Privacy Screens and Fences UAE: Sawater, Fabric Screens, Metal Fencing for Homes and Gardens

Privacy is one of the most valued qualities of a home in the UAE — and one of the hardest to achieve in densely built villa communities, apartment blocks with shared rooftops, and garden plots overlooked by neighbouring properties. Arab Muzalat installs privacy screens and fencing structures that create genuine visual separation without looking like a security barrier. The right screen should make a space feel enclosed and calm, not fortified.

We work with every material category — fabric, PVC, aluminium, WPC, and galvanised steel — and fabricate to the exact dimensions of your space. Nothing off-the-shelf, nothing forced to fit.

Types of Privacy Screens and Fencing We Install

Fabric Privacy Screens (Sawater)

The fabric sawater is the most widely used privacy screen in UAE residential settings. A powder-coated steel or aluminium frame is tensioned with UV-stabilised HDPE mesh fabric — typically 90 to 95 percent shade density — creating a screen that blocks the line of sight while allowing some airflow through the weave.

Fabric screens are the fastest and most cost-effective privacy solution for garden boundaries, pool surrounds, and rooftop terraces. They are also the easiest to replace when the fabric reaches the end of its service life (typically 5 to 8 years) without replacing the frame structure.

Available colours: Dark green, beige, brown, anthracite grey, terracotta, and custom RAL shades on order.

Standard heights: 1.5 m, 1.8 m, 2.0 m, and 2.4 m. Custom heights available.

Price range: AED 120 to 200 per linear metre for a standard 1.8 m height screen, frame and fabric included.

PVC and Polycarbonate Privacy Panels

PVC or polycarbonate panels slotted into an aluminium channel frame create a solid, clean-looking screen with zero maintenance. Unlike fabric, PVC panels do not fade, sag, or tear. They suit modern villa aesthetics — particularly in white or grey finishes — and work well for pool fencing, terrace dividers, and garden boundary screens where a hard clean edge is preferred over a soft fabric finish.

Opaque PVC: Full visual privacy, smooth finish, available in white, grey, brown, and wood-grain textures.

Frosted polycarbonate: Allows diffused light through while blocking direct line of sight. Popular for rooftop terrace dividers and bathroom-adjacent screens.

Price range: AED 200 to 380 per linear metre depending on panel type and height.

WPC (Wood-Plastic Composite) Fence Panels

WPC fence boards look like hardwood timber but require zero maintenance — no painting, no staining, no rot treatment. In the UAE climate, where raw wood fencing requires annual treatment to prevent UV bleaching and humidity cracking, WPC is the practical long-term choice for homeowners who want a natural-looking fence without the upkeep.

WPC fence panels use horizontal or vertical boards fixed into aluminium or galvanised steel posts. Horizontal board layouts are the more contemporary choice; vertical boards suit traditional villa aesthetics.

Available finishes: Teak, walnut, grey-washed, cedar, and charcoal.

Lifespan: 15 to 20 years without maintenance.

Price range: AED 300 to 550 per linear metre for a 1.8 m height fence.

Aluminium Slat Fencing and Screens

Powder-coated aluminium slats fixed horizontally or vertically between aluminium posts create a contemporary screen that is architectural in character. The slat spacing can be adjusted from near-solid (20 mm gap) to semi-open (50 to 80 mm gap) depending on the privacy level needed.

Aluminium slat screens are the premium choice for front garden boundaries and pool fencing in contemporary villa communities. They maintain their colour and rigidity indefinitely with no maintenance beyond an occasional rinse.

Slat width options: 50 mm, 75 mm, 100 mm, 150 mm.

Available colours: Any RAL powder coat — most common: anthracite, white, champagne, black.

Price range: AED 450 to 750 per linear metre for a 1.8 m height screen.

Galvanised Steel Fencing

For boundary security rather than visual privacy, galvanised steel fencing — either tubular frame or welded mesh — provides a durable perimeter structure at the lowest cost per linear metre. This type suits commercial properties, farm boundaries (مزارع), and back or side boundaries of residential plots where aesthetics are secondary to containment.

Price range: AED 80 to 150 per linear metre for standard welded mesh on steel posts.

Decorative Laser-Cut Screens

Laser-cut aluminium or steel panels with Arabic geometric, floral, or custom patterns serve as both privacy screens and decorative architectural elements. They are frequently used for courtyard dividers, main entrance panels, garden feature walls, and rooftop terrace screens where the screen itself is part of the visual design rather than a background element.

Material options: 2 mm or 3 mm aluminium sheet (lighter, no rust), 2 mm steel (more rigid, requires powder coating or galvanising).

Pattern options: Standard geometric and arabesque patterns from our catalogue, or fully custom patterns from your design.

Price range: AED 600 to 1,200 per square metre depending on material and pattern complexity.

Where Screens and Fencing Make the Biggest Impact

Garden Boundary

A 1.8 to 2.0 m screen along the garden boundary creates a private outdoor space that feels like a room. The best material choice depends on the aesthetic of the property — WPC suits heritage-style villas, aluminium slats suit contemporary builds, and fabric screens suit gardens where budget is the primary constraint.

Pool and Pool Deck

Pool areas benefit from a screen that provides privacy without blocking ventilation. HDPE fabric mesh (90 percent shade) is the most common choice — it reduces wind, cuts line-of-sight from neighbouring properties, and keeps the poolside feeling airy rather than enclosed. UAE municipality pool fencing rules vary by emirate: most require a minimum 1.2 m height barrier around pools accessible to children.

Rooftop Terrace

Rooftop terraces in apartment buildings and villas are often overlooked by neighbouring towers. A 1.8 to 2.4 m screen around the perimeter converts an exposed rooftop into a usable private terrace. For terraces, freestanding screens with ballasted base frames are used where drilling into the parapet is not permitted — no structural work required.

Entrance and Courtyard

The main entrance courtyard benefits from a decorative screen — either laser-cut aluminium or WPC — that creates a visual transition between the public street and the private home interior. These screens are designed to look good from both sides: welcoming from outside, enclosing from inside.

Neighbour-Facing Villa Walls

When an existing boundary wall is too short or when a neighbour has elevated the ground level of their plot, a screen extension fixed to the top of the existing wall restores privacy without the cost and permit complexity of rebuilding the wall itself. Arab Muzalat installs wall-top screen extensions in fabric, WPC, or aluminium slat format.

Height Guide: What to Choose for Each Application

ApplicationRecommended HeightReason Garden boundary (ground level)1.8 – 2.0 mStanding eye-level privacy from outside Pool fence (safety)1.2 m minimumUAE child safety standard Rooftop terrace perimeter1.8 – 2.4 mSeated and standing privacy from adjacent towers Wall-top extension0.6 – 1.0 m added to existing wallRestores privacy without rebuilding Entrance courtyard screen2.0 – 2.4 mFull visual separation from street Garden room divider1.2 – 1.5 mDefines zones without full enclosure Material Comparison Summary

MaterialPrivacy LevelMaintenanceLifespanPrice Range (per lm) HDPE fabric mesh90 – 95%Annual check5 – 8 yearsAED 120 – 200 PVC / polycarbonateFull / frostedNone10 – 15 yearsAED 200 – 380 WPC boardsFull (solid)None15 – 20 yearsAED 300 – 550 Aluminium slatsAdjustableNone20+ yearsAED 450 – 750 Laser-cut aluminiumPartial (decorative)None20+ yearsAED 600 – 1,200 /sqm Galvanised steel meshLow (boundary only)Annual inspect10 – 15 yearsAED 80 – 150 Get a Site Measurement and Quote

Arab Muzalat serves all seven UAE emirates. We visit your property, measure the boundary or target area, and provide a full itemised quote within 3 to 5 working days. Site visits are free, with no obligation to proceed. Call or message us with your location to book.