Electroplated stainless steel UAE: finishes and 2026 rates
Electroplated and PVD coated stainless steel is how UAE fit-out projects get a gold, black or bronze metal surface without paying for solid brass. This guide covers what the coating actually is in microns, which finish suits which element, and what the pieces cost in 2026.
Why work with APEX STEEL WORKS L.L.C
- In-house stainless steel finishing workshop in Ajman
- Free fixed quote from a WhatsApp drawing
- Electroplated and PVD finishes applied under one roof
- Google rating of 5 from 34 reviews
- Subcontractor work for fit-out companies and designers across the UAE
- On-time delivery against contracted fit-out dates
We make stainless interior pieces in our own workshop and coat them ourselves. APEX STEEL WORKS stainless interior metalwork keeps the fabrication and the coating in one order, with no middle layer between your drawing and the finished piece.
What electroplated (PVD) stainless steel actually is
Electroplating deposits metal onto stainless steel from a chemical bath. PVD deposits a metal vapour in a vacuum. Both colour the steel and both are measured in microns, and for interior architectural work in the UAE the finish specifiers mean is almost always PVD.
Thickness is where they part. Electroplating builds about 3 to 25 microns and is used where you need real depth, such as hard chrome on a moving part. PVD builds 0.3 to 1 micron. It bonds to a properly prepared 304 or 316 substrate at the molecular level, so it does not lift like paint and it holds colour in Gulf humidity where polished brass would already be dulling.
What the coating cannot survive is bad preparation. Weld spatter, silicone residue, fingerprints or polishing compound left on the panel will show through the finish and stay there. Grade matters too: 304 for standard interior joinery, 316 for anything near the coast.
Specifiers ask for PVD coated stainless steel on UAE projects for four practical reasons. One colour code across a whole floor. No polishing schedule for the client's cleaning team. Wipe clean maintenance. And coated sheet can be ordered before the joinery is set out, which keeps the programme moving.
Welds are left exposed on this faceted sculpture. The same bench work goes into the electroplated counters, column cladding and trims we make for fit-out projects.
Finish menu: mirror gold, rose gold, champagne, black, bronze, hairline
The colour is only half the spec. The base surface under the coating decides how the piece reads in a lobby, and it has to be chosen before coating.
| Finish | Base surface | Where it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Mirror gold | No.8 mirror, then PVD | Bar fronts, reception counters, feature ceilings |
| Rose gold | Mirror or hairline | Retail joinery, lift interiors, display frames |
| Champagne gold | Hairline | Hotel corridors, joinery inlays, low glare features |
| Black | Hairline or mirror | Black stainless steel trim, bar tops, table bases, door surrounds |
| Bronze | Hairline, brushed | Heritage hotel and F&B interiors |
| Hairline, no colour | No.4 satin | Handrails, kick plates, service counters |
Mirror gold is the loudest and the least forgiving. Every weld dressing mark and every fingerprint shows, so it belongs on large flat panels that are handled once. Hairline and champagne survive site life better because the grain hides small scratches. Black PVD on hairline is the workhorse of UAE F&B fit-out right now, and mirror black is the expensive version of the same idea. You cannot turn a hairline panel into a mirror after coating, so decide the base first.
Where electroplated stainless steel is used in UAE interiors
Bar counters and front cladding, reception counters, column cladding, handrails, table bases, feature trims, lift jamb trims, wall reveals and door surrounds. If a designer wants a metal line in a render, this is usually the material behind it.
On a recent Dubai Business Bay F&B unit, the package was a 1.2 m black PVD bar counter, mirror gold cladding on two structural columns, and gold PVD handrails through the lobby. Everything was fabricated and coated in one batch so the gold on the columns matched the gold on the rails.
Ceiling metalwork goes in while the services ceiling is still open. That is when column and trim dimensions have to be confirmed on site, before coating.
Worth knowing before you submit. Fit-out permits in Dubai run through Dubai Municipality, and hotel and F&B operators also sit under tourism and licensing approvals through DET, so material submittals are part of the package. Grade certificates and mill test certificates for the 304 or 316 sheet should be ready before the coating order, not after.
Real 2026 AED pricing for electroplated stainless steel
Ranges below are indicative supply and install figures for 2026 on 304 substrate. They move with colour, base surface and site access.
- 1.2 m stainless bar counter, 1.5 mm substrate, hairline base with black PVD, folded and welded, installed: AED 5,500 to 8,500 for the metalwork, excluding stone top, joinery and MEP.
- Gold stainless steel cladding Dubai rates on a 600 x 600 mm column, including the internal frame: AED 2,400 to 3,500 per linear metre. Hairline and black sit at the lower end, mirror gold at the top.
- Gold PVD stainless handrail, 50 mm tube, wall fixed: AED 450 to 750 per linear metre installed.
- Black PVD table base, four leg frame with adjustable feet: AED 350 to 900 each depending on section and height.
- PVD coated 304 sheet, 1.0 to 1.2 mm: AED 420 to 700 per square metre, with mirror gold and mirror black dearest.
A typical Dubai interior uses 8 to 15 sqm of coated sheet. The coating itself is usually 20 to 30 percent of the fabricated and installed price. The rest is cutting, folding, welding, polishing, delivery and site fixing, so a quote for sheet alone is a material quote, not a counter. For a fixed number on your package, send your drawing on WhatsApp for a free fixed quote.
Lead times and why in-house finishing in Ajman matters
Plan on 7 to 12 working days for a single counter or column package, and 15 to 20 working days for a full floor of trims. That clock starts at the approved shop drawing, not at the first WhatsApp message.
The reason we finish in-house is batch control. When coating goes out to a third party, panels leave the workshop and come back in whatever order the coating shop ran them. One column ends up half a shade off the next, and nobody notices until the site lights are on. Keeping cutting, welding, polishing and coating inside one workshop in Ajman means the whole set is coated together and matched before it is packed for site.
How the job runs:
- Send the drawing or a marked up sketch to +971522709796 on WhatsApp.
- We reply with a fixed quote and a finish sample reference, usually within one working day.
- You approve the shop drawing with dimensions, sheet gauge, finish code and edge detail.
- We fabricate and coat the full set in one batch in Ajman.
- We deliver or install, and hand over offcuts and a coated sample for the snag list.
"We hired them as a subcontractor on that job. They finished on time and the fit was good." Pushpjeet Singh, 5 stars
Spec checklist for fit-out companies and designers
Six things decide whether the installed piece matches the render. Get them onto the shop drawing and the rest is workshop work.
- Substrate grade: 304 for standard interior, 316 for coastal and wet areas.
- Sheet gauge: 1.0 mm for cladding and trim, 1.2 to 1.5 mm for counters and doors, 2.0 mm and up for heavy duty tops.
- Base surface: mirror or hairline, decided before coating, because it cannot be changed after.
- Edge detail: folded return, welded and dressed corner, or shadow gap trim. Coated edges show every dressing mark.
- Batch matching: order all panels for one floor together, and approve a coated sample on site under the real lighting.
- Protection: agree in writing who removes the laser film, because moisture trapped under film leaves marks.
"They are very professional, knowledgeable, and pay attention to even the smallest details." alhaf malik, 5 stars
Our Google rating is 5 from 34 reviews, which we would rather earn on the fitting day than on the quote. All our stainless steel fit-out guides cover edge details, fixings and site protection in more depth.
Frequently asked questions
How much does electroplated stainless steel cost in the UAE?
For interior fit-out in 2026, PVD coated 304 sheet runs about AED 420 to 700 per square metre depending on colour and base surface. Fabricated and installed pieces are priced individually, so a 1.2 m black PVD bar counter is typically AED 5,500 to 8,500 and mirror gold column cladding is AED 2,400 to 3,500 per linear metre.
What is the difference between electroplating and PVD coating on stainless steel?
Electroplating deposits metal from a chemical bath and builds a thicker layer, usually 3 to 25 microns. PVD deposits a metal vapour in a vacuum and builds 0.3 to 1 micron. Both give colour, but PVD is the standard for large architectural panels because it holds an even colour across a whole sheet.
How long does electroplated stainless steel take to deliver in Dubai?
A single counter or column package is normally 7 to 12 working days from approved shop drawing. A full floor of trims takes 15 to 20 working days. The clock starts at the approved drawing, so the finish decision needs to be made before the substrate is cut.
Does gold stainless steel cladding fade or tarnish?
A correctly applied PVD coating on 304 or 316 stainless does not fade with normal interior cleaning. Problems come from abrasive pads, acidic cleaners and coastal salt, which is why 316 substrate is the right call for projects close to the water in Abu Dhabi and along the coast.
Can you match an existing gold or black stainless steel finish on a refurbishment?
Usually yes, if we can see a sample of the existing piece. Send a photo and a size on WhatsApp and we will quote against a sample reference. Batch matching is the real constraint, so panels ordered months apart can sit slightly off in tone even with the same colour code.
