Construction Services Abu Dhabi — End-to-End Delivery by ART NOVO Since 2014
From reinforced concrete frames to bespoke interior finishes — ART NOVO is Abu Dhabi's licensed general contracting company for residential, commercial, and mixed-use construction. Over 50 projects delivered. Transparent pricing. No subcontractor surprises.
10+ Villas Delivered
Licensed Abu Dhabi Contractor — Since 2014
12-Month Defects Liability as Standard
Fixed-Price & Cost-Plus Contracts Available
In-House MEP, Fit-Out & Civil Teams
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES — COMPLETE SCOPE
When evaluating general contracting companies in Abu Dhabi, the distinction that matters most is whether the contractor truly self-delivers or simply manages subcontractors at arm’s length. ART NOVO operates as a genuine main contractor and contracting company in the UAE — our in-house civil, MEP, and fit-out teams work under a single contract, a single programme, and a single point of accountability. Below are the core service lines we deliver across Abu Dhabi.
New Build Construction — Residential & Commercial
The big construction companies in Abu Dhabi are measured not just by project volume, but by the quality systems behind every pour and every weld. ART NOVO delivers complete new-build construction from stripped site to finished, commissioned building. Our structural teams manage all reinforced concrete works, blockwork, facade, and roofing. Every pour is cube-tested. Every reinforcement cage is inspected before casting. Quality is documented, not assumed.​
- Reinforced concrete frame construction — columns, beams, slabs, stair cores
- Foundation engineering — isolated footings, raft slabs, or driven piles per geotechnical report
- Substructure waterproofing and tanking
- External envelope — facade systems, high-performance double-glazing, flat or pitched roofing
- Blockwork and structural masonry
- Site clearance, earthworks, and enabling works
Luxury Villa Construction
Luxury villa construction is ART NOVO’s flagship service. We have delivered over 10 bespoke private villas across Saadiyat Island, Khalifa City, MBZ City, Al Reef. Our villa scope covers all six work packages — civil, structural, MEP, fit-out, external works, and authority compliance — under one contract, at one agreed price.​
- Pre-construction BOQ, value engineering, and ADM / ADCD permit management
- Structural works — RC frame, blockwork, substructure waterproofing
- MEP — HVAC (VRF or chilled water), electrical distribution, plumbing, fire detection
- Interior fit-out — joinery, flooring, wall finishes, sanitaryware, MEP second fix
- External works — landscaping, boundary walls, pools, driveways
- Commissioning, snagging, and 12-month defects liabilit
Commercial Construction — Offices, Retail & Hospitality
Among contracting companies in Abu Dhabi, commercial fit-out is where programme discipline separates serious contractors from the rest. ART NOVO delivers commercial construction for office fit-outs, retail units, F&B outlets, hospitality interiors, and mixed-use developments. Our commercial teams understand Abu Dhabi Municipality and ADCD compliance requirements for commercial occupancies — and the programme pressure that comes with tenant fit-out deadlines.​
- Office fit-out and Category A / Category B commercial interiors
- Retail shell and core construction and tenant fit-out
- Restaurant, café, and F&B fit-out including commercial kitchen MEP
- Hotel and serviced apartment fit-out
- Mixed-use building construction — ground-floor retail with residential above
- Mezzanine construction and structural modifications to existing buildings
MEP — Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing
Abu Dhabi’s climate demands MEP systems sized against real UAE operating conditions — not European design tables. Our in-house MEP team designs, installs, and commissions every system to Etihad Water & Electricity standards and Abu Dhabi Civil Defence code.
- HVAC: Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF), chilled water systems, ducted splits, ERV fresh-air handling
- Electrical: main and sub-distribution boards, DALI / KNX lighting control, EV charger provision, generator integration
- Plumbing & drainage: hot/cold supply, sanitary drainage, stormwater, grey-water reuse options
- Fire detection & suppression: addressable alarm systems, sprinkler and standpipe to ADCD code
- Smart home and BMS integration available as optional scope extension
Interior Fit-Out & Finishing
The fit-out converts a concrete shell into a space that reflects your brief. ART NOVO’s fit-out division works directly from interior designer specifications, coordinating every trade in a methodical first-fix to final-fix sequence — eliminating the rework that inflates costs on poorly managed projects.
- First fix: partition framing, MEP rough-ins, door frame installation, plasterboard lining
- Second fix: bespoke joinery (wardrobes, kitchens, millwork), flooring (marble, porcelain, timber, parquet), ceiling works, wall finishes
- Sanitaryware and tapware installation — full bathroom fit-out
- Final fix and snagging: electrical faceplates, luminaires, decoration, silicon sealing, deep clean
- Formal snagging inspection with documented rectification before handover
Renovation, Refurbishment & Extension
Renovation and extension work demands a different discipline to new builds — one that not all building contractors possess. Careful investigation of existing structure, live-environment sequencing, and authority approval for modification works are non-negotiable. ART NOVO manages the full process: structural investigation, ADM modification permit, phased construction to minimise disruption, and complete fit-out restoration.
- Structural assessment and feasibility review
- ADM modification permit and Civil Defence approval management
- Demolition, structural modification, and new structural elements
- MEP upgrade and rewiring
- Full interior refurbishment and fit-out
- Villa extension — additional floors, majlis additions, pool and external works
CONSTRUCTION COSTS IN ABU DHABI — 2025 / 2026
The figures below are drawn from actual invoiced project data across ART NOVO's completed builds and current supplier pricing. They represent the full construction cost — civil, structural, MEP, fit-out, and preliminaries — for works delivered under a fixed-price main contract.
Cost Per Square Metre — By Specification Level (2026)
| Specification Level | Cost per m² (AED) | Typical Total — 500 m² Villa | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Finish | AED 3,000 – 4,200 | AED 1.5M – 2.1M | Investment properties; rental stock |
| Mid-Range | AED 4,200 – 6,000 | AED 2.1M – 3.0M | Owner-occupied family villas |
| Luxury Finish | AED 6,500 – 9,000 | AED 3.25M – 4.5M | High-end owner-occupied; Khalifa City / Al Reef premium |
| Ultra-Luxury / Bespoke | AED 9,000 – 11,000+ | AED 4.5M – 5.5M+ | Saadiyat Island; fully custom specification |
Where Construction Cost Is Allocated
| Work Package | % of Total Build Cost | What Drives the Variance |
|---|---|---|
| Civil & Structural | 30–40% | Soil conditions; sabkha plots may require piled foundations (+AED 300k–600k) |
| External Envelope | 10–15% | High-performance glazing adds upfront cost but reduces lifetime HVAC load by up to 25% |
| Interior Fit-Out | 25–35% | Highest variance component — Italian marble vs standard porcelain shifts this ±15% |
| MEP Systems | 15–20% | Gulf climate demands oversized HVAC; VRF costs more upfront but cuts operating costs 30–40% |
| External Works | 5–10% | Often under-budgeted — pool + boundary wall + landscaping alone: AED 400k–900k |
| Contractor Preliminaries | 8–14% | Site management, insurance, HSE, and programme — non-negotiable on a quality build |
Why Location Affects Construction Cost
A villa of identical specification will cost 15–25% more to build on Saadiyat Island than in Khalifa City or MBZ City. TDIC design guidelines require stricter material specifications, a more complex multi-stage design review process, and compliance inspections that experienced contractors factor into their preliminaries. Less experienced contractors win the Saadiyat tender with a lower price — then issue variation orders that recover the gap. ART NOVO's pre-construction feasibility phase accounts for all location-specific cost drivers before the contract is signed.
THE ART NOVO BUILD PROCESS — 6 STAGES EXPLAINED
A luxury villa build in Abu Dhabi typically takes 12–18 months from contract award to handover, with complex bespoke projects extending to 24 months. Our six-stage process gives you real-time visibility and clear deliverables at every milestone.
Pre-Construction
We review your architectural, structural, and MEP documents in detail, produce a full BOQ, run a value engineering workshop, and submit all authority applications — ADM building permit, Civil Defence, ADDC, and Etihad Water & Electricity.
Enabling & Substructure
Site establishment (hoarding, welfare facilities, laydown areas), earthworks, excavation, foundation construction, ground-floor slab, and substructure waterproofing.
Superstructure & Envelope
Reinforced concrete frame to roof level, blockwork partitions, roof structure and waterproofing, external facade and high-performance glazing, entrance features and external doors.
MEP First Fix & Internal Linings
MEP rough-ins (conduits, ducts, pipework), plasterboard lining and skim, wet area waterproofing (tanking), door frame installation.
Fit-Out & Finishes
Joinery installation, flooring and wall finishes, sanitaryware and tapware, MEP second fix and faceplates, decoration and silicon sealing.
Commissioning, Snagging & Handover
Full MEP commissioning and system balancing, fire system testing and ADCD certification, client snagging inspection, snag rectification, final deep clean, key handover with O&M manuals, warranties, and as-built drawings.
AREAS WE SERVE ACROSS ABU DHABI
As a licensed contracting company in the UAE operating since 2014, ART NOVO delivers construction services across all major residential and commercial districts of Abu Dhabi, with direct experience of each community's planning requirements, ground conditions, and authority compliance pathways.
Saadiyat Island
TDIC design guidelines govern material specifications, architectural character, and external finishes. The multi-stage design review process is intensive and unforgiving of inexperienced contractors. ART NOVO has delivered multiple projects on Saadiyat Island and maintains established working relationships with the TDIC approval team — significantly reducing approval timeline risk.
Mohammed Bin Zayed City (MBZ City)
Home to ART NOVO's head office. We know the plot configurations, ADM approval authority requirements, and the expectations of MBZ City clients better than any other location in Abu Dhabi. Our longest-standing client relationships are based here.
Khalifa City
Generously sized plots and diverse architectural preferences — from contemporary minimalist to classical Arabic — require a contractor who can adapt scope and specification to each project's vision. Our civil and structural teams have extensive experience across Khalifa City's varied ground conditions.
Al Reef
Al Reef's community framework introduces specific design guidelines and community authority requirements. ART NOVO is familiar with the approval pathway and has delivered villa construction and refurbishment projects within the Al Reef master plan.
Yas Island
Yas Island's Aldar development framework introduces a distinct compliance pathway. Our team is familiar with Yas Island design guidelines and the approvals required for custom construction within its master-planned zones.
Dubai — Emirates Hills, Palm Jumeirah & Beyond
For clients with plots in Dubai, ART NOVO delivers the same end-to-end construction service with a dedicated site team coordinated from our Abu Dhabi headquarters. We have completed projects on Emirates Hills, Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Golf Estates, and Arabian Ranches.
WHY CLIENTS CHOOSE ART NOVO
Abu Dhabi has no shortage of general contracting companies — but most disaggregate the work across multiple subcontractors with no single party owning the result. ART NOVO was built differently: as a general contracting company in Abu Dhabi that self-delivers civil, MEP, and fit-out under one roof and one contract.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What should I look for when choosing a contracting company in Abu Dhabi?
The most important factor is whether the contracting company self-delivers its key trades or subcontracts them all. Ask for the contractor's trade licence, their list of in-house teams (civil, MEP, fit-out), examples of completed projects with references, and a fixed-price BOQ before contract signature. A contractor who cannot produce a detailed BOQ before you sign is a contractor who will issue variations after you sign.
Does ART NOVO handle building permits with Abu Dhabi Municipality?
Yes. ART NOVO manages all authority submissions as part of the pre-construction scope — including ADM building permit, Civil Defence (ADCD) submissions, and ADDC and Etihad Water & Electricity utility applications. This is included in our standard contract. The permit timeline is the single biggest schedule variable on any project; managing it from day one reduces programme risk before ground breaks.
Do I need a separate architect, or does ART NOVO provide design services?
ART NOVO is a general contractor, not an architectural design practice. Most clients engage an independent architect and structural engineer who produce the design package, which ART NOVO then reviews, value-engineers, and executes. This separation ensures you have an independent design professional protecting your interests, separate from the contractor building your project. If you do not yet have a design team, we can recommend architects, structural engineers, and interior designers with whom we have established working relationships.
What is the difference between a fixed-price contract and a cost-plus contract?
A fixed-price lump sum contract establishes a single agreed price for a fully defined scope of work. It gives you cost certainty and is best suited to projects with a completed, fully-detailed design package before contract signature. A cost-plus (open-book) contract charges you the actual cost of labour, materials, and subcontractors, plus an agreed percentage for ART NOVO's overhead and profit — suited to projects where the design is still evolving or where you want full transparency on every invoice. ART NOVO offers both structures.
How long does a construction project take in Abu Dhabi?
A standard residential or commercial project of 400–700 m² typically takes 12 to 18 months from contract award to handover, assuming a straightforward ADM approval process and normal site conditions. Complex bespoke projects — particularly on Saadiyat Island with TDIC design review requirements — can extend to 20–24 months. ART NOVO begins permit applications during the pre-construction phase, before construction contracts are signed, to reduce programme risk.
How do I know which building contractors in Abu Dhabi are reputable?
Reputable building contractors in Abu Dhabi hold a valid Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) trade licence and an Abu Dhabi Municipality contractor registration. Beyond licences, ask for a verified project portfolio, client references for recently completed projects, and evidence of in-house quality control (concrete cube test records, inspection and test plans). ART NOVO is happy to provide all of the above.
