Cost drivers
How joinery is priced — and what moves it
Joinery is priced per linear metre of finished run, and the rate is a construction rate — substrate, surface, edging, hardware, finishing, delivery and installation — not a timber rate. As a 2026 market band drawn from live tenders: simple laminate casework from around AED 500 per linear metre, standard commercial millwork AED 900–1,600, veneered and lacquered work AED 1,600–2,500 and premium feature joinery AED 2,500–3,500+, with one-off feature elements such as reception desks and cash wraps priced per item. Within the band, the price movers are substrate choice, veneer matching and lacquer coats, edge detailing, hardware brands and — critically — the compliance specification, because a non-rated package that fails submittal costs more than any upgrade. Our commercial joinery guide covers quotation reading and fire-rated specs in detail.
AED 500 per linear metre — entry point for laminate casework
AED 2,500–3,500+ per linear metre — premium feature joinery
8–12% — joinery share of a Category B office fit-out budget
Bottom line: from ~AED 500/lm for laminate casework to AED 3,500+/lm for premium feature work, with one-off elements priced per item and fire-rated specs settled before submittal.
