Wall tiling
Bathrooms, kitchens, splashbacks and feature walls, set out so cut tiles land where they are least visible.
Tiling & flooring · Abu Dhabi
Tiling & Flooring in Abu Dhabi
Porcelain, marble, vinyl, laminate and engineered timber laid on properly prepared substrates — with the falls, joints and adhesive coverage that keep a floor down on a hot slab.
Quick answer: ALHUD lays floor and wall tiling and all common flooring types across Abu Dhabi — porcelain, ceramic, natural marble and granite, vinyl, laminate and engineered timber. Substrates are levelled first, wet areas are laid to a fall towards the drain, and large-format tiles get full adhesive coverage and movement joints. Most single rooms complete in one to three days; a full apartment in one to two weeks.
Substrate first
Hollow Tiles Are a Preparation Problem
Tap around most Abu Dhabi floors that are more than a few years old and you will find hollow spots. That sound is missing adhesive — tiles buttered at the corners instead of back-buttered and combed, laid on a slab that was never levelled.
It matters more here than in cooler climates. Slabs move with temperature, and a tile with forty percent adhesive contact has nothing holding it when that movement arrives. Laying new tile straight over the old one inherits every fault underneath it.
- Existing floor lifted and the substrate checked, not covered over
- Self-levelling compound where the slab is out of tolerance
- Full adhesive coverage, back-buttered for large-format tile
- Movement joints at perimeters and across large runs
- Wet areas laid to a fall so water reaches the drain
- Grout and silicone colour agreed before the job starts
Materials
Flooring Options for Abu Dhabi Homes
What each one is genuinely good at, and where it will disappoint you.
| Material | Best for | Consider |
|---|---|---|
| Porcelain tile | Anywhere — living areas, wet rooms, terraces | Hard underfoot; large formats need a flat substrate |
| Natural marble | Reception areas, stairs, feature floors | Porous and etches; needs sealing and gentle cleaners |
| Granite | High-traffic entrances and stairs | Heavy; fewer pale colour options |
| Engineered timber | Bedrooms and living rooms | Keep it out of wet areas; needs stable humidity |
| Luxury vinyl (LVT) | Rentals, kids' rooms, quick turnarounds | Shows subfloor imperfections; quality varies widely |
| Laminate | Budget refurbishment | Edge swelling if water sits on a joint |
Every material in your quote is listed by brand, range, size and thickness.
Also covered
Wall Tiling and Specialist Work
Beyond floors.
Wet-area tiling
Laid over tested waterproofing with correct falls, linear or point drainage and sealed penetrations.
Terrace & outdoor tiling
Anti-slip porcelain and stone for balconies, pool surrounds and car porches, laid with drainage in mind.
Skirting & thresholds
Matching skirting, stair nosings and transition strips finished properly rather than left to the last hour.
Repairs & replacement
Cracked, hollow or lifted tiles replaced, and grout raked out and renewed where it has failed.
Commercial flooring
Offices, retail and clinics — hard-wearing specifications and phased installation around trading hours.
Common questions
Tiling & Flooring Questions, Answered
Can you lay new tiles over old ones?
It is possible but rarely advisable. It raises floor level at doors and thresholds, adds dead load, and inherits any hollow or debonded tiles underneath. ALHUD will do it where circumstances demand, and will say plainly when lifting is the better call.
How long does tiling an apartment take?
One to two weeks for a full apartment, including lifting the old floor, levelling, laying and grouting. A single bathroom or kitchen is usually two to four days. Grout needs curing time before the floor is loaded.
What size tile works best in a small room?
Larger tiles with fewer grout lines make a small room read as bigger, provided the substrate is flat enough to take them. In wet rooms, smaller formats or mosaic in the shower base make it easier to build a proper fall to the drain.
Do you supply the tiles or do I buy them?
Either. ALHUD can supply and price everything, or fix material you have chosen and bought yourself. If you are buying, order around ten percent extra for cuts, breakages and future repairs.
Get a Flooring Quote
Send the room sizes and the material you have in mind. A site visit confirms the substrate condition and fixes the price.