Mashrabiya screen cost Dubai: 2026 price guide (per m²)
A mashrabiya screen in Dubai costs between AED 350 and AED 4,800 per square metre in 2026, supply only, depending on the material and whether the pattern is CNC cut or hand carved. Installation adds AED 120 to 400 per square metre on top. This guide gives the material by material rates, a worked example and the site details that move a quote.
Why work with MINGASH ENGRAVING & ORNAMENTATION WORKS EST.
- Free recut guarantee if a delivered panel does not match the sample you approved
- Fixed price quotes built from your own drawing rather than hourly workshop billing
- Hand carving and CNC routing both done in house, so the method can follow your budget
- Teak, ash, MDF, GRC, aluminium, brass and copper worked and finished under one roof
- Direct workshop line on WhatsApp and phone at +971507710556
- Jebel Ali workshop with delivery and site fixing arranged for every order
What drives mashrabiya screen cost in Dubai
Pattern complexity is the biggest driver, then material, then size and fixing. Two screens of the same size in the same timber can differ by 60 percent on cutting time alone.
Pattern complexity and open area
A screen with 45 percent open area and simple geometric repeats routes in a fraction of the time of a dense 20 mm lattice with deep carving. Machine time is priced into every quote.
Material price per sheet
Teak, ash, aluminium plate and brass sheet are bought per sheet or per kilo, and metal prices move. MDF and GRC are the cheapest substrates but need more finishing.
Panel size and offcuts
Screens are usually built in modules of 600 mm to 1,200 mm because sheet yield is best there. One 3 m wide panel creates more waste than the same screen built as three modules.
Finish
Painted MDF, oiled teak, powder coated aluminium and lacquered brass are four separate cost lines. Powder coating is charged per square metre and per colour batch. Anti tarnish lacquer on brass is applied by hand and priced by area.
Fixing method
Wall fixed frames, ceiling hung tracks and freestanding partitions carry different labour, and fixing is quoted separately from the panel.
Mashrabiya screen price in Dubai: 2026 rates per square metre
The rates below are supply only, excluding VAT, measured on the outer face of the finished panel. Most Dubai workshops apply a minimum order charge, and ours is AED 1,500.
| Material and method | Price per m² in AED | Best used for |
|---|---|---|
| MDF, CNC cut, spray finished | 350 to 650 | Indoor partitions and painted screens |
| GRC cast panels | 700 to 1,200 | Exterior facades with repeated modules |
| Teak or ash, CNC cut | 950 to 1,600 | Indoor and covered terrace screens |
| Teak or ash, hand carved | 1,800 to 3,000 | Feature walls and deep relief patterns |
| Aluminium, CNC cut, powder coated | 850 to 1,500 | Exterior screens, balconies, coastal humidity |
| Brass or copper ornamentation | 2,800 to 4,800 | Feature panels, door surrounds, inlay |
A worked example: a 3 m by 2.5 m teak screen
That is 7.5 m² of screen. CNC cut at AED 1,250 per m² comes to AED 9,375 for the panel. Add a hardwood frame at AED 1,400, delivery at AED 300 and installation at AED 1,800, and the job lands at about AED 12,875 before VAT.
The same pattern hand carved at AED 2,400 per m² comes to AED 18,000 for the panel, with identical frame, delivery and installation, so about AED 21,500 before VAT. Same size, same timber, roughly 67 percent more, and most of the difference is labour hours. To check how a pattern density sits against your budget, see our mashrabiya and ornamentation work.
Hand cut versus CNC cut: the labour difference
CNC routing is typically 40 to 60 percent cheaper per square metre and about three times faster than hand carving. Hand carving earns its premium when you want depth, shadow and a line that is not perfectly uniform.
What CNC gives you
A router holds around 0.5 mm and repeats the same panel exactly, on sheets up to 1,200 mm by 2,400 mm. For aluminium and brass it is effectively the only sensible method for repeat panels.
What hand carving gives you
Carving depth of 6 mm to 12 mm in timber, softened internal corners and small variations between panels. On teak with a traditional pattern it reads heavier and older on the wall.
When each makes sense
Choose CNC for anything above 4 m², for aluminium, for brass and for jobs with a repeat module and a deadline. Choose hand carving for a single feature panel, carved calligraphy and restoration work. A hybrid is common: CNC the outline, then hand finish the depth on feature sections only. Both methods sit inside our engraving and ornamentation services.
External versus internal screens in Dubai
External screens cost more because the finish, the fixing and the paperwork all change. Internal screens can use MDF, a simple paint finish and a basic wall frame.
Facade approvals
External facade changes in Dubai normally need sign off from Dubai Municipality, and inside master developed communities you also need developer or DDA approval. Villa owners in managed communities are usually asked for a developer NOC before work starts on a street facing elevation. Confirm this before panels are cut, because a rejected finish is an expensive panel.
Humidity and finish choice
Coastal humidity and salt air ruin untreated timber and bare brass. For exterior work, specify powder coated aluminium, teak sealed with marine grade oil and re oiled yearly, or brass with clear lacquer or a deliberate patina. Powder coating is charged by area and colour batch, usually AED 120 to 250 per m², and on a Dubai exterior it is the best value line in the quote.
Matte and blackened metal finishes behave better than polished brass in humid Dubai interiors with limited airflow.
Mashrabiya screen installation in Dubai: cost and lead times
Installation runs AED 120 to 250 per m² for wall or ceiling fixed screens, and AED 250 to 400 per m² where a freestanding partition or structural frame is needed. A 6 to 8 m² residential screen is normally fixed in one or two days by a two person crew.
Typical lead times from our Jebel Ali workshop
- Site measurement and final drawing set: 2 to 3 working days
- CNC cut MDF or timber panels: 10 to 14 working days
- Aluminium including powder coating: 2 to 3 weeks
- Hand carved teak or ash: 3 to 5 weeks
- Brass and copper ornamentation: 3 to 4 weeks
- Delivery and fixing: 1 to 2 days on site
These assume an approved drawing and a signed off sample. CNC work can be hurried if the sheet is already in stock. Hand carving cannot be compressed without losing the quality you are paying for. If you need a measurement first, book a visit and a fixed installation figure.
Brass ornamentation indoors is usually sealed with clear lacquer so it stays bright without weekly polishing.
How to brief a workshop and get a fixed quote
A fixed quote needs three things from you: a drawing, a tolerance and a sample. The rest the workshop can work out.
- Send a dimensioned drawing or an elevation sketch. A photo of an existing screen with a tape measure in frame is enough to start.
- Say which material and finish you want, or ask for two options at different price points.
- Confirm site measurements, or ask the team to measure so the frame matches the opening.
- Approve a sample or a mock up section before the full run starts.
- Confirm the fixing method: wall, ceiling, floor mounted or freestanding.
- Sign off the shop drawing, then production begins.
- Check each panel against the approved sample on delivery. If it does not match, we recut it free of charge.
Send your drawing for a fixed quote and you get a per square metre rate, the installation figure and a delivery date in one reply.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mashrabiya screen cost per square metre in Dubai?
CNC cut MDF runs AED 350 to 650 per m² and powder coated aluminium AED 850 to 1,500 per m². Teak CNC cut sits at AED 950 to 1,600 per m² and hand carved teak at AED 1,800 to 3,000 per m². Brass ornamentation is the top of the range at AED 2,800 to 4,800 per m², and all figures are supply only before installation and VAT.
Is a custom mashrabiya screen more expensive than an off the shelf panel?
Yes, usually 30 to 60 percent more, because you pay for drawing work, a sample and one off machine setup. The gap narrows on larger orders since setup is spread across more panels. If your opening is a standard size, price an off the shelf panel alongside a custom one.
How long does a CNC cut mashrabiya panel take in Dubai?
From approved drawing to delivered panel, CNC cut timber takes 10 to 14 working days and aluminium takes 2 to 3 weeks including powder coating. Hand carved teak takes 3 to 5 weeks. Allow 2 to 3 extra working days for a site measurement before production starts.
Do I need approval for an external mashrabiya screen in Dubai?
Facade changes in Dubai normally need approval from Dubai Municipality, and in master developed communities you also need developer or DDA sign off. Villa owners in managed communities are usually asked for a developer NOC before work on a street facing elevation starts. Get that approval in writing before the panels are cut.
Does Dubai humidity damage wooden mashrabiya screens?
Untreated timber will move, crack and grey within a season or two outdoors. Teak or ash sealed with marine grade oil and re oiled once a year holds up well under a covered terrace. For fully exposed elevations, powder coated aluminium is the safer choice and costs about the same as CNC cut teak.