.png)
If your Dubai interior designer quotes you a "design fee" of AED 50,000 but won't tell you what they're earning on the furniture, lighting, and finishes they source for you, you're not paying AED 50,000. You're paying AED 50,000 plus an invisible 15–30% on every chair, lamp, rug, and tile they procure — and on a AED 500,000 project, that hidden margin can quietly become AED 100,000+ you never see itemised.
This is the most profitable scam in Dubai's interior design market because it's the easiest to disguise as "industry standard." Here's how it works, why it stays hidden, and how to spot it before signing.
🚩 The Scam in 3 Lines
- What you're told: "My design fee is AED 50,000. I'll source everything for you at trade-only prices you can't access yourself."
- What's actually happening: The "trade price" you're being shown is already marked up 15-30% from the supplier's true designer rate. The designer pockets the difference invisibly on every item.
- The real cost: On a AED 500,000 project, you may be paying AED 75,000–150,000 in hidden commissions on top of the disclosed design fee. Total invisible margin: AED 125,000–200,000+.
How the scam works
Dubai furniture, lighting, and finish suppliers operate two pricing tiers:
- Consumer price — what you'd pay walking into a showroom yourself
- Trade price — what suppliers charge designers, typically 25-40% below consumer price
This two-tier system exists for legitimate reasons: suppliers reward designers who bring repeat business with better pricing. The scam happens in what the designer does with that gap.
⚠️ Why the scam thrives
You have no way to verify supplier pricing. Trade-only suppliers won't quote you directly — that's the whole point of the system. The designer is your only window into the price, and the designer controls what you see. Without explicit disclosure, you'll never know whether you got the trade price, the full consumer price, or something in between.
How to spot the scam in 30 seconds
Three signals confirm you're being scammed:
What the math actually looks like
💡 Real numbers on a typical Dubai design project
Project: AED 500,000 total budget. AED 50,000 design fee, AED 450,000 furniture + finishes + lighting procurement.
- Designer's stated income: AED 50,000 (design fee)
- Designer's actual income (with 20% hidden commission): AED 50,000 + AED 90,000 = AED 140,000
- Designer's actual income (with 30% hidden commission): AED 50,000 + AED 135,000 = AED 185,000
The hidden commission is often 2-3x larger than the disclosed design fee. Designers compete on visible design fees because invisible commissions are where the real money is made.
What you should do instead
Before signing with any Dubai interior designer:
✅ The 4-point disclosure checklist
- Ask directly about commissions and get a specific percentage in writing. "Are you taking commissions or margins on items you source? If yes, what percentage, and is it disclosed on each item?" The answer should be a number, not a sentence.
- Require itemised supplier invoices. Either you see what suppliers charge the designer and what's marked up on top, or you walk away. No invoice transparency = no project transparency.
- Negotiate the fee model that fits. Some designers will work for higher disclosed fees in exchange for zero supplier markup. Others will keep lower fees but disclose a fixed commission percentage. Either works — the dealbreaker is hidden commissions.
- For projects over AED 200,000, source major items yourself. Have the designer specify the items (brand, model, finish) and source them directly from authorised UAE dealers. You typically save 15-25% versus designer-sourced procurement, and the designer focuses on what they're paid for: design.
If a designer refuses any of the above, find another one. Dubai has many designers who operate transparently — there's no reason to accept opacity on a six-figure decision.
How TaskRight protects you
Every interior designer on TaskRight is verified — trade licence, portfolio authenticity, client references, and mandatory commission disclosure compliance. We don't list designers who refuse to disclose markup structures or who've been flagged for hidden-commission practices. You get the designers who operate transparently — not the ones who quietly mark up every chair, lamp, and rug on your project.
👉 Find verified interior designers in Dubai →
Frequently asked questions
Do all interior designers in Dubai take commissions on furniture?
Many do — typically 15-30% on furniture, lighting, and finishes they source. Some disclose it transparently as part of their business model (which is fair). Others bake it invisibly into "supplier rates" you never see itemised (which is the scam). The behaviour itself isn't unethical — the lack of disclosure is.
How do I ask a Dubai designer about commissions without offending them?
Direct, professional language: "Before we move forward, I'd like to understand your commission structure. Do you earn margins on items you source, and if so, what percentage, and how is it disclosed?" Reputable designers expect this question and answer it confidently. Designers who get defensive or evasive are showing you exactly why you should ask.
Can I just source furniture myself to avoid designer markups in Dubai?
Yes, especially on projects over AED 200,000. Have the designer specify items by brand and model, then source through authorised UAE dealers yourself. You typically save 15-25% versus designer procurement, and the designer focuses on design rather than acting as a middleman. Some designers reduce or eliminate their fees in exchange for not handling procurement — ask about this option.
TaskRight Blog
