New AC Installation in Dubai
Supply and install across splits, ducted splits, package units and FCU on chilled-water. All major brands. Full scope — mounting, copper run, drain routing, electrical connection, gas charging, commissioning. DEWA load coordination where required. Fixed-price written quote, 6-month workmanship warranty. Samra is an air conditioning contractor in Dubai: we supply, install, commission and warranty the system ourselves, with our own installation teams rather than subcontracted labour.
Watch: a central AC installation by Samra
A real Samra site — indoor unit hang, copper and drain routing, insulation, commissioning. Everything this page describes, on video.
Recent AC installation work by Samra
Real Samra AC installations across Dubai — apartments, villas, clinics, gyms and commercial fit-outs. Interior installs shown first, outdoor-unit shots after.
What is included
A full supply-and-install package, not a unit drop. Every step that makes the difference between an install that runs 12 years and one that degrades in 18 months.
Site survey & capacity sizing
Room size, exposure, occupancy and glazing are measured. We size to the actual cooling load — undersizing and oversizing are both wrong.
Brand-agnostic unit selection
Daikin, LG, Mitsubishi, Hitachi, Toshiba, Carrier, Trane, York, Panasonic, O General, Gree, Samsung. Inverter vs non-inverter, R-32 vs R-410A, single zone vs multi-split — explained in plain language.
Original-equipment supply
Units sourced through authorised channels with full manufacturer warranty intact and registration handled on handover.
Mounting & copper run
Wall, ceiling-cassette or ducted indoor mount. Outdoor bracket sized to load and access. Copper run insulated end-to-end, including the bends.
Drain & electrical
Drain line routed to a real outlet, not a flowerpot. Electrical from DB to unit with a dedicated MCB sized to the unit. electrical works.
Vacuum, pressure-test & weighed-in charge
System vacuumed to 500 microns, nitrogen pressure-tested, then refrigerant weighed in to manufacturer spec. Never pressure-only. ac gas top-up.
Commissioning
Run-in, supply-air temperature differential check, sound check, drain test. Numbers recorded on the handover sheet.
DEWA load coordination
For load increases above your existing supply, we handle the DEWA load application and reconnection. Factored into the timeline up front, not a surprise mid-job.
How long does it take?
Realistic timelines, not optimistic ones. DEWA load increase adds 3 to 10 working days to the front end where required.
Single split
4 to 6 hours from start to commissioning. Most apartments are completed the same day with minimal disruption.
Two-unit install
Same day, typically 8 to 10 hours. Two-technician crew so both rooms are commissioned together.
Ducted split (apartment)
2 to 3 working days, including duct route confirmation, indoor unit hang, grille positioning and commissioning.
Ducted split (villa, multi-zone)
4 to 7 working days depending on number of zones, ceiling access, and whether existing duct routes are reused.
Multi-split (3+ indoor)
2 to 4 working days. Single outdoor unit serving several indoor heads — copper runs and balancing take the time.
DEWA load increase
Adds 3 to 10 working days for application and reconnection. We submit and follow through; you do not chase paperwork.
Typical price brackets
Final quote on site visit. Includes supply, install, copper, drain, electrical, vacuum, gas charge and commissioning. AMC clients get reduced labour rates.
Supply + install starting prices
- 1.5 ton split, mid-tier inverter: from AED 2,500
- 2 ton split, premium inverter: from AED 3,500
- 2.5 ton split, premium inverter: from AED 4,500
- Ducted split, 3 to 5 ton mid-tier: from AED 8,000
- Ducted split, premium inverter: from AED 12,000
- Multi-split, 1 outdoor plus 2 to 3 indoor: from AED 9,000
Starting points, to give you a sense of scale. We give you an indicative price before we visit. The site survey confirms the final quotation.
Five questions to ask any AC installer
Is the copper insulated all the way, including bends? Where does the drain go? Was the system vacuumed before gas charge? Is the gas weighed in or pressure-only? What is the warranty on labour vs parts? We do all five as standard and confirm on the WhatsApp quote.
What our price covers
AC installation prices are easy to misread, because two quotes can describe different jobs. A labour-only quote covers fitting a unit you have already bought. A supply-and-install quote also includes the equipment. Copper length, drainage, electrical work, access and builder's work can change either figure.
Our written quotation itemises the unit, the installation and any site-specific work before the job starts. It states whether the price includes the outdoor-unit support, copper and insulation, drain connection, electrical connection, testing, commissioning and removal of the old unit.
If you already own the ac, tell us and we will quote installation only. We install customer-supplied units. If you want the unit and the installation together, the quotation names the model, the capacity and the included work, so you can compare it with another quote on the same basis.
Send us the details and we will give you an indicative price before we visit. The site survey confirms the final quotation.
The useful question is not only "What is the installation price?" It is "What exactly is included in that price?"
Workmanship and material warranties
Two layers of cover on every new install. The workmanship warranty is ours; manufacturer warranties on the unit and parts pass through directly to you.
Workmanship warranty
6-month workmanship warranty — if the install causes a fault within 6 months (gas leak from a joint we made, drip from a poor seal, electrical fault from our connection), we fix the labour at no cost.
Warranty start date is recorded on the handover report alongside vacuum reading, weighed-in charge and supply-air temperature log.
Material warranties
Manufacturer warranties on the unit itself pass through directly — typically 1 year on the full system and up to 5 years on the compressor for most major brands. Material warranties range from 1 to 10 years depending on the product. We register the unit and share the paperwork on handover.
Brands we supply and install
We are not tied to one manufacturer. We supply and install Daikin, Carrier, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy, LG, O General, Gree, Westpoint, Haier, Rheem, Trane, York, Toshiba, Hitachi, Panasonic, Samsung, Fujitsu, Midea, MDV, Electrolux, Honeywell, Bompani and Hisense.
If you have a preferred brand, or the building management specifies one, we supply it. If you have no preference, we can quote suitable options at different price points. For supply-and-install work, the unit and installation are covered by one quotation. If you already own the unit, we quote the installation separately.
What size ac do you need
Sizing decides whether the unit holds temperature in August. An undersized unit runs flat out and never reaches setpoint. An oversized unit chills the air fast, switches off before it has pulled any humidity out, and leaves the room cold and clammy. Both fail, in opposite directions.
We size on the actual cooling load, not on floor area alone. Glazing area and orientation, ceiling height, occupancy, kitchen and equipment heat, insulation and the number of external walls all move the answer. Two rooms of the same floor area can need different capacity for those reasons.
The bands below are where we start before the survey adjusts them. Use them to sanity-check a quote you have been given, not as a specification.
| Space | Typical starting band |
|---|---|
| Studio or single bedroom, standard glazing | 1 to 1.5 ton |
| Large bedroom or small living room | 1.5 to 2 ton |
| Living and dining, open plan | 2 to 3 ton |
| Full apartment on a ducted system | 3 to 5 ton |
| Villa floor, multi-zone ducted | 5 ton and above, split across zones |
| Retail unit or small office | 1.5 to 2 ton per 40 square metres as a starting point |
| Villa floor or whole villa, multi-zone ducted | 5 to 8 ton, split across zones |
| Showroom, restaurant, warehouse or light industrial | 8 to 10 ton and above, package or ducted units in multiples |
We supply and install across the full range, from a 1 ton wall-mounted split to package and ducted systems at 10 ton and above. The bands are starting points; the survey confirms the capacity.
Send the room dimensions, the ceiling type and which way the windows face on WhatsApp, and we will confirm the capacity you need and give you an indicative price before we visit.
Types of ac we install
We install single-room systems, concealed ducted systems and larger multi-zone equipment. The right type depends on the cooling load, the available outdoor space, the ceiling void, the number of rooms and how independently each area needs to be controlled.
Wall-mounted split ac
One indoor unit connected to one outdoor unit, the system usually sold as a mini split. The usual choice for a bedroom, studio, small living room or an individual room in a villa. The survey confirms the unit capacity, outdoor-unit position, copper route, drain route and electrical supply.
Mini split and multi-split installations are the same trade for us: the same copper, drainage, vacuum and commissioning standard applies whether it is one indoor unit or several.
Ducted split ac
The indoor unit sits above the ceiling and supplies one or more rooms through ducts and grilles. A ducted system keeps the equipment out of sight, but it needs enough ceiling space for the unit, drain, ducts, insulation and future service access.
A ducted installation may involve a completely new system, replacement of an existing concealed unit, or modification of ducts during a renovation. Those are different scopes and they are quoted separately.
Ceiling cassette
A cassette sits within a suspended ceiling and supplies air in several directions. Common in offices, clinics, shops and open-plan rooms where a wall-mounted unit is unsuitable.
Floor-standing and package units
Floor-standing units suit spaces without usable wall or ceiling positions. Package units combine the major components in one assembly and are used for selected commercial, temporary and standalone spaces.
Fan coil units on chilled water
Buildings connected to district cooling use fan coil units rather than a separate outdoor condenser for each apartment. Replacement work can involve chilled-water valves, drainage, controls and balancing as well as the unit itself.
VRF and VRV systems
VRF and VRV systems connect several indoor units to a shared outdoor system and allow separate control by zone. They suit larger villas, offices and mixed-use spaces where several rooms need independent control.
Ducted ac and ductwork, handled in house
Samra installs ducted units and carries out residential duct fabrication, installation and modification with its own team. A ducted ac installation has to treat the unit, the supply and return-air paths, the ceiling work and the final adjustment as one connected scope.
New ducted ac with new ductwork
For a new system the design starts with the rooms and the building rather than a stock duct size. The scope accounts for the cooling requirement, ceiling space, the route for the indoor unit and drain, the possible outdoor-unit positions, supply-air locations, the return-air path and the access needed for future maintenance.
The duct layout connects the unit to the rooms it serves. Fabricated sections can include branches, transitions, plenums and connections to grilles and diffusers. The quotation identifies the ac unit, the zones, the duct installation, insulation, controls, electrical work and ceiling coordination included in the job.
Replacing a ducted unit and keeping existing ducts
A failed or inefficient concealed unit does not automatically mean all the ductwork needs replacing. We assess the existing ducts, connections, insulation, grilles, return-air routes and available access before deciding what can stay.
Where the existing system suits the replacement unit, keeping it reduces ceiling work and disruption. Where a connection is the wrong size, insulation is damaged, ducts leak or the layout cannot move the required air, the affected sections are identified in the quotation.
Residential duct modification
Duct modification is common during villa and apartment renovation. A wall moves, a room is divided, a room changes use, a grille conflicts with new joinery, or one room stays warmer than the rest of the property.
The answer may be rerouting a branch, relocating a grille, changing a connection, adding a return-air path, modifying a plenum, adjusting dampers or rebalancing the rooms. Fitting a larger grille without checking the airflow can move the problem rather than solve it, so we assess the existing system before pricing the modification.
Fabrication and installation
Non-standard sections are fabricated to the measurements of the site. The scope states how ducts are supported, joined, sealed and insulated, with attention to ceiling clearances and access. Flexible connections are identified separately from the main duct runs.
Grille, diffuser and return-air positions are set out in the layout rather than left as unrecorded site decisions.
Zoning and controls
Where the equipment and layout support zoning, dampers and controls can divide the property into areas with separate schedules or temperature control. Zoning is not automatic. It has to suit the selected unit, the controls, the air paths and the room loads.
Sealing, insulation and condensation control
Air leaking above a ceiling is cooling you paid for that never reaches the room. Missing or damaged insulation can also let condensation form around cold surfaces. The quotation states the sealing and insulation included for new or modified sections, including connections and changes of direction.
Commissioning and adjustment
Once the unit and ducts are connected we check the supply and return airflow, adjust the dampers, balance the rooms against each other and verify that the controls do what the layout intended. Where a room is still not right, the adjustment continues until it is.
Ductwork is our own trade. We fabricate galvanised sheet metal duct, rectangular and spiral, in our own workshop, and our teams install, modify, clad and insulate it on site. That covers new ductwork for a new system, modification during a fit-out, replacement of damaged or badly routed sections, and cladding and insulation on exposed runs. We also take on duct fabrication and ducting packages for main contractors, fit-out contractors and MEP teams. Send drawings on WhatsApp and we will quote the fabrication, the installation, or both.
Replacing an existing ac
Most of our installation work is replacement rather than first fit. An ac replacement is a different job from a new install and the quote should show that.
We inspect the existing copper before deciding whether to reuse it. Sound, correctly sized copper saves money and saves cutting walls. Copper that is undersized for the new unit, that has been left open to the air, or that carried a different refrigerant is a false economy, and we say so plainly when the pipework has to be replaced.
Drain lines are checked and re-routed if the original ran somewhere it should not have. Existing brackets are load-checked against the new outdoor unit rather than assumed. The supply and the MCB are checked against the new unit's draw, because a replacement is often a step up in capacity.
Where a replacement pushes your total load past your existing supply, we handle the DEWA load application and reconnection, and we build the three to ten working days into the programme up front.
Who does the work
Samra's own team handles the ac installation and the residential ductwork described on this page. One quotation covers the unit, the fabricated or modified ducts, the connections and the adjustment after installation.
As an AC installation company we hold the job end to end — survey, quotation, supply, installation, commissioning and the workmanship warranty sit with one contractor, not split across three.
Samra is a DEWA-approved contractor, so where the installation needs a DEWA load application or reconnection, we submit and follow it through — you do not chase paperwork.
This matters when the work is concealed above a ceiling. The position of the unit affects access. The duct layout affects airflow and noise. Drainage, insulation and ceiling coordination decide whether the installation stays dry and serviceable. Keeping those decisions with one team removes the gaps between the ac scope and the ductwork scope.
Our six-month workmanship warranty covers our ductwork and our installation of the unit. Manufacturer warranty terms depend on the brand and model you choose and are stated in your quotation.
Common questions
Do you install ducted ac systems in villas and apartments?
Yes. We install concealed ducted units and the associated residential ductwork. The survey checks the cooling requirement, ceiling space, supply and return-air paths, drainage, electrical supply, outdoor-unit position and access for future maintenance before the system is quoted.
Can you replace the ducted ac unit without replacing all the ducts?
Sometimes. Existing ducts can stay where their size, condition, insulation, connections and layout suit the replacement unit. We inspect them before quoting and identify any sections that need repair or modification.
Do you modify existing ac ducts during renovation?
Yes. We modify residential ductwork when walls or ceilings change, rooms are divided, grilles need relocating, or the existing airflow does not suit the new layout. The quotation states which ducts, plenums, grilles, returns, dampers or controls are affected.
Can you fix one room that is warmer than the others?
Yes, after checking the cause. It may be the room load, a restricted branch, a missing return-air path, duct leakage, damper position, grille location or the capacity of the existing system. The right fix depends on what the survey finds.
Do you manufacture the ductwork yourselves?
Yes. Samra carries out duct fabrication, installation and modification in house.
How long does an ac installation take?
A single wall-mounted split is four to six hours from arrival to commissioning, and most apartments are finished the same day. Two units in one visit take eight to ten hours with a two-technician crew. A ducted split in an apartment is two to three working days. A multi-zone ducted villa is four to seven working days. Where a DEWA load increase is needed, add three to ten working days at the front for the application and reconnection.
What does a new ac cost to supply and install in Dubai?
Starting prices, supplied and installed: a 1.5 ton mid-tier inverter split from AED 2,500, a 2 ton premium inverter from AED 3,500, a 2.5 ton premium inverter from AED 4,500, a mid-tier ducted split from AED 8,000, a premium ducted system from AED 12,000, and a multi-split with one outdoor unit and two or three indoor heads from AED 9,000. Those figures include supply, installation, copper, drain, electrical connection, vacuum, weighed-in gas charge and commissioning. AMC clients pay reduced labour rates. We give you an indicative price before we visit. The final quotation follows the site survey.
Do you supply the unit, or do I buy it myself?
Either. We can supply the unit or install a customer-supplied unit. For supply-and-install work, the manufacturer warranty is registered in your name. Our workmanship warranty covers the installation work we perform.
Can you replace my ac and reuse the existing pipework?
Sometimes, and where it is sound we do. We inspect the existing copper, the outdoor-unit brackets, the drain route and the electrical connection before quoting, and reuse whatever is fit for the new unit. That saves money and avoids cutting walls and ceilings. Where the copper is undersized for the new unit, has been left open to the air, or carried a different refrigerant, it has to be replaced, and we tell you that plainly rather than after the job starts.
Do you handle the DEWA load increase?
Yes. Where the new load exceeds your existing supply we submit the application and follow it through to reconnection. It adds three to ten working days and we build that into the programme before you sign.
What warranty comes with a new installation?
Two layers. Our own six-month workmanship warranty covers faults caused by our installation work, including our ductwork and our installation of the unit. Separately, the manufacturer warranty on the unit passes directly to you. We register the unit and hand you the paperwork.
Is the gas weighed in, or topped up by pressure?
Weighed in, to the manufacturer's stated charge, after the system has been vacuumed to 500 microns and nitrogen pressure-tested. We charge to the manufacturer's stated quantity rather than relying on pressure alone.
Can you install a fan coil unit in a chilled-water building?
Yes. Towers and communities on district cooling use fan coil units rather than a condenser-and-head system. The pipework, valves and commissioning are different and we do that work directly.
Do you install in my area?
We cover Dubai. The areas are listed further down this page. If your community is not there, send your building or address on WhatsApp and we will confirm before you go any further.
What your AC installation quotation includes — and what it doesn't
New AC installation charges vary between two seemingly identical jobs for reasons that are worth seeing on paper, so the quotation is itemised rather than a single figure.
Typically listed as part of the installation: the unit itself where we are supplying it, the refrigerant pipe run and its insulation, the condensate drain and its fall, mounting brackets and the wall core drilling, the final electrical connection at the unit, and commissioning with a gas charge check before handover.
Listed separately, so you can see exactly what is driving the number: pipe runs longer than the standard allowance, crane, hoist or scaffold access, any electrical work needed on the DEWA side of the board by a licensed electrician, false-ceiling cutting and making good, removal and disposal of an old unit, and builders' work or paint reinstatement.
If you are comparing quotations, compare them line by line rather than on the bottom figure — a lower total with the access, drainage or electrical work omitted is not the same job.
Replacing an old AC: when a new unit beats another repair
Not every failing unit needs replacing, and we will say so. A single fault on a healthy unit is a repair job — that is covered on our AC repair service in Dubai, and if that is what your unit needs, that is what we will quote.
Replacement becomes the better call when the pattern changes: repeat compressor faults, gas that keeps disappearing after each top-up, a unit that no longer holds the room on the hottest afternoons, or a DEWA bill that keeps climbing while nothing about the household has changed. At that point you are buying capital equipment rather than paying for another call-out, and the question becomes which unit, what capacity and what it will cost to run — not how to keep the old one alive one more season.
Send us the make, the approximate age and what it is doing wrong, and we will tell you honestly which of the two jobs you have.
Commissioning, handover and the DEWA-side check
An AC installation is finished at commissioning, not at the moment the unit is on the wall. Before handover we pressure and vacuum the pipework, verify the gas charge, test the condensate drain under water, check the temperature difference across the coil at the grille, pair the thermostat or remote, and run the unit with you in the room so you can hear and feel what normal looks like.
One thing we check before anything is energised: whether the circuit feeding the unit is rated for the new load. If a higher-capacity unit is going onto a circuit that was never built for it, that electrical work belongs to a licensed electrician on the DEWA side and it goes on the quotation as its own line — we will flag it rather than energise a circuit that is not rated for the equipment.
Our workmanship on the installation carries a 6-month warranty. Equipment warranty terms are set by the manufacturer and are confirmed on your quotation before you order.
Areas we cover
Same-day reach across Dubai. Tap your area for landmarks, communities and the services we deliver there — or tell us your building on WhatsApp.
Get a new AC installation quote
Send the room dimensions, ceiling type and your area in Dubai on WhatsApp. We confirm the right capacity and supply-and-install price before we visit.
