A roof terrace in a Dubai penthouse is a separate architectural project, covered shading, plunge or lap pools, outdoor kitchens, lighting and audio all interlock. Solomia Home, recognised as a top modern interior design company with awards in Dubai, has delivered roof terraces across penthouses in Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters. This article covers the real specifications.
Shading and pergolas
Bioclimatic louvre pergolas
Aluminium structures with motorised louvres that rotate from fully closed (rain protection) to fully open (sky view). The segment leaders are Renson (Belgium, Algarve and Camargue ranges), Pratic (Italy, Brera and Vision Air ranges), KE Outdoor Design (Italy), and Corradi (Italy). Spans up to 7 m without intermediate support; up to 12 m with internal columns.
Tensile awnings and sails
For larger spans (over 8–10 m) tensile fabric structures cover terraces with less visual mass than pergolas. Aluminium poles with PVDF-coated polyester fabric are the standard.
Glass canopies and retractable roofs
Solarlux, Lumon and similar manufacturers produce retractable glass roofs that fully open and close. Best for terraces intended for year-round use including the cooler December–February months in the UAE.
Pools
Plunge pools
4–6 m long, 1.2–1.4 m deep. Bisazza glass mosaic interior, integrated heating/chilling for year-round comfort, infinity edge spilling over a single side. Footprint and structural load are within most penthouse roof slab capacities (consult structural engineer).
Lap pools
10–18 m long, 1.4–1.6 m deep, 2.5–3 m wide. Heavier structural load. Used where the roof slab and edge cantilever support it.
Hot tubs and spas
Standalone Jacuzzi-style or integrated. Premium specification: Klafs, Effegibi (steam), Arblu (custom). Requires dedicated electrical and plumbing supply.
Outdoor kitchens
Specifications:
Built-in grills, Wolf, Lynx, Twin Eagles. 36-42 inch widths typical for penthouse use. Stainless steel construction, infrared sear stations, side burners.
Pizza ovens, Alfa Forni, Forno Bravo, Le Panyol. Wood-fired or gas. Cooking temperatures 350-450°C.
Refrigeration, outdoor-rated refrigerators and ice makers (True, Perlick, U-Line). Standard household refrigerators are not rated for outdoor temperatures and humidity.
Worktops and finishes, Dekton, Neolith or marine-grade stainless steel. Carrara and other natural marbles etch and stain quickly outdoors.
Furniture
Outdoor furniture from luxury Italian houses, Minotti Outdoor, B&B Italia Outdoor, Roda, Paola Lenti, Tribù, Dedon, Kettal. Marine-grade aluminium frames (sea-salt environments demand it) with Sunbrella outdoor textiles-class textiles and outdoor leather. Lead times 12–18 weeks for stock fabric.
Lighting
Layered specification: pathway lighting (low-level), accent lighting (uplit planters, downlit pergola louvres), task lighting (over outdoor kitchen), and ambient (string lights, integrated cove). All on weatherproof Crestron, Lutron or KNX scene control.
Audio
Outdoor speakers (Sonance, Stealth Acoustics, Origin Acoustics) are weatherproofed and tonally optimised for open-air listening. In-ceiling pergola speakers, hidden-rock garden speakers, and below-deck subwoofers integrate seamlessly. Streaming via Sonos or integrated AVR.
Wind mitigation
Dubai’s spring khamseen winds and summer afternoon winds are real design considerations. Glass wind walls (Solarlux, Lumon), fabric wind screens (integrated into pergola posts), and planted screens (Ficus nitida hedges) mitigate. The wind direction at the specific site is checked at design stage.
Real lead times
design freeze through commissioned roof terrace: 28–40 weeks, dominated by pergola fabrication (12–16 weeks) and pool waterproofing/finishing (10–14 weeks). Outdoor kitchen and furniture run in parallel with pergola.
Project coordination
The roof terrace requires coordination across structural engineering, waterproofing specialists, pergola fabricator, pool builder, outdoor kitchen integrator, electrician and lighting designer. As a long-running interior design company in Dubai, Solomia Home runs the terrace as a single project rather than a series of separate trade packages.
Coordinating a successful roof terrace
The roof terrace is the highest-value square metre on the project. Treating it as an architectural project from the start, rather than a finish, produces a result worth what it costs.
Related reading on this site
- Foam Experts Roofing Inc.
- Sherriff-Goslin Co.
- Western Roofing Co.
- National Roofing & Sheet Metal Co. Inc.