Car painting in Dubai ranges from AED 400 for a single panel respray to AED 8,000 or more for a full vehicle colour change in a premium finish. The spread is wide because the price depends on several factors that interact with each other: the size of your car, the type of paint, the extent of existing damage, and how many panels need work.
This guide breaks down what you can expect to pay at each level, what affects the price, and how to make sure you are comparing quotes fairly. All figures are based on current market rates at body shops in Al Quoz and surrounding areas as of 2026.
Single Panel Respray: AED 400 to AED 800
A single panel respray covers one body panel: a door, fender, bumper, bonnet, or boot lid. This is the most common paint job we do. Someone has a scratch, scuff, or dent repair that broke through the clearcoat, and the panel needs repainting to match the rest of the car.
For a standard sedan like a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord, a single panel typically costs AED 400 to AED 550. Larger panels on SUVs like a Range Rover Sport or Mercedes GLE run AED 550 to AED 800 because the surface area is significantly bigger and the masking and blending work takes longer.
The price includes surface preparation (sanding, priming), VIN-matched basecoat application, clearcoat, a 48-hour cure period, and wet-sanding with machine polish to bring the finish to factory spec. It also includes blending into adjacent panels, which is critical on metallic and pearl colours where a hard paint edge between panels would be visible.
Bumper resprays sit at the lower end of this range (AED 400 to AED 600) even though bumpers are large, because they are plastic and easier to remove, mask, and spray as a standalone piece. Metal body panels require more careful preparation around panel gaps and trim.
Full Car Respray: AED 2,500 to AED 8,000
A full car respray means repainting every exterior panel on the vehicle. This is either a same-colour refresh (when the existing paint is faded, oxidised, or damaged across multiple panels) or a complete colour change.
For a sedan in a standard solid colour like white, black, or silver, a full respray starts at AED 2,500 and typically runs to AED 3,500. This uses OEM-grade basecoats from PPG or BASF Glasurit, applied in a downdraft spray booth.
SUVs and larger vehicles cost more due to surface area. A Range Rover, Land Cruiser, or Patrol full respray in a standard colour ranges from AED 3,500 to AED 5,000.
Colour changes add complexity. Every door jamb, under-bonnet area, and boot surround needs to be painted to avoid the old colour showing when doors are opened. This pushes the price to AED 4,000 to AED 6,000 for sedans and AED 5,500 to AED 8,000 for SUVs.
The 5-7 working day turnaround for a full respray includes full disassembly of trim, mirrors, handles, and lights. We do not tape around these parts and spray over them. Removing them gives clean paint edges and prevents peeling around fittings later.
What Drives the Cost Up
Car size is the most obvious factor. An Audi A3 has roughly 60% of the paintable surface area of a Range Rover Vogue. More surface means more paint, more preparation time, and more masking material.
Paint type matters significantly. Solid colours (white, black, red) are the simplest and cheapest to apply. Metallic finishes add AED 300 to AED 500 per panel because the metallic flake needs to be laid down evenly to avoid patchiness. Pearlescent and tri-coat finishes (common on Lexus, some Mercedes, and BMW Individual colours) are the most expensive because they involve multiple layers that each need to interact correctly with light.
Existing damage increases prep time. If a panel has deep scratches, dents, or previous filler work from a bad repair, the surface needs significant preparation before paint can go on. Straightening, re-filling, and sanding adds AED 200 to AED 500 per panel to the job.
Paint brand is a factor, though less than people assume. We use PPG and BASF Glasurit exclusively. These are the same paint systems supplied to Mercedes, BMW, and Porsche factories. Some shops use cheaper paint systems that cost less per litre but fade faster in Dubai's UV conditions and do not colour-match as accurately.
Clearcoat quality affects longevity. A high-solid clearcoat costs more than a standard clearcoat but provides better UV protection and a deeper gloss. In Dubai, where cars sit in 50-degree heat and direct sunlight for months, the clearcoat is what protects your paint investment for years rather than months.
Premium Finishes: Matte, Satin, and Metallic
Matte finishes have become increasingly popular in Dubai, particularly on Mercedes AMG models, BMW M cars, and Porsche. A matte finish uses a flat clearcoat instead of a gloss clearcoat. The paint underneath is applied the same way, but the final layer changes the appearance dramatically.
A full matte respray on a sedan starts at AED 3,500 and runs to AED 5,000. The premium is not just in the clearcoat material. Matte finishes show every imperfection in the surface preparation, so the underlying work needs to be flawless. Any waviness or orange peel that would be invisible under gloss clearcoat becomes obvious under matte.
Satin finishes sit between matte and gloss. They have a soft sheen that catches light without full reflectivity. Pricing is similar to matte because the application challenges are the same.
Candy metallic and colour-shift finishes are the most expensive option. These use multiple layers of tinted clearcoat over a metallic base to create colour that changes depending on viewing angle. A full car in candy metallic starts at AED 6,000 and can reach AED 10,000 or more depending on the specific colour system and number of coats.
How to Get an Accurate Quote
The fastest way to get a quote is to send photos on WhatsApp. Take one photo of the full panel showing the damage in context, and two to three close-up photos from different angles. Include a photo of your car's paint code sticker (usually inside the driver's door jamb or under the bonnet) so we can check the colour system before you even arrive.
Be specific about what you want. A quote for a single door respray is very different from a quote for a full car colour change. If you are looking at fixing a scratch versus repainting the whole panel, say so. The approach and price are different.
Compare quotes on the same scope. One shop quoting AED 300 for a panel and another quoting AED 600 might not be quoting the same job. The cheaper quote might not include blending, or might use a budget paint system, or might skip the primer coat on minor damage. Ask specifically: what paint brand, does it include blending, is clear coat included, and what is the cure time.
At DentGuy, we provide a written breakdown with every quote so you can see exactly what is included. No hidden charges at pickup.
What to Look for in a Paint Shop
A downdraft spray booth is non-negotiable for quality work. This is a sealed, temperature-controlled room with filtered air flowing downward to prevent dust landing on wet paint. If a shop is spraying cars in an open workshop or a basic enclosure, dust contamination is inevitable. You will see it as tiny bumps in the clearcoat surface.
Computerised colour matching is essential for metallic and pearl finishes. This uses a spectrophotometer to read your car's actual colour (which may have shifted from UV exposure) rather than just looking up the factory code. The difference is noticeable on cars over 3-4 years old where the paint has aged.
Ask about cure time. Proper basecoat and clearcoat needs 24-48 hours to fully cure at controlled temperature before it can be wet-sanded and polished. If a shop promises a panel respray returned same-day, they are either skipping the cure (which leads to premature clearcoat failure) or skipping the final polish.
Look at finished work in person if possible. Ask to see a car that has just been completed. Check the panel gaps, look at the paint edge where new meets old, and inspect the surface under bright light for orange peel or dust inclusions. This tells you more than any review.
A 12-month warranty on paintwork should be standard. This covers peeling, colour mismatch, and premature fading. If a shop will not warrant their work for a year, that tells you something about their confidence in the materials and process they use.
Quick Reference: Car Painting Prices in Dubai
Single panel respray (sedan): AED 400 to AED 550. Single panel respray (SUV): AED 550 to AED 800. Bumper respray: AED 400 to AED 600. Full car respray, solid colour (sedan): AED 2,500 to AED 3,500. Full car respray, solid colour (SUV): AED 3,500 to AED 5,000. Colour change (sedan): AED 4,000 to AED 6,000. Colour change (SUV): AED 5,500 to AED 8,000. Full matte finish (sedan): AED 3,500 to AED 5,000. Candy metallic: AED 6,000 to AED 10,000+.
These prices reflect Al Quoz market rates using OEM-grade paint systems. Budget shops may quote lower using generic paints, while specialist luxury shops may quote higher for niche colour systems.