Renovation and retrofit MEP in Al Nahda (Sharjah) 

Renovation and retrofit MEP in Al Nahda (Sharjah): local context

Al Nahda in Sharjah is a dense residential district right on the Dubai border, lined with 20–30 storey apartment towers on podium car parks, hotel apartments and street-level retail, mostly built from the 2000s onward. It is one of the main commuter neighbourhoods for people working in Dubai. Manolia completed the MEP works for two residential towers (G+5P+23/24) and for a hotel apartment building here.

• Twin-tower and podium projects need car park ventilation across several podium levels, smoke clearance and sprinkler coverage coordinated with ramps, transfer slabs and tight floor-to-floor heights.
• Hotel apartments combine guestroom fan coil units, kitchenette exhaust and centralised hot water, with stricter expectations on noise and temperature control than standard apartments.
• Peak-hour congestion at the Dubai–Sharjah crossings is heavy, so deliveries and manpower movements are planned around rush hours.

Building types we serve in Al Nahda (Sharjah)

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.

Scope of work

• Site survey of existing MEP systems, recording installed equipment, condition, nameplate capacities and every deviation from the old drawings, often with opening-up of ceilings at sample locations.
• Capacity checks on existing chilled water, electrical supply and water storage to confirm whether new tenants, kitchens or extra floors can be served without upgrades.
• Phased replacement of chillers, AHUs, switchgear and pipework in occupied buildings, using temporary cooling or power where a shutdown would affect residents or tenants.
• Fit-out MEP for offices, shops, restaurants, clinics and apartments within existing buildings, connected to base-building systems according to landlord technical requirements.

Systems we install

• Retrofit VRF systems where central plant is not available or practical.
• Replacement water and drainage pipework and new wet areas for fit-outs.

UAE site and climate challenges

• Older UAE buildings often have undersized or poorly dehumidified fresh-air systems, causing mould, musty smells and sweating grilles. Retrofits add dedicated fresh-air units with proper dehumidification instead of simply enlarging fan coils.
• Dust from demolition inside an occupied building spreads through return-air systems and contaminates coils and filters. We seal work zones, isolate returns and replace filters after dusty works before returning systems to normal operation.
• Keeping the old refrigerant or converting: older systems on phased-out refrigerants become expensive to recharge and repair, so converting to current refrigerants during a renovation often saves money over the remaining building life.

Relevant Manolia projects

2B+G+11+Gym

2B+G+11 building, Al Nahda Dubai

Al Nahda (Dubai) · MEP · Completed

Complete MEP works for a residential building with basements and gym.

Al Salam Tower, Sharjah

Sharjah · HVAC · Completed

Chiller plant and roof chilled-water network for a 52-typical-floor tower.

Frequently asked questions