+971 56 950 6394 info@gardenscapes.ae
Mon-Sat · 7:00-22:00 Al Warsan 3, Dubai
Gardenscapes Landscaping Dubai
+971 56 950 6394 Get Free Quote
Illustrative villa garden with a lawn, date palms, bougainvillea, a pool and a shaded pergola
Honest pricing guidance

Landscaping costs in Dubai

A straight explanation of what landscaping costs here, what actually moves the price, and why we quote a fixed figure only after seeing your plot. No headline number that quietly grows later.

Get a Free Quote +971 56 950 6394
  • Free site visit
  • Fixed written quote
  • We reply within 2 hours during working hours
The honest answer

Why we don't lead with a price

Search "landscaping cost Dubai" and you will find plenty of headline figures. On their own they are close to useless, because the same garden can cost wildly different amounts depending on your plot, your soil and the finish you choose. A number without a site visit is a guess dressed up as a quote.

So this page does something more useful. It explains the things that genuinely change what you pay, breaks down where the money goes on each service, and puts the running cost of a Dubai garden, especially water, in plain terms. When you are ready, we visit for free, measure everything, and hand you a fixed written price with materials and quantities listed.

What moves the price

Six things that decide your number

Every landscaping quote in Dubai comes down to some combination of these. Understanding them makes it easy to see why two gardens the same size can be priced very differently, and where you have room to save.

Plot size and access

Bigger areas mean more material and more labour hours. A tight side return, a high-floor apartment or a gated community with loading windows all add handling time, so we measure and check access on site before pricing anything.

Scope and specification

Basic turf or multi-tone yarn. Porcelain or natural stone. A refresh of a few beds or a full redesign. The specification you choose has a large effect on the final number, so ask for the options to be priced side by side and compare them line by line.

Existing conditions

Demolition, tired irrigation, poor drainage and compacted soil all need dealing with before the visible work starts. These are best identified at the site visit rather than discovered mid-project, and your written quote lists what is included and excluded so a surprise on the invoice is less likely.

Plant maturity and quantity

A garden built from young 3-litre plants costs far less than the same design in mature, instant-impact specimens. Density matters too: a lush, full look uses more stock than a sparse, architectural one.

Community approvals

Emaar's 2022 home modifications fact sheet lists landscaping and swimming pools among the modifications that need an NOC in the Emaar communities it covers, and prices soft landscaping and paving as their own category. Structures such as pergolas need permission too, according to Emaar's Arabian Ranches FAQ, and other communities set their own rules. Those applications carry review fees and sometimes deposits, which vary by community and are confirmed at application. We prepare the NOC drawings and specifications for your application, and authority and engineer fees appear as separate lines on the itemised written quote.

Ongoing care

The cheapest garden to build is not always the cheapest to keep. A thirsty lawn on manual watering costs more every month than drought-tolerant planting on drip. Running cost belongs in the design conversation, not just the build price, so ask any provider to explain it before you approve a design.

Every quote is fixed in writing after the site visit, with materials and quantities listed and a clear statement of what is included and excluded. Authority and engineer fees appear as separate lines, so you can see which costs are set by the community or authority and which are for the work itself.

Cost by service

Where the money goes, service by service

Each of our eight service lines is priced on different things. This is what your money actually buys, and the factors that swing the cost most. Follow any service for the full detail on how we work.

ServiceWhat the price coversBiggest cost drivers
Garden Design Design work, soil preparation, plants and planting labour Garden size, plant maturity, how much soil replacement the plot needs
Artificial Grass Turf, compacted base, drainage, edging and infill Area, turf pile and quality, ground condition and access
Irrigation Pipework, emitters, valves, filters and a smart controller Number of zones, pipe runs, retrofit into a garden or a new build
Pergolas Materials, fabrication, concrete footings, finishes and any electrical preparation Size, material choice, roof type and add-ons like lighting or fans
Villa Landscaping Hardscape, planting, lighting and shade around the pool, with pool construction and permits outside the scope Deck area, paving choice, planting density, structures like cabanas
Maintenance Scheduled visits, with frequency and scope set out in the quote, priced per plan Garden size, planting density, and how often you want visits
Hardscaping Excavation, engineered sub-base, paving and sealing Area, paving material, sub-base depth for the load, site access
Commercial Design, installation and maintenance contracts, priced per site Site area, planting scope, visit frequency, compliance and reporting

Not sure which services your project needs? A single project can combine several of them. Tell us the outcome you want and the site visit will work out the shortest route to it. Start with our full list of landscaping services or send us a photo of the space.

Running cost

Water is a running cost worth planning for

The build price is only half the story. In Dubai, water is a major ongoing cost of a garden, and it is billed in a way that punishes waste.

AED 7.70 per m³ First slab, 0 to 27 m³ a month
AED 8.80 per m³ Middle slab, 27 to 54 m³
AED 10.12 per m³ Top slab, above 54 m³

DEWA charges residential water in three rising slabs, plus a fuel surcharge of AED 1.10 per cubic metre and 5 percent VAT. A villa with a large garden and pool can easily reach that top slab, so every extra cubic metre of irrigation is then bought at the most expensive rate. Dubai Municipality has publicly discussed limiting landscape irrigation to five litres per square metre of greenery per day, which tells you how seriously the emirate treats outdoor water use.

This is why water belongs in the design from the start. Drought-tolerant planting, grouped by water need, on a zoned drip irrigation system with a smart controller helps keep the meter down. US EPA WaterSense notes that microirrigation uses 20 to 50 percent less water than conventional sprinklers. Artificial grass cuts irrigation demand because there is no lawn to irrigate, although it is still rinsed down for heat, dust and pets, so it is not a zero-water option. For larger sites, treated sewage effluent can be used for landscape irrigation with a permit, so commercial clients should confirm availability and conditions with Dubai Municipality and their facilities team.

Cost guidance

Cost guidance for four projects

Each of these four service pages explains the specification choices that decide the price and answers the cost questions in detail, so you can plan a budget before the site visit.

Garden Design Custom designs built for the climate Artificial Grass Low-upkeep turf that cuts lawn irrigation Villa Landscaping Resort-style pool surrounds Maintenance Scheduled care, scope set in writing
Questions

Landscaping cost questions, answered

How much does landscaping cost in Dubai?
There is no single number, because no two Dubai plots are the same. The cost depends on the area, the specification you choose, the condition of the existing garden and soil, and whether structures or approvals are involved. Rather than quote a figure blind, we visit your property for free, measure everything, and then give you a fixed written quote with materials and quantities listed, plus a clear list of what is included and excluded, so you can compare it line by line with any other bid.
Why don't you publish a fixed price list?
Because an honest price list for landscaping would be misleading. The same garden can double in cost once you factor in soil replacement, access, plant maturity or a community permit. A headline "from" price rarely reflects those factors, so we would rather show you what drives the number and then quote your specific plot accurately after a site visit.
What information do you need before you can quote?
Ideally the plot address, a rough idea of the area involved, and what outcome you want. Photos or a short video sent on WhatsApp help us prepare for the visit and give general guidance on what to expect. No price is given before the free site visit, because measuring on site, checking soil and access, and confirming your community rules is the only way to price a plot accurately.
Will a new garden increase my DEWA water bill?
It can, but good design keeps it in check. DEWA bills residential water in rising slabs, and a villa with a large garden and pool can easily reach the top slab, so every extra cubic metre of irrigation is then charged at the highest rate. Drought-tolerant planting on zoned drip irrigation is one way to keep the meter down: US EPA WaterSense notes that microirrigation uses 20 to 50 percent less water than conventional sprinklers. Artificial grass and smart controllers can cut irrigation demand further, although turf is still rinsed down for heat, dust and pets. Whichever provider you choose, ask for the running-cost trade-off of a design before you commit.
Is the quote a fixed price or an estimate?
A fixed written quote with materials and quantities itemised and a clear list of what is included and excluded. It is not a vague lump sum. Where something cannot be priced until it has been seen, such as deep foundations or hidden ground conditions, the quote names it as an exclusion or a separate line rather than burying it. Any change to the agreed scope should be agreed in writing before the work goes ahead. Seasonal extras on maintenance plans, like major mulching or winter colour rotations, are quoted and approved separately before the work is done.
How can I keep my landscaping cost down?
Phase the work, choose younger plants that grow in, and prioritise the things that are expensive to change later, like sub-base, drainage and irrigation, over finishes you can upgrade in future. Drought-tolerant planting costs less to run every month. At the site visit we can talk through where spending more pays off and where a simpler specification does the job just as well.
Do community approvals and permits add to the cost?
Sometimes, yes. In the Emaar communities that Emaar's 2022 home modifications fact sheet covers, the sheet lists landscaping and swimming pools among the modifications that need an NOC and names regular maintenance as work that does not, though contractors need an entry permit regardless. Treat new planting schemes, turf, artificial grass and paving as landscaping, and pergolas as structures that need permission, and confirm both with your community office. For any other community, whether routine maintenance or like-for-like replacement needs an NOC depends on the community and is confirmed with its office, and fees and deposits vary and are confirmed at application. The owner applies through the community portal or office, with drawings prepared by a Dubai-licensed contractor or consultant; where Dubai Municipality is the authority, a registered engineer or consultant submits the permit application for the owner, according to the approvals consultants cited in our landscaping NOC guide. We prepare the NOC drawings and specifications for your application. Emaar's 2022 fact sheet figures, confirm current: an AED 500 review fee, AED 100 for soft landscaping and paving, AED 1,000 for minor works and AED 2,000 for major works. Authority and engineer fees are listed as separate lines on the itemised written quote, so you can see which costs are set by the community or authority.

Ready for a real number for your plot? Book a free site visit or call +971 56 950 6394 and we will guide you through it.

Call Now WhatsApp