retail fit out Dubai — Buildsmith®

Commercial · Retail Fit-Out · Showroom · Mall Stores · Pop-Ups · Concession Build-Outs

Retail Fit-Out & Mall Store Delivery in Dubai — Brand-Standard Execution, Fast-Track Programme.

From Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates flagship stores to Dubai Hills Mall, City Walk, La Mer, The Beach JBR, Bluewaters and Box Park retail concepts — Buildsmith® delivers full retail fit-out, showroom buildouts, mall-store concessions and pop-up retail under one fixed-price design-and-build contract. Brand-livery finishes, fixture manufacture, lighting design, EPOS / IT integration and signage — all permitted, programd and protected for the mall handover date that doesn't move. We take care of all approvals and completion certificates.

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Accountable Contractor
360°
End-to-End Scope
On-Date
Mall Opening Commitment
12mo
Workmanship Warranty
Authority-Approved
DM DDA DMCC Trakhees EMAAR NAKHEEL DAMAC

About This Service

Retail Fit-out, delivered properly.

Retail fit-out is brand-control work first and construction second. The brand standards arrive in PDFs from European or American head offices, the mall handover dates are non-negotiable, and the operations team needs the store stocking 48 hours before opening. The contractors who win this scope are the ones who turn brand intent into compliant detail without slowing the programme.

Buildsmith® delivers retail fit-out across flagship stores, mall units, standalone outlets, kiosks, pop-ups and showroom spaces. Our work covers Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, City Walk, BLVD, Yas Mall, Marina Mall, Al Wahda, Mirdif City Centre and the wider UAE retail estate. Scope spans full design coordination with brand standards, mall LL approvals, complete fit-out (flooring, ceilings, lighting, fixtures, signage, AV), POS integration and operational handover.

We work to brand standards from leading global retailers — luxury, mid-market, F&B retail and concept stores. Where brand standards conflict with UAE regulations (electrical, fire, accessibility), we resolve via documented variation — not silent substitution. The brand gets what it wants, the mall LL gets what it needs, and the store opens on date.

Deep Dive

Everything you need to know about retail fit-out in Dubai.

Retail Fit-Out Cost in Dubai — Mall Unit, Kiosk, Flagship

A retail fit out Dubai quote depends on location, brand-standard spec and delivery window. A 200–400 sqft mall kiosk or RMU (Retail Merchandising Unit) runs AED 120,000–300,000 turnkey. A standard 1,000–2,500 sqft mall unit runs AED 350–700 per sqft. A flagship 3,000–6,000 sqft luxury boutique with brand-book joinery, custom lighting design and dedicated AV runs AED 700–1,500 per sqft. Pop-up retail (3–6 month activations) runs 40–60% of permanent fit-out cost due to lighter-spec fixtures designed for re-deployment.

Mall fit-out windows are tight — typically 4–8 weeks from landlord handover to first trade. We programme backwards from your lease commencement date, lodge landlord approvals in parallel with design, and manage mall ingress/egress logistics for trades and materials.

Mall LL Coordination — Dubai Mall, MOE, City Walk, Yas Mall

Every Dubai mall has its own landlord drawing-approval process, hoarding design standards, working-hour restrictions, waste-disposal scheduling, and security protocols. Dubai Mall (Emaar Malls) has the most demanding; Mall of the Emirates (Majid Al Futtaim) runs MAF's proprietary approval system; City Walk and BLVD (Meraas) follow Meraas standards; Yas Mall (Aldar Properties) runs ADM-aligned approvals; Marina Mall and Festival City run their own LL teams.

We hold approved-contractor status with multiple UAE malls and manage LL approval as a standard scope item. Your team focuses on brand and merchandising; ours handles the mall paperwork, security passes, lift bookings and delivery windows. You sign once.

Brand-Standard Rollouts — Multi-Store UAE and GCC

Global retail brands arrive in the UAE with brand-standard documentation — finish palettes, fixture specifications, lighting standards, signage hierarchies — from head-office design teams in London, Milan, New York or Tokyo. The challenge is translating that brand standard into UAE-compliant detail: electrical to DEWA code, fire to DCD, materials to ESMA, and layout to mall LL rules.

We work to brand books from luxury, mid-market, F&B retail and concept brands. Where brand specifications conflict with UAE regulations, we propose a documented variation route — not silent substitution. Over a 3–5-store rollout across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, the brand gets its standard, the mall gets its compliance, the operator gets its opening dates, and we get the next rollout.

Fast-Track Fit-Out — 28 Days From Handover to Opening

A fast-track mall fit-out compresses the 8–10 week typical programme into 28–35 days — necessary when a lease commencement date is fixed and a retail brand needs to trade during the coming season. This requires all procurement pre-ordered during design approval, trades sequenced to work in 12-hour shifts, and zero-tolerance scheduling with daily progress reporting to the brand ops team.

We've delivered fast-track mall fit-outs at Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and City Walk under 4-week windows — with final brand QC sign-off passed first time. It costs 15–25% more than a standard programme because the pre-procurement risk and overtime labour are real. If your lease commencement is non-negotiable, the premium is the right trade.

Indicative Pricing

Retail Fit-out pricing — by scope and specification.

All quotes are fixed-price under one design-and-build contract. The numbers below are indicative starting points — final pricing depends on scope of works, size, materials quality and finish specification. Pricing is by scope, not per-sqft rate.

Pop-Up / Concession

From AED 75,000

Compact pop-up, mall concession or kiosk fit-out — fixture manufacture, brand-livery finishes, lighting, EPOS integration and basic signage. Best fit for short-lease activations and seasonal pop-ups.

Final price scales with fixture detail, custom-made joinery, AV integration and signage complexity.

Mall Store / Showroom

From AED 200,000

Full mall-store or showroom fit-out — strip-out, MEP rework, suspended ceiling, fixture manufacture, premium finishes (stone, veneer, glazed display), lighting design, EPOS / IT and brand-livery signage with mall-management NOC.

Pricing scales upward with bespoke joinery, custom shopfront, integrated AV, smart-mirror displays and bespoke fitting-room design — typical mall-store fit-outs in Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Hills Mall land between AED 350K and AED 1.5M.

Flagship / Multi-Store Roll-Out

Custom Quotation

Flagship retail buildouts, multi-store roll-outs, automotive showrooms, luxury jewelry and watch boutiques, large-format showrooms — quoted bespoke after brand-narrative review.

Authority pathway lengthens with hotel-brand standards, double-skin shopfronts and integrated digital signage. Indicative budgets typically start at AED 1.5M and exceed AED 6M.

All starting prices exclude FF&E (loose furniture), authority fees and tenant improvement deposits. We pass through authority fees at cost — never marked up. Pricing depends on scope of works, size, materials quality and finish specification — never on a generic per-sqft rate.

Indicative Timeline

From sign-off to opening day — a four-phase program.

Once design is finalized and the contract is signed, here's how a typical commercial project runs. Real timelines depend on scope and authority workload — this is the ladder we use to set expectations.

Phase 1

OAM / Community / Landlord Approvals

2 – 3 weeks

Submission to building landlord, OAM, mall management or community office — Emaar (ECM), Nakheel (NCM/DCM), Damac CM, Majid Al Futtaim, DMCC building management. Drawings, contractor docs and insurance prepared by us.

Phase 2

Authority Approvals

2 – 3 weeks

DM, DDA, DMCC or Trakhees building modification permits, DEWA reload approvals, DCD fire-safety sign-off. Add 2 – 4 weeks for structural modifications, mezzanine BUA updates or MEP capacity upgrades.

Phase 3

Build / Fit-Out

4 – 8 weeks

Strip-out, partitioning, MEP rough-in, ceilings, flooring, joinery, finishes, AV, IT cabling, signage, FF&E install — under weekly progress reporting with named project manager.

Phase 4

Snagging & Handover

Up to 2 weeks

Joint snagging walk, deficiency closure, DCD inspection, DEWA energisation, completion certificate issuance, operational walk-through. We don't hand over until all approvals + completion certificates are issued.

Indicative timelines — actual program depends on scope, structural complexity, OAM / landlord speed and authority workload. We commit to a written program at sign-off and report against it weekly.

Approvals Pathway

Every retail fit-out goes through the same four phases.

We take care of all approvals and completion certificates — submission, follow-up, inspection close-out and final sign-off. The sequence below is universal — what changes is the OAM / community / landlord office and the authority body.

Step 1

OAM / Community Approval

Step 2

Authority Approval

Step 3

Final Inspection

Step 4

Completion Certificate

Master Developer
Community / Landlord Office
Authority
Sign-off
Emaar
Burj Khalifa District · Downtown · Dubai Hills · Emaar Square · The Address · Boulevard Towers · Dubai Mall
ECM
Emaar Community Management
DM / DDA
Completion
Nakheel
Palm Jumeirah · Ibn Battuta · Dragon Mart · Discovery Gardens · Al Furjan
NCM / DCM
Nakheel Community Management
Trakhees
Completion
Damac
Damac Towers · Aykon City · Damac Hills · Reva · Privé
Damac CM
DDA
Completion
DMCC
JLT towers · DMCC trade-licensed offices · Almas Tower · JLT cluster
DMCC Authority
DMCC / DDA
Completion
Victory Heights
Victory Heights — Dubai Sports City
SOAMS
DDA
Completion

Authority approval scope depends on scope of works and level of modification. We assess this at survey — before quotation — so you know exactly what's required before you commit.

Authority & Compliance

Approvals, standards and certifications built into every retail fit-out.

Every project is engineered to pass first-time inspection. We take care of all approvals and completion certificates.

✓DMCC trade-license-linked fit-out approval (JLT, Almas Tower, JLT cluster)
✓Dubai Municipality (DM) Building Department permits
✓Dubai Development Authority (DDA) — TECOM, Sports City, Internet City, Media City, JLT
✓Trakhees — Palm Jumeirah, Ibn Battuta, Discovery Gardens
✓Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) fire & life-safety sign-off
✓DEWA — electrical reload, water and chiller integration approvals
✓Master-developer NOCs (Emaar, Nakheel, Damac, Meraas, Aldar, MAF)
✓JAFZA, DAFZA, Dubai South free-zone authority approvals
✓DM food-safety hygiene approvals (F&B fit-out)
✓KHDA / DHA / MOE approvals (nursery / clinic / school fit-out)
✓BUA (Built-Up Area) updates with DM / DDA / Trakhees
✓Tas-heel / DED tenant-improvement permits
✓Building / mall management NOCs
✓BS EN structural codes where alterations apply

Completion certificates issued at handover — required for trade-license activation, insurance binding, opening-day go-live and any future audit.

Single Contract

One signature. 360° accountability — design, build, certify, open.

Most commercial projects fail on the seams between vendors. Buildsmith® eliminates the seams. From the first survey to the completion certificate at handover, every line of your project is owned, executed and answered for under one contract — by one team — with one accountable contractor.

End-to-End Delivery

Architectural design, MEP engineering, structural alterations, partitioning, ceiling, flooring, joinery, finishes, AV, IT cabling, signage, FF&E and authority approvals — all delivered by Buildsmith®, none subcontracted to vendors you've never met.

360° Accountability

One named project manager. One fixed-price contract. One program. One snag list. One warranty document. One opening date. If anything fails — workmanship, finish, schedule, compliance, completion certificate — there is exactly one person to call.

All Approvals + Completion Certificates

DM, DDA, DMCC, Trakhees, DCD, DEWA, master-developer NOCs, free-zone authority, food-safety, FCC, KHDA / DHA / MOE — sequenced from day one and closed out with completion certificates at handover.

What's Included

Every retail fit-out contract covers:

Design & Approvals
  • Brand-standard interpretation & detail design
  • Test-fit & space planning
  • Mall LL drawing approvals
  • DM / DCD / DEWA submissions
  • Construction sequence & dust-protection plan
  • Mall handover-window scheduling
Build & Fixtures
  • Glass shopfronts & branded entrance design
  • Wall, ceiling & flooring works
  • Brand-spec lighting (track, accent, feature)
  • Custom retail joinery & display fixtures
  • POS counter design & install
  • Stockroom & back-of-house fit
Brand & Handover
  • Vinyl / printed graphics & wall branding
  • Signage (illuminated, channel-letter, halo)
  • AV / music / digital signage integration
  • Mall LL handover walk-through
  • Brand QC sign-off
  • Opening support & 12-month warranty

Retail fit-out contractor in Dubai — mall stores, showrooms and pop-up concessions.

Buildsmith® delivers retail fit-out across Dubai as a single accountable design-and-build undertaking. Keyword scope: retail fit-out contractor, mall store fit-out, showroom buildout, pop-up retail, concession build-out, fixture manufacture, brand-livery joinery. Every project is permitted, programd and protected for the operating environment it sits inside — with all approvals and completion certificates handled inside our scope.

All approvals + completion certificates — handled, not handed off

The biggest reason commercial projects in Dubai miss their opening date is mis-sequenced authority approvals. Buildsmith® takes care of all approvals and completion certificates from day one: DM Building Department, DDA for TECOM / Sports City / JLT / Internet City / Media City, DMCC trade-license-linked fit-out, Trakhees for Nakheel commercial properties, DCD fire and life-safety, DEWA reload, master-developer NOCs (Emaar, Nakheel, Damac, MAF, Aldar, Meraas), free-zone bodies (JAFZA, DAFZA, Dubai South), DM food-safety, FCC, KHDA / DHA / MOE, Tas-heel / DED tenant-improvement permits and trade-license activation. Completion certificates issue at handover.

Pricing — by scope of works, not per-sqft rate

Commercial pricing depends on scope of works, materials quality, finish specification and MEP complexity — never on a generic per-sqft rate. We quote line-by-line on every project so you can see exactly where the cost is.

Brand-livery finishes, fixture manufacture, EPOS integration — engineered for mall opening date.

For retail fit-out, opening-day delivery is the contract — not a target. Buildsmith® programs backwards from your trade-license activation, fit-out completion certificate, store-opening or operational go-live date, absorbs DM / DDA / DMCC / DCD / DEWA inspection lead-times into the schedule, and commits to a written handover program at sign-off. Where the situation requires it, we deploy parallel trade teams inside extended out-of-hours windows and close the project on date — without compromising the snag list or the inspection sign-off.

Where we work — every Dubai business district

Coverage across DIFC, Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Sheikh Zayed Road, DMCC / JLT, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Outsource City, Dubai Design District (d3), Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), JAFZA, DAFZA, Dubai South, Dubai Investment Park (DIP), Al Quoz, Al Barsha, Deira, Al Karama, Bur Dubai and the wider Dubai commercial map.

Selected Works

Recent retail fit-out projects.

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Common Questions

Frequently asked about retail fit-out in Dubai.

Do you work to brand-book standards?

Yes — we work from brand books, design intent drawings and head-office QC briefs. Where brand specifications conflict with UAE compliance (electrical, fire, accessibility), we propose a documented variation route — never silent substitution.

How long does a typical mall unit fit-out take?

Mall kiosk (200–400 sqft): 4–6 weeks. Standard mall unit (1,000–2,500 sqft): 8–12 weeks. Flagship mall store (3,000–6,000 sqft): 12–18 weeks. Most malls require fit-out within a 4–8 week window from handover; we programme backwards from that.

Do you handle mall LL approvals?

Yes — we hold approved-contractor status with multiple UAE malls and handle LL drawing submission, working-hour permits, hoarding design, lift bookings and waste removal. You sign once.

Can you do pop-ups and short-term retail?

Yes — pop-up and short-lease retail (3–6 month activations) are a common scope. We design for fast install, clean removal and brand impact, with fixtures often retained for re-deployment to the next location.

What's included in the warranty?

Twelve months on workmanship, plus pass-through of all manufacturer warranties (lighting, flooring, joinery hardware, AV). Optional annual maintenance contracts available for high-traffic stores.

How does mall fit out coordination work in Dubai?

Each mall (Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, City Walk, BLVD, Yas Mall, Marina Mall) has its own landlord-approved-contractor list, hoarding standards, freight-lift slots, working-hour windows (typically 22:00–09:00) and brand-specification standards. Buildsmith® holds approved-vendor status across Emaar Malls, MAF, Nakheel Malls and Wasl.

What is the Dubai Mall fit out approval process?

Five steps: (1) Centre-management design submission, (2) Brand-standard sign-off, (3) Hoarding installation + freight-lift booking, (4) Out-of-hours construction with daily centre-management inspection, (5) Final centre-management completion sign-off. We programme backwards from the centre commencement date.

How long does a retail fit out take in a Dubai mall?

Pop-up / kiosk: 2–4 weeks. Mall store: 4–8 weeks. Flagship boutique: 8–12 weeks. Multi-store brand rollout: 4–6 weeks per store running in parallel. Fixture manufacture happens off-site in our workshop in parallel with on-site strip-out.

Do you handle DM, DDA, DMCC, Trakhees and DCD approvals?

Yes — we take care of all approvals and completion certificates as standard scope. Submission, follow-up, inspection close-out and final sign-off all sit inside our scope.

Are you approved by Emaar, Nakheel and Damac?

Yes — Buildsmith® holds active vendor relationships with Emaar Community Management (ECM), Nakheel Community Management (NCM/DCM), Damac Community Management, plus DMCC Authority, MAF (Majid Al Futtaim) for malls, and SOAMS for Victory Heights.

Can you work to a tight opening date?

Yes — particularly important where opening is tied to lease commencement, mall handover or trade-license activation. We program backwards from your target date and absorb authority approval timelines into the schedule.

How is pricing structured?

Pricing depends on scope of works, materials quality and finish specification — never on a generic per-sqft rate. We quote line-by-line on every project so you can see exactly where the cost is.

What warranty do you provide?

12 months on workmanship as standard, plus pass-through of all manufacturer warranties on supplied components. Optional annual maintenance contracts extend cover.

Related Commercial Services

Often paired with retail fit-out.

Fit-out & Turnkey

Layout planning, shell-and-core design and construction, full fit-out and operational handover — under one fixed-price contract.

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Office Renovation

Office renovation — glass partitions, flooring, custom furniture, lighting, AV and AC redesign — delivered with minimal operational disruption.

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Restaurant Renovation

Restaurant layout planning, commercial kitchen and equipment, complete fit-out and front-of-house interiors — DM food-safety compliant.

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Kids Nursery Design & Fit-out

End-to-end nursery design and build — pedagogy-led space planning, KHDA / ADEK-compliant finishes, EN-certified furniture and indoor / outdoor play areas.

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Warehouse Renovation

Full warehouse renovation — mezzanine permits, office fit-out, racking, roof insulation and reflective coatings — across UAE free zones.

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Fit-out & Turnkey

Layout planning, shell-and-core design and construction, full fit-out and operational handover — under one fixed-price contract.

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Office Renovation

Office renovation — glass partitions, flooring, custom furniture, lighting, AV and AC redesign — delivered with minimal operational disruption.

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Restaurant Renovation

Restaurant layout planning, commercial kitchen and equipment, complete fit-out and front-of-house interiors — DM food-safety compliant.

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Kids Nursery Design & Fit-out

End-to-end nursery design and build — pedagogy-led space planning, KHDA / ADEK-compliant finishes, EN-certified furniture and indoor / outdoor play areas.

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Warehouse Renovation

Full warehouse renovation — mezzanine permits, office fit-out, racking, roof insulation and reflective coatings — across UAE free zones.

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Why Buildsmith®

Retail Fit-out, signed once, opened on date.

When you commission Buildsmith® for retail fit-out, you engage a vertically-integrated design-and-build contractor that owns the entire scope — from brand-livery interpretation through fixture manufacture, lighting design and EPOS integration, to the mall-management completion certificate that activates your trade license on opening day.

  • One named project manager from sign-off to mall opening
  • Fixed-price design-and-build contract — variations only with written sign-off
  • Mall-store, showroom, pop-up and concession build-outs
  • All approvals + completion certificates — DM, DDA, DCD, DEWA
  • Mall-management vendor relationships — Emaar Malls, MAF (Majid Al Futtaim), Nakheel Malls
  • In-house fixture manufacture · brand-livery joinery · lighting design
  • EPOS, IT cabling, AV integration in-house
  • Glazed shopfronts · digital signage · double-skin frontage detailing
  • On-date opening commitment — written into the contract
  • 12-month workmanship warranty + manufacturer pass-through

Talk to a Specialist

Send the brief. We'll respond.

A written scope, indicative timeline and approval pathway within one business day.

Coverage

Retail Fit-out across every Dubai business district.

A single mobilisation team services every commercial address in Dubai — free zones, mainland, mall retail, F&B precincts, warehouse parks and head-office towers.

Financial & Corporate

DIFC · Downtown · Business Bay · Sheikh Zayed Road · Trade Center · One Central · Emaar Square · Burj Khalifa District

Free Zones

DMCC · JLT · DAFZA · JAFZA · Dubai South · DIC · DMC · DKP · DSC · DPC · DOC · DHCC · DSO · DIP

Retail & F&B

Dubai Mall · Mall of the Emirates · Dubai Hills Mall · City Walk · La Mer · The Beach JBR · Bluewaters · Box Park · Alserkal Avenue

Creative & Design

Dubai Design District (d3) · Alserkal Avenue · City Walk · Al Quoz · Pearl Jumeirah

Industrial & Logistics

JAFZA · DAFZA · Dubai South · DIP · Al Quoz Industrial · Ras Al Khor · Dubai Industrial City · Al Aweer

Mainland & Mixed-Use

Deira · Bur Dubai · Al Karama · Al Barsha · Al Quoz · Jumeirah · Mirdif · Al Wasl · Festival City · Mirdif City Center

Opening a retail store in Dubai?

Send the brand, the mall or location, the unit handover date and the brand-livery brief. Within one business day, we'll come back with a written scope, the mall-management / DM / DDA approval pathway, a fixture manufacturing program, and a fixed-price quotation under one accountable design-and-build contract — engineered to open on date with the mall.

Send Brief WhatsApp Call Us

Get in Touch

Send us your retail fit-out brief.

A written scope and indicative timeline within one business day.

Phone
+971 58 934 3408
WhatsApp
+971 58 934 3408
Email
info@buildsmith.ae
Office
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Open Mon–Sat · 09:00–19:00
Project type, location, scope, indicative timeline...

Service Areas

Retail Fit-out — delivered across the UAE.

Buildsmith® delivers retail fit-out as a single mobilisation team — same contract, same standards, same project-management discipline. Pick your community to see the authority pathway and community-specific approval rules.

Dubai

▸ Retail Fit-out in DIFC ▸ Retail Fit-out in Business Bay ▸ Retail Fit-out in DMCC ▸ Retail Fit-out in JLT ▸ Retail Fit-out in Sheikh Zayed Road ▸ Retail Fit-out in Downtown Dubai ▸ Retail Fit-out in Dubai Internet City ▸ Retail Fit-out in Dubai Media City ▸ Retail Fit-out in Dubai Knowledge Park ▸ Retail Fit-out in Dubai Design District ▸ Retail Fit-out in Dubai Healthcare City ▸ Retail Fit-out in Dubai Silicon Oasis ▸ Retail Fit-out in JAFZA ▸ Retail Fit-out in DAFZA ▸ Retail Fit-out in Dubai South ▸ Retail Fit-out in Dubai Investment Park ▸ Retail Fit-out in Al Quoz

Abu Dhabi

▸ Retail Fit-out in Al Maryah Island ▸ Retail Fit-out in Capital Centre ▸ Retail Fit-out in Mussafah Industrial ▸ Retail Fit-out in KIZAD ▸ Retail Fit-out in Masdar City ▸ Retail Fit-out in twofour54 ▸ Retail Fit-out in Al Bateen Executive Park