Dubai — United Arab Emirates

High-end architecture and renovation in Dubai

RVA brings architecture, interiors and design & build together for villas and apartments, managing NOCs, approvals and construction under one roof. The result is a home that feels unmistakably yours.

Riccardo Vicarelli Architects (RVA) is an architecture and design & build practice with an office in Al Quoz, Dubai. The team delivers villa and apartment renovations and fit-outs across the emirate, managing NOCs, developer approvals and construction in-house, with Italian design sensibility applied throughout.

Renovating in Dubai

Interior design and fit-out, with a Made in Italy approach

Our Dubai team combines Italian design knowledge with local expertise, delivering tailored, high-end solutions for villas and apartments. NOCs, developer approvals, building coordination and on-site delivery are handled in-house. You see the progress, we handle the paperwork.

Projects in Dubai

Take a look at what we’ve been building

Arabian Ranches

Downtown Dubai

Dubai Hills

Emirates Hills

Dubai Marina

Palm Jumeirah

Project management in Dubai

Built to UAE standards

Every RVA project follows UAE building regulations and the specific requirements set by Dubai’s developers and residential communities. We handle NOCs, authority submissions and permits, helping each project progress smoothly through the approval process and ensuring the residence is fully approved and signed off upon completion.

Our approach

Personal by design

We keep design, approvals and construction with one team, so the people who draw up your home are the people who manage the construction, as well. In a market where those three are usually entrusted to three different companies, it means you’ll never have to explain yourself twice.

Every home is shaped around the family living in it, not a house style we bring with us. And we stick around after handover, for the small details that may arise once you’re settled in.

Recent work

Each project, its own story

See projects →

Residential

Arabian Ranches

A complete master suite renovation, combining technical design with an earthy-inspired palette to create a calm, relaxing retreat.

Residential

Dubai Hills

A complete villa transformation in Dubai Hills, bringing the clients’ vision of a light, contemporary home to life.

Retail

Dubai Hair Salon

A hair salon in Alserkal, expanded and refitted in phases, with regular operations running throughout.

Residential

Anantara Residence

A residence within one of Palm Jumeirah’s earliest developments, overlooking the Arabian Gulf in a distinctive Dubai waterfront setting.

Residential

The Meadows Dubai

A six-bedroom villa in The Meadows, extended and rebuilt around a new kitchen, with the garden and pool restored to daily use.

Residential

Arabian Ranches Villa

A family villa in Arabian Ranches, reworked inside and out, with the kitchen and lounge opening up to a new garden dining area.

Residential

Dubai Marina Apartment

A one-bedroom apartment in Dubai Marina, transformed from initial NOC approvals all the way to final completion, featuring Italian timber, a new kitchen and a bespoke dining wall.

Retail

The Hour Dress

The first The Hour Dress store in Dubai at City Walk, with private bridal fittings behind a curved lime-wash divider, delivered in two months.

Founder & lead architect

Meet Riccardo Vicarelli

Riccardo has led the practice his father founded in 1983 for over twenty years, adopting a hands-on approach. He remains personally involved from the first consultation to the final decision, on every project and in every studio.

About RVA →

Client testimonial

“Highly recommended. The staff is extremely available and knowledgeable. My project has been carefully followed from the very first steps to the ending. I was really glad to have experienced how each one of them is involved at a personal level, and how easily it was to address any unexpected hurdle.”

Carlos Bonillo Google review ↗

Partners

A network built on quality.

We work with a small number of trusted suppliers and specialists, built up over years. This means you’ll get access to materials and finishes that rarely even reach the open market.