Don't Get Screwed: 10 Painting Contractor Mistakes That Cost Dubai Marina Residents Thousands

I’m tired of getting calls from people who paid good money for terrible paint jobs.

Last week, a woman living in Princess Tower called me in tears. She had paid 3,200 dirhams for painting services in Dubai Marina, trusting the contractor to do a proper job. Three weeks later, the paint in her bathroom had already started peeling.

What made it worse was this: the painter stopped answering her calls.

Sadly, I see this situation all the time. Many residents in Dubai Marina hire the wrong painters because the quote looks cheap or the promises sound good. They don’t realize that villa painting services in Dubai require experience with humidity, ventilation, and proper surface preparation.

The result is always the same. The job fails early. The homeowner feels cheated. And then they end up paying twice once for the poor-quality paint job, and again for a professional to come in and fix the damage properly.

So here are the ten biggest mistakes I see. Real stories. Real costs. And how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: You Picked the Cheapest Guy

What Happened to Sara (Marina Terrace, 2024)

Sara got three quotes for her one-bedroom apartment:

Quote 1: 4,200 AED
Quote 2: 4,500 AED
Quote 3: 2,400 AED

She picked number three. Made sense, right? Save 1,800 dirhams.

Here’s what the cheap contractor actually did:

Paint: Bought it from some random shop in Sharjah. Cost him maybe 15 dirhams per liter. Normal paint costs 65 dirhams per liter. There’s a reason.

Primer: Skipped it completely. Said “walls are already painted, don’t need it.”

Prep work: Wiped walls with a dry cloth. That’s it. Didn’t fill the cracks near the windows. Didn’t sand anything.

Application: One coat. One. Rushed through the whole apartment in six hours.

Result: Paint looked okay for about two months. Then it started.

First, the bathroom paint turned yellow. Then it started peeling near the AC vents. Then cracks appeared everywhere the old cracks were (because he never filled them).

She called me four months after the original job.

I had to:

Strip all the bad paint off
Fill all the cracks properly
Prime everything
Paint it the right way

Cost to fix: 6,200 AED
Total spent: 2,400 + 6,200 = 8,600 AED
What she should have paid: 4,200 AED

She lost 4,400 dirhams trying to save 1,800.

How Cheap Is Too Cheap?

Here are normal prices in Dubai Marina right now (February 2026):

Studio (35-45 sqm): 1,800 to 2,400 AED
One bedroom (55-75 sqm): 3,200 to 4,800 AED
Two bedroom (85-110 sqm): 5,500 to 8,500 AED

If someone quotes 30% below these numbers, they’re cutting something. Usually everything.

What to Ask When Prices Are Low

Don’t just say no to cheap quotes. Ask questions:

“What paint are you using?”
Good answer: “Jotun Majestic” or “Dulux” with a specific product name.
Bad answer: “Good quality paint” or “Professional paint” without naming it.

“How many coats?”
Good answer: “One primer coat, two finish coats.”
Bad answer: “Depends on the color” or “One coat is enough.”

“What’s included in prep work?”
Good answer: “Clean walls, fill cracks, sand, prime.”
Bad answer: Vague answer or “We’ll see when we get there.”

Look, I’m not the cheapest painter in Marina. I know that. But I sleep fine because nobody calls me back with peeling paint.

Mistake 2: You Didn’t Check If They’ve Actually Worked Here Before

The Pakistani Contractors Who’d Never Seen Marina (2023)

A friend called me. He’d hired contractors to paint his apartment in Botanica Tower.

They showed up with all their equipment. Looked professional.

Then they started.

Problem 1: They didn’t know about building access rules. Tried to use the main elevator during peak hours (7-9 AM). Building security stopped them. They sat around for two hours waiting.

Problem 2: They brought a huge ladder. Botanica apartments have 2.8 meter ceilings. They had a 5 meter ladder. Couldn’t fit it through the door.

Problem 3: They’d only painted villas before. Didn’t know how to work around fitted wardrobes and built-in kitchen cabinets. Made a mess.

Problem 4: Tried to dispose of paint waste in the regular building trash. Building management fined my friend 500 dirhams.

The job took six days instead of three. My friend had to take extra days off work to supervise because they kept making mistakes.

What “Marina Experience” Actually Means

Dubai Marina apartments are different from villas:

Tight spaces: Can’t swing a big roller. Need to work carefully around furniture.

Building rules: Working hours (usually 8 AM to 6 PM). Elevator use. Waste disposal. Parking for contractor vehicles.

High ceilings: Some towers have 3+ meter ceilings. Need proper equipment.

AC systems: Central AC, split units, ducted AC different in every building. Painters need to know how to work around them.

Humidity from the sea: Different paint is needed than inland Dubai areas.

Questions to Ask

“Which Marina towers have you worked in?”
They should name specific buildings. “Ocean Heights, Marina Diamond, Princess Tower” not just “many buildings in Marina.”

“Can I see photos from your last Marina job?”
Photos should show actual apartments, not stock images. Look at the background you can usually tell if it’s really Marina.

“Do you know the building access rules?”
They should ask which building you’re in. Different towers have different rules.

If they’ve done 50 jobs in Marina, they’ll answer these easily. If they hesitate, they’re new to the area.

Mistake 3: You Thought Painting Was Just Painting

Youssef’s Cracked Walls (Marina Crown, 2025)

Youssef wanted his apartment painted. Walls had some cracks. Not huge, but visible.

Contractor came, looked around, said “No problem, we’ll paint it.”

They painted.

Cracks disappeared under the fresh paint.

For about three weeks.

Then they came back. Worse than before. Paint was cracking along the exact same lines.

Why? Because paint doesn’t fix cracks. It just hides them temporarily.

What Needs to Happen Before Paint Goes On

Step 1: Wall Inspection
Good contractors spend 20-30 minutes just looking at your walls before quoting. They check for:

Cracks
Water stains
Peeling old paint
Damp spots
Holes from previous wall fixtures

Step 2: Crack Filling
Small cracks: Fill with acrylic filler. Sand smooth when dry.
Big cracks: Need flexible filler. Sometimes need two applications.
Moving cracks (near doors/windows): Special treatment or they’ll just crack again.

Step 3: Water Stain Treatment
You can’t paint over water stains and expect them to disappear. They come back.

Need special blocking primer. Costs more. Takes longer. But it’s the only way.

Step 4: Surface Cleaning
Dubai dust gets into everything. Walls need to be wiped down properly. Paint won’t stick to dusty walls.

Step 5: Sanding
Any filled areas need sanding. Otherwise you see bumps through the paint.

Step 6: Priming
This is not paint. This is the foundation. It makes paint stick and last.

All this takes time. A proper two-bedroom apartment needs 6-8 hours just for prep work.

Contractors who say “prep takes one hour” are lying.

What to Ask About Prep

“What do you do about these cracks?” (Point to specific cracks)

Listen carefully. They should explain the process. If they say “paint will cover it” or “don’t worry about it” run.

“Do you use primer?”

Answer should be yes. Always. If they say “only if needed” or “depends on the walls,” they cut corners.

“What happens if you find water damage when you start?”

Good answer: “We stop, show you, explain options, get your approval before continuing.”
Bad answer: “We’ll handle it” or “It’ll be fine.”

Mistake 4: You Don’t Know What Paint They’re Actually Using

The Dragon Mart Paint Disaster (Silverene Tower, 2024)

Client hired contractors. Agreed on “good quality paint.”

Contractors showed up with paint cans. No labels. Said it was “professional grade imported paint.”

My client didn’t question it.

Paint went on fine. Looked good when wet. Dried okay.

Six months later:

Color had faded badly (she chose light blue, it turned almost white)
Couldn’t wash it (marks stayed permanently)
Started getting chalky (white powder came off if you touched it)

Turns out it was cheap Chinese paint from Dragon Mart. Costs about 20 dirhams per liter. Basically junk.

Real quality paint costs 60-75 dirhams per liter. There’s a reason for the price difference.

Paint Brands That Actually Work in Dubai Marina

I’ve tested everything over 13 years. Here’s what holds up:

Jotun (Norwegian brand)
My first choice. Costs 60-75 AED per liter.
Why: Handles humidity well. Doesn’t yellow. Good coverage.
Specific products: Jotun Majestic, Jotun Fenomastic Pure (low smell)

Dulux
Second choice. Costs 55-70 AED per liter.
Why: Available everywhere. Decent quality. Good color range.
Slightly lower coverage than Jotun (you use more).

Farrow & Ball / Little Greene
Premium British brands. Cost 180-250 AED per liter.
Only worth it if you want specific colors you can’t get elsewhere.
Beautiful but expensive.

What to AVOID:

Paint from Dragon Mart or random Sharjah shops
Paint with no brand name
“Professional grade” paint with no specific name
Paint that’s “the same quality as Jotun” but half the price

How to Verify Paint Quality

Before work starts:

“Which brand and product are you using?”
They should name it specifically. “Jotun Majestic Interior Emulsion” not just “Jotun paint.”

“Can you show me the product data sheet?”
Real brands have technical sheets. Fake paint doesn’t.

“Where do you buy it from?”
Should be: Jotun store, Ace Hardware, HomeBox, authorized dealers.
Not: Random shop in Sharjah, bulk supplier with no name.

Ask to see the cans when they arrive.
Real paint has:

Proper labels with brand name
Batch numbers and dates
Coverage information
Safety information

If cans look generic or relabeled stop the job.

Mistake 5: No Written Agreement = No Protection

What Happened to Mohammed (The Torch, 2023)

Mohammed got a quote over WhatsApp: “3500 AED full apartment painting.”

Contractor came. Started work. Did the job.

Then handed Mohammed a bill for 5,200 AED.

Extra charges:

Ceiling painting: 800 AED extra
Crack filling: 400 AED extra
Second coat: 500 AED extra

Mohammed said “You quoted 3,500!”

Contractor said “That was basic painting only. These are extras.”

No written quote. No breakdown. No proof of what was agreed.

Mohammed paid because the job was done. What else could he do?

What a Real Quote Should Include

Written. Not verbal. Not a WhatsApp voice note.

Should list:

1. Exact Areas
“Living room, two bedrooms, kitchen, one bathroom, entrance hallway”
Not just “full apartment”

2. What’s Included

Ceiling painting: Yes or No
Skirting boards: Yes or No
Doors: Yes or No
Built-in wardrobes inside: Yes or No

3. Preparation Work
“Includes: crack filling (up to 15 cracks), wall cleaning, sanding, one primer coat”

4. Paint Specifications
“Paint: Jotun Majestic Interior Emulsion, 2 coats”
Not just “quality paint 2 coats”

5. Total Cost Breakdown
Labor: X AED
Materials: X AED
Total: X AED

6. What’s NOT Included
“Major wall repairs, water damage treatment, wallpaper removal quoted separately if needed”

7. Timeline
“Estimated 4 working days”

8. Payment Terms
Usually: 30% deposit, 40% when work starts, 30% on completion
Never: 100% upfront

9. Warranty
“12 months warranty on workmanship”
What’s covered, what’s not

Red Flags in Quotes

Verbal quote only – “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of everything”
Vague descriptions – “Full painting service”
No itemization – Just a total number
Payment all upfront – “Pay 100% to book the dates”
No warranty mentioned
Different person quotes than who does the work

Get it in writing. Always. Even if the guy seems trustworthy.

Mistake 6: You Believed the Google Reviews

The Fake Review Problem

I’ll be honest. Review manipulation is huge in Dubai.

Companies pay for fake reviews. It’s cheap and easy. 50 dirhams per review. Some services sell packages 100 reviews for 3,000 dirhams.

So those 50 five-star reviews? Might be completely fake.

How to Spot Fake Reviews

All reviews within a short time period:
Real businesses get reviews steadily over months and years.
If they got 40 reviews in one week fake.

Generic praise:
“Great service! Very professional! Highly recommend!”
No specific details about what was actually done.

No photos:
Real customers often post photos. Fake reviewers don’t.

All 5-star or all 1-star:
Real businesses have mixed reviews. Some people are never happy.

Reviewers with only one review:
Check the reviewer’s profile. If they only reviewed this one business probably fake.

Similar writing style:
If reviews sound like the same person wrote them they probably did.

What to Trust Instead

Recent reviews with details:
“Ahmed painted my 2BR in Marina Diamond last month. Took 4 days. Used Jotun paint like he promised. Fixed all the cracks properly. Happy with the result.”

That’s real.

Reviews with photos:
Before and after shots. The apartment. The work in progress.

Reviews that mention minor complaints:
“Good work overall. Took one extra day because they found water damage they had to fix. Price was a bit higher than I expected but the result is good.”

Real reviews mention imperfections.

Personal recommendations:
Ask neighbors in your building. Ask in Dubai Marina Facebook groups. Real people who actually hired them.

Better Than Reviews: Ask for References

“Can you give me phone numbers of three customers you painted for in the last two months?”

Real professionals say yes immediately and provide contacts.

Sketchy contractors make excuses:

“Our customers value privacy”
“We have many happy customers” (but won’t name any)
“Check our Google reviews” (and refuse to give direct contacts)

Call those references. Ask real questions:

“Did they show up on time?”
“Any surprise charges?”
“How does the paint look six months later?”
“Would you hire them again?”

Mistake 7: You Didn’t Ask About the Building Rules

Ali’s 1,500 Dirham Fine (Marina Promenade, 2025)

Ali hired painters. Told them his apartment number. They said they’d handle everything.

They showed up at 7 AM. Started carrying equipment through the lobby during morning rush hour. Building security stopped them.

Building rule: No contractor access 7-9 AM and 5-7 PM (peak hours).

Painters didn’t know. Ali didn’t know.

They waited until 9 AM to start. Lost two hours of work time.

Then they used the resident elevator. Another violation. Should use service elevator only.

Building management issued a warning.

Then the painters put paint waste in the building’s regular trash. That’s not allowed. Special disposal required.

Building management fined Ali 1,500 dirhams for multiple violations.

Building Rules That Matter

Every Dubai Marina tower has rules. Some are common, some are specific:

Working Hours:
Most towers: 8 AM to 6 PM, Saturday to Thursday
Some towers: 9 AM to 5 PM
Almost all: No work on Fridays

Elevator Use:
Service elevator only (not resident elevator)
May need to book time slots
Some buildings charge for service elevator access

Parking:
Contractors can’t park in visitor spots for extended periods
May need temporary parking permits from management
Some buildings provide contractor parking areas

Waste Disposal:
Can’t put paint cans in regular trash
Need to use designated disposal areas
Some towers require contractors to remove all waste

Noise:
Drilling and loud work may have time restrictions
Need to inform neighbors in some buildings

Access Cards/Permits:
Many towers require temporary access cards for contractors
Need to register in advance with building management

What You Should Do

Before hiring anyone:

Check with building management: “What are the contractor rules for renovation work?”
Get it in writing: Some buildings have official contractor guidelines.
Tell your painter: “Here are the building rules. Can you work within these?”
Ask if they’re familiar with your building: “Have you worked in [Building Name] before? Do you know the access procedures?”

Good contractors:

Ask which building you’re in
Know or ask about access rules
Plan accordingly
Handle permits and registration if needed

Bad contractors:

Don’t ask about building rules
Say “Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out”
Assume all buildings are the same

Violations can cost YOU money in fines, even though it was the contractor’s mistake.

Mistake 8: No Warranty or Guarantee

Fatima’s Peeling Paint (Ocean Heights, 2024)

Fatima’s apartment was painted in March. By June, paint was peeling in the bathroom.

She called the contractor.

“Paint is guaranteed for life,” he’d told her.

Now his response: “That’s water damage from your shower. Not my problem.”

No written warranty. No way to prove what he’d promised.

She paid someone else (me) to fix it. Cost her 1,200 dirhams.

What a Real Warranty Covers

Standard warranty for good work:
12 months on workmanship

What should be covered:

Paint peeling due to poor surface prep
Paint flaking due to inadequate priming
Uneven coverage or visible brush marks
Color not matching what was agreed
Poor finish quality

What’s NOT covered (and shouldn’t be):

New cracks appearing due to building settlement
Water damage from new leaks
Damage from furniture or accidents
Normal wear and tear
Customer changing their mind about color

What to Ask About Warranty

“What’s your warranty on this work?”

Good answer: “12 months warranty on workmanship. If paint peels or cracks due to our work, we fix it free.”

Bad answer: “Best quality, no problems” or “Paint is guaranteed by the manufacturer.”

“What does the warranty cover specifically?”

Get it written in the quote.

“What happens if there’s a problem in 6 months?”

Good answer: “Call us, we come check it, if it’s our fault we fix it free.”

Bad answer: “Won’t be any problems” (overconfident, evasive).

Red Flags

Won’t put warranty in writing
“Lifetime warranty” (unrealistic)
Warranty only covers “materials not workmanship”
No clear contact method for warranty claims

Mistake 9: You Picked Someone Who Couldn’t Explain Things

The Communication Test

This is simple but important.

Before you hire anyone, have a 10-minute conversation. Ask basic questions:

“How long will this take?”
“What paint are you using?”
“What prep work is needed?”
“What if you find problems?”

If they can’t explain clearly, in simple words, what they’re going to do don’t hire them.

Warning Signs

Vague answers:
You: “How many coats of paint?”
Them: “Whatever is needed” or “Depends”

Overly technical without explaining:
“We’ll use polymeric primer with elastomeric topcoat”
(Unless you ask, and they can’t explain what that means)

Different story each time:
First call: “Takes 3 days”
Second call: “Maybe 5 days”
Quote: “4-6 days depending on conditions”

Can’t answer basic questions:
You: “Which building have you worked in around here?”
Them: “Many buildings, all over Marina”
(Should name specific ones)

Pressuring you to decide fast:
“Special price only today”
“We have a slot tomorrow but it’ll be gone if you don’t book now”

Good Communication Sounds Like

Clear and specific:
“Your apartment is 75 sqm. We’ll need 4 days. Day 1 is prep work filling cracks, sanding, cleaning. Day 2 we prime everything. Days 3 and 4 we do two coats of paint.”

Honest about limitations:
“I can see water stains on your ceiling. We can paint over them, but if the leak isn’t fixed, they’ll come back. You might want to check with building maintenance first.”

Explains without being asked:
“We use Jotun paint because it handles Dubai humidity better than cheaper brands. Coverage is about 12 square meters per liter, so your apartment needs about 6 liters per coat.”

Willing to answer questions:
You ask something. They answer patiently. They don’t get defensive or annoyed.

If talking to them feels confusing or rushed trust that feeling. Move on.

Mistake 10: You Didn’t Plan for the Disruption

Living in a Paint Zone

Painting disrupts your life. People forget this.

You can’t use rooms while they’re being painted. Furniture gets moved. There’s dust from sanding. Smell from paint (even low-odor paint has some smell). Paint takes time to dry fully.

Plan For

Where will you stay?

Option 1: Stay in the apartment

Painters work room by room
You live in unpainted rooms
More inconvenient but cheaper

Option 2: Move out for a few days

Faster work (painters access whole apartment)
Less stressful for you
Need somewhere to stay (hotel, friend’s place)

What about furniture?

Small items: Move to center of room, cover with sheets
Large furniture: Same, or move to unpainted rooms
Built-ins: Can’t move, painters work around them

What about your stuff?

Electronics, valuables, fragile items move them out or to a safe room. Dust gets everywhere during sanding.

Kids and pets?

Even with low-odor paint, smell can bother kids and pets. Best if they’re not there during painting days.

Food and cooking?

If kitchen is being painted, plan meals. You can’t use the kitchen while it’s being painted.

How long until you can use the room again?

Dry to touch: 4-6 hours (depends on humidity)
Can walk carefully: 24 hours
Can move furniture back: 48-72 hours
Fully cured (safe for everything): 7 days

Don’t rush it. I’ve seen people move heavy furniture back after 24 hours and damage fresh paint.

Questions to Ask Your Painter

“Can we stay in the apartment during painting?”

“Which rooms do you do first?”

“How long before we can use each room?”

“Will there be strong smell?”
(Low-VOC paint has minimal smell, but there’s always some)

“What should we move or cover ourselves?”

“When can we cook in the kitchen again?”

Good painters think about this stuff. They’ll tell you the plan.

How to Actually Choose a Good Painter

After 13 years, here’s my simple process:

Step 1: Get Three Quotes

Not one. Not ten. Three is enough.

From each contractor, get:

Written detailed quote
Timeline estimate
Paint brand they’ll use
What’s included in prep work

Step 2: Check Each One

Online:
Google their business name
Check reviews (using the fake review detection tips above)

Direct:
Ask for three recent customer references
Actually call those references

In person:
How do they communicate?
Do they listen to your concerns?
Do they inspect your walls before quoting?

Step 3: Compare

Don’t just compare price.

Compare:

Paint quality (brand and product)
Prep work included
Timeline (faster isn’t always better)
Warranty terms
Your gut feeling about each contractor

Step 4: Ask the Final Questions

To your top choice:

“Can I see examples of your work in [your building] or nearby?”

“What happens if I’m not happy with the result?”

“How do you handle unexpected problems?”

“What’s your payment schedule?”

Step 5: Get Everything in Writing

Before work starts:

Signed quote with all details
Payment schedule
Timeline
Warranty terms
What happens if timeline extends

Red Flags to Walk Away From

Won’t give written quote
Wants 100% payment upfront
Can’t provide references
Pressure tactics (“decide now or price goes up”)
Can’t name the paint brand they use
No business license or insurance
Only communicates via WhatsApp (no business address/office)

Even one of these reconsider. Multiple red flags definitely walk away.

Real Costs of These Mistakes

Let me summarize what these mistakes actually cost people:

Sara (picked cheapest): Lost 4,400 AED
Marina Terrace resident (no building rules check): Lost 1,500 AED in fines
Fatima (no warranty): Lost 1,200 AED for repairs
Mohammed (no written quote): Paid 1,700 AED more than expected
Youssef (no proper prep): Had to repaint after 6 months, cost 5,800 AED total

Average cost of these mistakes: 2,000 to 5,000 dirhams per person.

Sometimes more. Sometimes you have to redo the entire job.

Final Thoughts

I’m not writing this to scare you. I’m writing it because I fix these problems every week.

Good painters exist. Honest contractors exist. Quality work happens all the time.

But you have to do basic homework.

Ask questions. Get things in writing. Check references. Don’t just pick the cheapest option.

Your apartment is probably your biggest expense in Dubai. Painting might seem like a small thing, but it affects how your home looks and feels every single day.

Do it right the first time.

Quick Checklist Before You Hire Anyone

Print this. Use it.

Before getting quotes:

Checked building rules about contractor work
Know which rooms need painting
Decided on color preferences (roughly)

When getting quotes:

Got at least three written quotes
Each quote lists specific paint brand
Each quote explains prep work included
Each quote has timeline estimate

Before hiring:

Checked online reviews (and checked if reviews seem fake)
Called at least two customer references
Asked about warranty terms
Verified they’ve worked in Dubai Marina before
Got everything in writing and signed