Painting walls in a leased flat — what landlords actually permit

The standard Dubai tenancy contract has a clause that lets the tenant decorate the unit, with the condition that the unit is returned to its original colour and condition at the end of the lease. The original colour is, in most cases, off-white emulsion in a flat finish.

What this means in practice: paint your walls any colour you like during the tenancy, but budget for a full repaint to off-white at the end. We see this booked roughly six weeks before the move-out date — enough time for two coats and full drying, with a buffer for the inspection.

We use Jotun ProTec interior emulsion as standard. It is the brand most landlord agents recognise and accept. It dries quickly, covers well in two coats, and the off-white shade we keep in stock matches what most agents approve.

If you want a coloured feature wall, that is fine — Jotun ProTec is available in their full colour range and we can mix to swatch. Just budget for the repaint at the end.

Most importantly: get permission in writing before painting anything dramatic. A WhatsApp message to the agent confirming the colour choice is usually enough.