How to Soundproof an Apartment in Abu Dhabi

Apartment living in Abu Dhabi means neighbours on several sides, road and construction noise outside and, in some towers, footsteps from the flat above. You can't make a flat completely silent, but targeted upgrades can make a large difference.

The World Health Organization treats environmental noise as a health issue and published guidelines on it for Europe in 2018 (see the source at the end of this article). For most people, though, the motivation is simpler: better sleep and more privacy.

Step 1: Find Where the Noise Comes From

Sound travels in two ways. Airborne noise, such as voices, TVs and traffic, passes through walls, gaps and glass. Impact noise, such as footsteps and dragged chairs, travels through the structure.

Listen at different times of day and note which wall, ceiling or window the sound comes through. Treating the wrong surface wastes money.

Step 2: Seal the Gaps

Small gaps let a surprising amount of sound through. Before any building work:

• Seal around back-to-back sockets on shared walls
• Fill gaps where pipes and AC lines pass through walls
• Fit seals and a drop seal to the front door
• Check window seals and replace worn gaskets

Step 3: Line Shared Walls

For a noisy shared wall, a new gypsum lining on its own frame, with insulation in the cavity and two layers of board, adds mass and absorbs sound. It takes a few centimetres off the room but can make a clear difference to voices and TV noise.

The same method is used for new gypsum partitions between bedrooms and living areas.

Step 4: Treat the Ceiling for Noise From Above

Footsteps from the flat above are hard to stop from below, because the sound travels through the slab. An acoustic false ceiling, with insulation above it and hangers that reduce vibration, helps with airborne noise and softens some impact noise.

The best fix is a soft underlay or carpet in the flat above, which is worth raising politely with your neighbour or building management.

Step 5: Quieter Floors for Your Neighbours

If you're replacing your own floors, an acoustic underlay beneath tiles, vinyl or timber reduces the impact noise you send downstairs. Many towers have rules about this. Our tiling and flooring team fits underlays as part of the job.

Step 6: Upgrade the Front Door

Many apartment front doors are hollow or lightweight, and corridor noise comes straight through. A solid-core door with perimeter seals and a drop seal makes a large difference. Any change to an apartment entrance door needs building management approval, because it is usually a fire door.

Internal doors can be upgraded the same way by our joinery team.

Step 7: Deal With the Windows

For road and construction noise, windows are usually the weakest point. Options include better seals, acoustic glazing, or a secondary window fitted inside the existing one, which leaves the facade untouched. Window changes usually need building approval.

Plan It With Your Renovation

Soundproofing is easiest and cheapest when walls, ceilings and floors are already being opened. Our apartment renovation guide explains how to plan the whole project.

Our apartment renovation service can add insulated linings, acoustic ceilings and flooring underlays to the same programme.

Most towers, including those on Yas Island, ask for a NOC and limit noisy work to set hours, so plan the programme around them.

If you're staying in the flat during the work, our guide to renovating without moving out explains how to keep daily life running.

Frequently Asked Questions