Why Custom Over Catalogue?
Standard catalogue car shades fit standard driveways. But many UAE villas have a curved approach, an asymmetric gate opening, an underground service run directly where a standard post would sit, or a requirement to match a specific architectural detail. When a standard product needs significant modification to fit, a custom-designed structure from the start is often the same cost and a better result.
Stage 1: Site Survey (45–60 minutes)
The surveyor measures the exact parking footprint, identifies any obstructions (gate posts, drainage channels, DEWA and ADDC cable runs are common under UAE villa driveways), determines the vehicle types to be covered (height is critical — a pickup truck needs different clearance than a sedan), checks sun orientation to optimize the shade angle, and photographs the gate, facade, and surrounding finishes for design reference.
Stage 2: Design Brief
After the survey, the client confirms: number of vehicles and their heights; preferred structural type (cantilever, H-frame, arch, or sail); roof material (polycarbonate, HDPE fabric, PVC fabric, or louvered aluminum); frame finish (powder coat color or custom RAL); and budget range. The budget range determines the specification grade — the same structural design can be executed in light-gauge galvanized steel at the lower end or in marine-grade aluminum at the upper end.
Stage 3: Design Drawing and Approval
A dimensioned drawing is produced showing the structure in plan and elevation relative to the site features — the gate, the front wall, the existing driveway surface, and the building line. The client approves this drawing before any material is ordered. Changes at this stage cost nothing. Changes after fabrication begins are expensive and extend the lead time.
Stage 4: Fabrication
Steel or aluminum sections are cut, drilled, and welded or bolted to the approved dimensions. Powder coating is applied after fabrication, not before — pre-coated sections show raw metal at cut ends and weld points. For steel structures, hot-dip galvanizing is applied first, then powder coat over the galvanizing, for corrosion protection that survives UAE coastal conditions. Lead time: 2–4 weeks for a standard custom project, 5–8 weeks for complex configurations or specialist materials.
Stage 5: Installation
Post footings are cast at the correct diameter and depth for the span — typically 300–400 mm diameter, 600–900 mm deep for a standard villa shade with 5–6 m span. The frame is assembled and erected, roof material fixed, and all exposed bolt heads and end caps fitted. A correct installation leaves no raw steel ends, no visible anchor bolts above ground level, and no gaps in the roofing panels. If the driveway has decorative tiles, the footing surround is tiled to match.
Start Your Custom Design
Arab Muzalat handles custom car shade projects across all UAE emirates. Contact us with your parking dimensions, vehicle types, and any photos of your property and we will book a survey and produce a design proposal at no cost.
