How to Choose Paint for Abu Dhabi Homes

Paint is the cheapest way to change how a home looks, and the easiest place to waste money. A finish that suits a European living room can mark in a week in a busy Abu Dhabi villa, or grow mould in a bathroom where the extractor runs for ten minutes a day.

Here's how to choose the right paint for each room, and what makes a paint job last.

Match the Finish to the Room

The finish, or sheen, decides how well a wall hides flaws and how easily it cleans.

• Living rooms and bedrooms: washable matt or eggshell, which hides small marks and wipes clean
• Majlis and hallways: eggshell or satin, because they take the most knocks
• Kitchens: satin or semi-gloss that stands up to grease and wiping
• Bathrooms: moisture-resistant paint with anti-mould protection
• Ceilings: flat matt, which hides joints and reflects light evenly
• Doors and skirtings: satin or gloss enamel for durability

Choose Low-VOC Paint for Lived-In Homes

Paints release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as they dry, which causes the familiar smell and can irritate eyes and lungs. Low-VOC paints reduce that, which matters if you're staying at home during the work, or painting a nursery or a bedroom.

The UAE's standards body developed a green label for paints and varnishes tied to the national system for controlling VOCs and heavy metals in building paints (see the source at the end of this article). Ask your contractor which products carry it.

Good ventilation helps too. Our guide to renovating without moving out covers dust and fumes in more detail.

Pick Colours for Abu Dhabi Light

Strong daylight makes colours look lighter and cooler than they do on a sample card. Test large samples on two walls and check them morning and evening before you decide.

Warm whites, sand, greige and soft stone tones are popular because they stay calm in bright sun. Deep colours work well as feature walls in rooms with less direct light. A designer can help balance colour across the whole house, as our article on how interior designers shape a renovation explains.

Preparation Makes the Paint Last

Most paint failures are preparation failures. Before the first coat, walls should be clean, dry and sound.

• Fill cracks and holes, then sand them smooth
• Treat any mould and fix the moisture behind it first
• Prime bare plaster, patched areas and stained walls
• Apply two finish coats for even colour and full durability

Painting over damp only hides the problem. If a stain keeps coming back, the source is usually a leak or a condensate line, not the paint.

Painting Rentals and Apartments

Landlords get the best value from one durable, washable neutral used across the whole unit, with the colour reference kept on file so touch-ups match later. Our landlord's guide to rental renovation covers what else to refresh between tenancies.

In towers on Al Reem Island, painting is usually allowed outside noisy-work hours, which makes it easy to schedule.

Professional Painting or Touch-Ups?

For a full repaint, a professional painting and decorating service gives sharper lines, consistent coverage and properly prepared walls, and it's usually much faster.

For a few scuffed walls or a patch after a repair, our handyman and small repairs team can touch up using your existing colour.

When painting is part of a larger apartment renovation, it comes near the end, with a final coat after sockets and lights are fitted.

Frequently Asked Questions