Kitchen extract systems in Ajman 

Kitchen extract systems in Ajman: local context

Ajman is the smallest emirate by area, with a compact city of mid- and high-rise residential towers along the corniche and Al Nuaimiya-type districts, plus the Al Jurf industrial zone towards the Emirates Road. Much of its residential stock is value-oriented housing for people commuting to Sharjah and Dubai, with hotels along the beachfront and workshops and warehouses inland. MEP budgets are often tighter than in Dubai, which puts the emphasis on robust, maintainable systems such as packaged and split units, VRF and straightforward chilled-water plants. Manolia has delivered HVAC and design work here.

MEP drawings are typically submitted to Ajman Municipality and Planning as part of the building permit, with Civil Defence (Ministry of Interior) approving fire and life safety drawings and inspecting before occupancy. Etihad WE handles electrical load approval and connections. Requirements vary between plots and zones, so the sequence is confirmed for each project.

• Electricity and water are supplied by Etihad Water & Electricity (formerly FEWA), whose load approval, transformer room and metering requirements differ from DEWA and SEWA and must be checked before the electrical design is frozen.
• Beachfront towers face salt-laden air and high humidity, so outdoor units on balconies and roofs need coated coils and accessible maintenance positions, and drainage of condensate must be planned rather than left to discharge on facades.

Building types we serve in Ajman

For malls and retail centres, the work concentrates on large-volume air handling, tenant-ready chilled water or refrigerant capacity, smoke extraction for atriums and car parks and food-court exhaust.

For schools and university buildings, the work concentrates on high fresh-air rates for dense classrooms, quiet systems, holiday-window works in occupied campuses and robust controls.

Scope of work

• Review of the kitchen equipment layout and cooking types to confirm hood sizes, extract volumes and make-up air requirements.
• Kitchen hoods with baffle filters, and where specified, UV or electrostatic treatment to reduce grease and odour at discharge.
• Exhaust fans rated for grease-laden air, mounted for access and with discharge positions agreed against nearby intakes and neighbours.
• Make-up air units supplying tempered fresh air so the kitchen remains slightly negative without starving burners or slamming doors.
• Commissioning of extract and make-up flows, with handover of a grease duct cleaning schedule.

Systems we install

• Kitchen exhaust fans for grease-laden air
• Make-up air units with cooling coils
• Interlocks with gas valves and hood suppression

UAE site and climate challenges

• Rooftop kitchen exhaust fans run continuously in intense heat while handling hot, greasy air, so motors are selected for high ambient, positioned out of the airstream where possible and given safe maintenance access.
• Sand and dust collect in exhaust discharge cowls, make-up air filters and fan housings, so access panels and cleaning routines are part of the maintenance plan from handover.

Decisions to make early

• Make-up air treatment: cooled make-up air improves comfort and staff retention in hot kitchens, but increases cooling load, equipment cost and plant space requirements.
• Ductwork routing and enclosure, where shorter routes reduce fire risk and cleaning effort but may conflict with architectural layouts, structural beams and shaft availability.

Relevant Manolia projects

MEP Design

42-building complex, mall & hotel, Ajman (design)

Ajman · MEP Design · Design

MEP design for a mixed-use masterplan including a 5-star hotel.

Ramla Mall, Dubai

Dubai · Building · Completed

Two-storey retail mall.

Frequently asked questions