The truth about buying outdoor furniture in Dubai
We have all been tempted by the cheap sets you see in the big warehouses or down at Dragon Mart. It is easy to think that a chair is just a chair, especially when you are looking at a price tag that is a fraction of what a premium set costs. But if you have lived through even one full summer here, you will know that the "Dubai tax" on cheap furniture is real.
You buy a set in November, it looks great for your Christmas BBQ, and by the time you come back from your summer holiday in September, the rattan has snapped and the cushions look like they have been through a sandblaster. At Maze, we don't just sell furniture because it looks nice in a catalog. We sell it because we know it actually survives the UAE climate.
Why our Aluminium is different
Most people do not realise that not all metal furniture is built the same. A lot of what you see on the market is actually powder-coated steel. The problem is that the second you get a tiny scratch on that coating, the humidity gets in. In Dubai, especially if you are living near the Marina or the Palm, the salt air is brutal.
But our ranges like the Ibiza and Saint Tropez use high-grade aluminium. It is naturally rust-proof. You could leave it out in a thunderstorm or soak it with a hose to get the dust off, and it simply will not corrode. It is also much lighter, so when a Shamal blows through, you can actually move your chairs inside without breaking your back.
The cushion "Science" (without the boring bits)
The biggest frustration for most of us is the cushions. You leave them out for one afternoon in the sun and they start to fade. Or worse, a stray spill from a sundowner turns into a permanent stain.
We use high quality Sunproof® fabrics on our outdoor furniture. This means the colour goes all the way through the fibre, it isn't just printed on top. It is the difference between a radish and a carrot. If you scratch a radish, it is white inside. A carrot is orange all the way through. That is why our cushions stay looking sharp while others fade to a sad grey within six months.
But what about the heat?
One of the most common questions we get in the Al Quoz showroom is whether the furniture gets too hot to touch. Everything gets warm if it is sitting in 45-degree heat, obviously.
But aluminium dissipates heat much faster than iron or wood. And because our fabrics are breathable, you don't get that "stuck to the chair" feeling that happens with cheaper synthetic materials. It is the difference between wearing a polyester shirt or a linen one in August. One of them works with the heat, the other one fights it.
Free delivery and proper assembly
One thing that really winds people up about buying furniture here is the delivery "window" that never happens or getting a box of a thousand screws and a confusing manual.
We keep our main ranges in stock right here in Dubai. When you order from us, we handle the delivery ourselves, usually within a couple of working days. And it is free across Dubai. Our team doesn't just drop a box on your driveway either. We actually build the set for you and make sure it is exactly where you want it before we leave.
Come and see for yourself
Reading about "powder-coated frames" is one thing, but you really need to sit on these sets to feel the difference. Our showroom in Al Quoz has the full range set up, from the Bermuda sofas to the Cala dining sets.
Stop by, have a coffee with the team, and let's figure out what actually works for your garden. We aren't here to just sell you the most expensive set; we are here to make sure you aren't buying a replacement in twelve months.
