To choose an interior design firm in Dubai, look past the mood boards and ask how the work is actually done: who will design your project, what the scope and fees cover stage by stage, whether the firm draws construction details and supervises the site, and whether its completed work matches the way you want to live. The eight questions below are the ones we would ask in your place.
IDEA ART Interior Architects (IAIA) has worked from Dubai since 1994, on more than 320 projects in 12 countries: villas and residences, hotels, restaurants and offices. Most clients who come to us have already met two or three studios. The conversations that go well are the ones where those questions are asked early.
1. Does the portfolio show completed work, not only renders?
Renders show intent; finished rooms show whether a firm can deliver it. Ask which projects are built, which are under construction and which are concepts, and ask to see the finished spaces. A clear portfolio states this plainly for each project.
On our Work page, every project carries its status. Villa K, a 770 m² private residence in Meydan, was completed in 2023 and published by ArchDaily the same year. Its brief was a single question — what can be done with marble — and the finished house answers it in matched slabs wrapped across floors and walls, laid in chevrons at the entrance and fluted in the reception.
2. Who will actually design your project?
A firm’s reputation is built by people. Ask who leads the design, who you will meet at each review, and whether that person stays with the project through construction. At IAIA, every project page names its lead architect where one is credited; Villa K was led by our Head of Design, Darine Jabeili.
3. Does their style fit you, or do they design around the brief?
Some studios repeat one signature look. Others start from the site, the climate and the way a family lives. Neither is wrong, but you should know which you are hiring. Look for variety across the portfolio that still shows a consistent way of thinking.
Our work ranges from the stone-and-timber interiors of Echoes of Stone, a 2,400 m² residence in Dubai now under construction, to Villa Yakro, an 18,000 m² boutique hotel in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, planned as a low village of earth-toned volumes around a long pool. The materials differ completely; the method — concept first, then light, then material — does not.
4. What exactly is in the scope?
“Interior design” can mean a concept presentation or a fully detailed, built project. Ask for the scope in writing, stage by stage: concept, design development, 3D visualisation, technical and joinery drawings, material and lighting specifications, coordination with the architect and engineers, and site supervision. If the firm also works on architecture, ask whether one team handles both — it avoids the gap between the shell and the interior.
Our interior design service in Dubai and architectural consultancy set out what each stage includes. On a new villa, the earliest decisions — orientation, courtyards, screens — shape the interior as much as the furniture does; our article on designing a villa for Dubai’s light and heat shows why.
5. How are the fees structured?
Ask how the fee is calculated (a fixed fee per stage, a percentage of construction cost, or a combination), what it includes, how many design revisions are covered, and what counts as additional work. Ask, too, how furniture and fit-out costs are handled and whether the firm takes any margin on purchases. A good firm explains this before you sign, not at handover. If you are still at the plot stage, our villa budget and programme estimator gives a first idea of cost and timeline.
6. Who supervises the site?
Most design quality is won or lost on site: a stone joint, a shadow gap, a joinery line. Ask whether the designers visit the site, how often, and who approves samples and mock-ups. Our project supervision keeps the design team on site through construction so that what is built matches what was drawn.
7. Can they source and install the furniture?
Loose furniture, lighting, rugs and art are often half the character of a room. Ask whether the firm handles samples, orders, shipping and installation, and how lead times are managed. When the team that designed the room also procures the furniture, finishes and proportions stay consistent from drawing to delivery.
8. What do independent sources say?
Awards, press features and juried competitions are third-party checks on a firm’s work. Ask which projects were recognised, by whom, and in which category — and read the exact result, since a finalist is not a winner.
Villa K won Best Luxury Villa Interior Design in Dubai, UAE at the Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2024 and Residential House Under £1M at the SBID International Design Awards 2023, and was an ArchDaily 2024 Building of the Year finalist. Villa Yakro won in Architecture – Hospitality at the DNA Paris Design Awards 2025, and Echoes of Stone received an Honorable Mention in Architecture – Housing at DNA Paris 2026. The full record is on our awards page.
The final step: meet the studio
A first meeting tells you more than any website. Bring your plans or site details, a few images of spaces you like, and an idea of your timeline. Notice whether the firm asks about how you live before it talks about style. Our studio is in Dubai Design District, Building 5, A204 — you are welcome to visit and see material samples and drawings from current projects. To learn more about the studio itself, see our interior design company in Dubai.
Choosing an interior design firm in Dubai: FAQ
How many interior design firms should I meet before deciding?
Two or three is usually enough to compare approach, scope and fees on the same brief. Ask each for the same information so the proposals can be compared fairly.
Should I hire an interior designer before or after the architect?
Ideally at the same time, or with one team doing both. Decisions about light, ceiling heights and openings are fixed early, and they shape the interior.
What should a design proposal include?
The scope by stage, the deliverables (drawings, 3D views, specifications), the number of revisions, the fee and how it is paid, the programme, and what supervision and procurement cover.
Do Dubai interior design firms work outside the UAE?
Many do. IAIA has worked in 12 countries, including hotel projects in Côte d’Ivoire such as Villa Yakro.
How do I check a firm’s awards?
Ask for the programme, year, category and exact result, then look it up on the award body’s own site.
If you are planning a villa, a hotel or a workplace and would like to talk it through, contact the studio to arrange a conversation.
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