Wall types in Dubai apartments
Concrete walls — most common in high-rise buildings. Require a hammer drill and concrete anchors. Plasterboard — found in partition walls and niches. For heavy shelves you must hit a metal stud. Brick masonry — in older buildings pre-2005.
Choosing the right fixings
Shelves up to 10kg: plastic wall plugs 6×35mm. Shelves 10–30kg: metal anchors or chemical anchor. Shelves over 30kg and wall units: chemical anchor or through-fixing only.
Shelf installation costs in Dubai
Handyman call-out: 150–200 AED. Single shelf installation: 50–80 AED additional. Full shelf system (4–6 shelves): 400–700 AED all-in including fixings.
What to prepare
- Shelves and brackets
- A spirit level (or use a phone app)
- Pencil marks showing where you want them
When to call a handyman
If you have concrete walls — you need a hammer drill. If installing more than three shelves. If hanging heavy items. Dubai Vista arrives same day with a full set of tools.