A custom sculpture in Dubai is priced by five things — material, size, complexity of form, finish and installation — not by a catalogue number. As rough orientation: smaller bespoke pieces typically start in the low thousands of dirhams, mid-size statement pieces commonly run into the tens of thousands, and large architectural commissions can reach six figures. Those are deliberately broad because every piece is quoted on its own terms. Here's what moves the number.
The five cost drivers
- Material — a Calacatta marble block, a bronze casting and a fabricated 316 steel form all carry very different raw and labour costs.
- Size and weight — bigger isn't just more material; it's heavier handling, more structure and harder logistics.
- Complexity of form — intricate carving, undercuts and fine detail take far more skilled hours than a clean monolithic shape.
- Finish — a mirror polish, a specific patina or a hand-honed surface each add finishing time.
- Installation — plinths, fixings, site access and craning for heavy pieces all factor in.
Why material is the biggest lever
Marble is sold by the block, and a sculptor cuts away much of it — so you partly pay for stone that becomes offcut. Bolder marbles cost more because sculpture-grade blocks of them are rarer. Bronze carries casting and foundry costs. Stainless steel 316 is fabricated and finished by hand. None of these are commodity inputs, which is why two pieces of identical size can be priced very differently.
Size doesn't scale in a straight line
Doubling a sculpture's height can far more than double its cost. Volume and weight rise sharply, the structure to support it grows, and a piece that one person could place by hand may now need a crane and a team. It's worth pressure-testing scale early against both budget and the realities of getting the piece into position.
Lead time, shipping and installation
Bespoke work is made to order, and many pieces are fabricated at our partner facilities and shipped in, so logistics and timing are part of the cost picture. Installation is the final line: a tabletop piece is simple; a two-tonne courtyard sculpture needs planning, access and lifting equipment.
Bespoke versus ready-made — what you're paying for
A commissioned piece costs more than something bought off a shelf because it's made to your form, scale, material and setting, and it's one of one. For a signature location — an entrance, a double-height living space, a courtyard — that uniqueness is usually the entire point. When you're ready to scope a piece and get a real figure, get in touch to start a commission.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What's the most affordable way to commission a sculpture?
Keep the form clean rather than intricate, choose a more available material, and right-size the piece to its setting. Complexity and rare stone are where cost climbs fastest.
Why can't you just give a price list?
Because no two bespoke pieces are the same. Material, size, complexity, finish and installation combine differently each time, so an accurate figure needs a brief.
Does doubling the size double the price?
Usually more than double — weight, structure and installation all rise faster than height. We flag this early so scale and budget stay aligned.
Is shipping and installation included in a quote?
We set this out clearly in each quote. Logistics and installation are quoted alongside the piece so there are no surprises.
Is a deposit required?
Yes — bespoke commissions begin with an advance against the order, with the balance structured across the project. The exact terms are in your purchase order.
1-OPH is an art atelier based in Al Quoz, Dubai. We design and fabricate bespoke sculpture, water features, and architectural art in marble, stainless steel, bronze, and mixed materials — for private residences, hospitality projects, and developments across the UAE and GCC.
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