, and a "painter" who has already blocked your number when you call about the streaks.
Repainting a botched villa is not a discount. It is the original price, plus the do-over, plus the weeks you lived in a half-finished home. The homeowners who get a clean, durable finish at a fair price are not luckier. They screen better. This guide gives you the exact screening criteria, the questions to ask before you hire, the documents to verify, and the red flags that tell you to walk away, so you choose the best painting service in Dubai on evidence, not on the lowest number.
⚡ The one-line rule
Never compare painters on price alone. Compare them on the same written spec — paint brand, number of coats, surface prep, and warranty — then the cheapest honest quote wins. Without a fixed spec, every quote is measuring something different.
Why a cheap painter costs more in Dubai
Dubai is unkind to a lazy paint job. Summer heat, high humidity, and the swing between fierce sun and blasting AC put real stress on walls. Use the wrong paint or skip the prep and the finish shows it fast: bathrooms and kitchens grow mould on cheap non-washable emulsion, exterior villa walls chalk and fade under the sun, and patchy single coats leave roller marks the moment daylight hits them.
A proper painter prices in moisture-resistant, washable paint for wet areas, two full coats over primer, and surface preparation — filling, sanding, masking, protecting your floors and furniture. A cheap one prices the labour to slap colour on a wall and calls everything else "extra." That gap is the whole game. Your job is to make the spec visible before you pay, not after.
8 screening criteria for the best painters in Dubai
Run every painting company you shortlist through these eight checks before you let them quote. If a provider fails the first three, stop there.
The questions to ask before you hire
Copy this list. Ask every shortlisted painter the same questions, on the phone or by message, and write down the answers. The right painter answers fast and specifically. The wrong one stalls, deflects, or gives a different number every time.
- Is your company licensed by DET, and does the licence cover painting? Can you send it?
- How many coats are included, and is primer included or charged separately?
- Which paint brand and product will you use, and what will you use in the bathrooms and kitchen?
- Is surface preparation — filling cracks, sanding, masking, covering floors and furniture — included in the price?
- Who supplies the paint, you or me, and is that reflected in the quote?
- What warranty do you give in writing, and what does it cover?
- Do you carry public liability insurance, and can you provide proof?
- Will you handle the building NOC, or is that on me?
- How many days will the job take, and how many painters will be on site?
- Is your quote fixed, or could it change once you start? What would make it change?
- What is the payment schedule — and is there a deposit, how much, and what is due on completion?
- Will you do a final walkthrough with me and fix any touch-ups before I pay the balance?
💡 The deposit question matters most
Never pay the full amount upfront. A reasonable structure is a modest deposit to secure the booking and buy materials, with the balance due only after a final walkthrough where you have checked the work in daylight. Full payment before a single wall is painted is how homeowners get ghosted.
Documents and credentials to verify
Words are free. Before you commit, get these on paper or screen:
✅ Verify before you sign
- DET trade licence — confirm the company name matches who you are dealing with and that painting or fit-out is a listed activity.
- Public liability insurance certificate — current and valid, not expired.
- Written, itemised quote — paint product, coats, prep, area covered, and total in AED, with VAT shown.
- Written warranty terms — duration and what is covered.
- Building NOC requirement — confirm with your own building management what they need; this is a rental and ownership matter, separate from the painter's licence. Note: Ejari is your tenancy registration, not a trade licence — do not accept it as proof a company is licensed.
Red flags during hiring
Any one of these should make you pause. Two or more, and you keep looking.
Dubai painting price benchmark
Use these as a sanity check, not a fixed menu. Real prices move with property size, ceiling height, paint grade, prep needed, and whether the painter or you supplies the paint. A quote far below this range is a warning, not a win.
For a full breakdown by property type, paint grade, and what should and shouldn't be in your quote, read our detailed Painting Cost in Dubai guide for apartments and villas.
How to compare three quotes on the same spec
This is the step most homeowners skip, and it is the one that saves them. Comparing three quotes only works if all three are pricing the identical job. Otherwise you are choosing the painter who quietly left the most out.
Write one short spec and send the exact same brief to every painter:
- Scope: which rooms, walls only or walls and ceilings, interior and/or exterior.
- Paint: the brand and finish you want, washable paint specified for bathrooms and kitchen.
- Coats: two coats over primer, stated explicitly.
- Prep: filling, sanding, masking, and protecting floors and furniture included.
- Extras: who supplies paint, who handles the NOC, warranty required.
Now the quotes are comparable. Line them up side by side: total in AED, paint product, coats, prep, warranty length, and timeline. The cheapest honest quote that meets the full spec wins. If one is suspiciously low, it is almost always missing prep, coats, or paint quality — ask them to confirm in writing what is included, and watch the number climb. The same discipline applies to bigger jobs; if your painting is part of a wider project, our guide to choosing a renovation company in Dubai walks through vetting contractors on the same evidence-first basis.
⚡ Skip the vetting entirely
Verifying licences, chasing references, and checking insurance for three companies takes hours most homeowners don't have. On TaskRight, every painter is RightPro-verified before they ever reach you — licence, credentials, and track record checked. You compare real providers on honest pricing, not gamble on whoever answered the phone first.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a painting company in Dubai is licensed?
Ask for their DET trade licence and check that the listed activity covers painting or fit-out work, and that the company name matches who you are dealing with. A licensed company shares this without hesitation. Note that Ejari is a tenancy registration document, not a trade licence, so it is not proof a business is licensed.
Do I need a permit to paint my apartment in Dubai?
For cosmetic interior painting, you usually don't need a government fit-out permit, but most managed buildings require a No Objection Certificate from building management before any contractor starts work. Always confirm directly with your own building management, as requirements vary by tower.
How many coats of paint should I expect?
Two coats over a suitable primer is the standard for even, durable coverage. A single coat usually leaves patchy colour and roller marks visible in daylight. If a quote doesn't state the number of coats, assume one and ask.
What paint is best for Dubai's heat and humidity?
For wet areas like bathrooms and kitchens, use washable, moisture-resistant paint that resists mould. For exterior villa walls, use a weather-resistant exterior paint built to handle sun and heat. Reputable brands used in Dubai include Jotun, Dulux, and National Paints. A good painter recommends the right product per surface rather than using one cheap emulsion everywhere.
Should I supply the paint or let the painter?
Either works, as long as it is clear in the quote. If the painter supplies it, get the brand and product in writing so you know you are getting the grade you paid for. Supplying it yourself gives you control over quality but means you carry the cost and any shortfall.
How long does painting a villa or apartment take?
A one or two-bedroom apartment is often done in one to three days; a full villa can take a week or more depending on size, prep, and whether exterior work is included. Ask for the timeline and crew size in writing so you can plan around it.
Hire the painter, not the regret
The best painting service in Dubai is the one that shows you a licence, names the paint, writes down the warranty, and answers your questions before you pay a dirham. Screen on those, compare three quotes on one fixed spec, and you will pay a fair price for a finish that lasts — not a cheap price for a job you redo.
Or skip the vetting marathon. Browse RightPro-verified painters on TaskRight, where the licence and credential checks are already done, and choose on honest pricing alone.
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