diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index cf69ff68da6..dac7c0cd556 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -2523,6 +2523,8 @@ jobs:
     working_directory: ~/project
     steps:
       - checkout
+      - attach_workspace:
+          at: ~/project
 
       - run:
           name: Build Docker image
@@ -2612,6 +2614,8 @@ workflows:
       - auth_ui_unit_tests:
           filters: *main_branches
       - build_docker_database_image:
+          requires:
+            - ui_build
           filters: *main_branches
       - e2e_ui_testing:
           filters: *main_branches
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 9ad9ab31b65..ce2111e7522 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -47,8 +47,12 @@ RUN uv sync --frozen --no-install-project --no-install-workspace --no-default-gr
 # Copy full source tree
 COPY . .
 
-# Build Admin UI before final sync
-RUN sed -i 's/\r$//' docker/build_admin_ui.sh && chmod +x docker/build_admin_ui.sh && ./docker/build_admin_ui.sh
+# Build Admin UI before final sync (skip if pre-built UI exists from CI)
+RUN if [ ! -f litellm/proxy/_experimental/out/index.html ]; then \
+        sed -i 's/\r$//' docker/build_admin_ui.sh && chmod +x docker/build_admin_ui.sh && ./docker/build_admin_ui.sh; \
+    else \
+        echo "Using pre-built Admin UI from CI"; \
+    fi
 
 # Install project and workspace packages (fast - deps already cached)
 RUN uv sync --frozen --no-default-groups --no-editable \
diff --git a/docker/Dockerfile.database b/docker/Dockerfile.database
index c84003a065f..d55cfec5c64 100644
--- a/docker/Dockerfile.database
+++ b/docker/Dockerfile.database
@@ -46,8 +46,12 @@ RUN uv sync --frozen --no-install-project --no-install-workspace --no-default-gr
 # Copy full source tree
 COPY . .
 
-# Build Admin UI before final sync
-RUN sed -i 's/\r$//' docker/build_admin_ui.sh && chmod +x docker/build_admin_ui.sh && ./docker/build_admin_ui.sh
+# Build Admin UI before final sync (skip if pre-built UI exists from CI)
+RUN if [ ! -f litellm/proxy/_experimental/out/index.html ]; then \
+        sed -i 's/\r$//' docker/build_admin_ui.sh && chmod +x docker/build_admin_ui.sh && ./docker/build_admin_ui.sh; \
+    else \
+        echo "Using pre-built Admin UI from CI"; \
+    fi
 
 # Install project and workspace packages (fast - deps already cached)
 RUN uv sync --frozen --no-default-groups --no-editable \