Stainless steel bar counter Dubai: F&B fit-out guide
A stainless steel bar counter in Dubai is a fabricated 304 or 316 grade unit built from your shop drawing, covering the bar top, the bar front and the undercounter, then finished brushed, mirror or electroplated in gold and rose gold. We make them in our own workshop in Ajman for restaurants, bars and hotel venues across the United Arab Emirates.
Why work with APEX STEEL WORKS L.L.C
- In-house stainless steel workshop in Ajman
- Electroplated and PVD finishes applied in-house
- Free fixed quote from a drawing sent on WhatsApp
- Fixed pricing agreed before fabrication starts
- Google rating 5.0 from 34 reviews
- Fit-out delivery across the United Arab Emirates
What a stainless steel bar counter includes in a Dubai F&B fit-out
A commercial bar is rarely one piece of stainless steel. It is usually four, and buying all four from one workshop keeps the joints tight and the finish consistent.
Bar top
The working surface, usually 600mm to 700mm deep, in 1.5mm or 2mm sheet with a folded front edge and a drip channel on the customer side. Guests touch this piece, so it takes the finish you choose.
Bar front
The face seen from the room, with recessed panels, shadow gaps, returns and sometimes a foot rail. This is where mirror and electroplated finishes earn their money.
Undercounter
The carcass holding the glass washer, ice machine, undercounter fridge and bottle storage, with service cut-outs and ventilation slots that line up with the plumbing.
Back bar
Shelving, speed rails, glass racks and the sink unit behind the bartender. Usually brushed 304, because it works hard and guests never see it.
We also produce the wider range of stainless steel metalwork for fit-out in the UAE, from column cladding to feature pieces. If you are cladding an existing front-of-house counter rather than building a bar, our guide to stainless steel reception counter cladding covers the same sheet, fold and finish decisions.
Grades and thickness that survive a commercial bar
304 stainless steel in 1.2mm to 2mm sheet handles almost every indoor bar in Dubai. Move to 316 only for coastal venues or counters cleaned with harsh chemicals. Skip 201 completely.
- 304 is the standard. It resists beer, citrus, cola and the sanitisers used behind a bar.
- 316 adds molybdenum for salt resistance. Beachfront venues in Jumeirah and Palm Jumeirah, and anything a few hundred metres from the coast in the northern emirates, are better with 316 on the bar top and front.
- 201 uses manganese instead of nickel. It looks fine on day one, then rust blooms at weld lines and under wet glass mats within months in a wet bar. We do not fabricate bar counters from 201.
- Thickness matters. 1.2mm suits undercounter panels and back bar shelves, 1.5mm suits folded bar fronts, and 2mm suits bar tops that take elbows and glass trays. Below 1mm the panel drums when someone leans on it.
Finishes from our own Ajman workshop
Brushed is the cheapest to produce and the easiest to live with. Mirror gives the high-shine look most Dubai bars want. Electroplated gold, rose gold and black PVD give colour that never needs polishing.
| Finish | Look | Maintenance | Cost impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brushed 304 | Satin, low reflection | Soapy water, hides marks | Base rate |
| Mirror polished | Full reflection | Daily microfibre wipe, shows fingerprints | Add 15 to 25 percent |
| Gold or rose gold PVD | Warm metallic, popular in hotel bars | Mild soap only, no abrasives | Add 25 to 40 percent |
| Black PVD | Satin to matte black | Daily wipe, marks show on matte | Add 20 to 35 percent |
Electroplating happens in our workshop rather than a third party, so changing the finish does not add a week to the programme. If you are specifying an electroplated stainless steel finish in Dubai, ask for a sample plate on real sheet before you commit. When we quote a bar counter for a restaurant in Dubai, brushed 304 on the working surfaces with mirror on the guest-facing front is still the most specified combination.
I’m really happy with the work done by Apex Workshop. They are very professional, knowledgeable, and pay attention to even the smallest details.
alhaf malik, Google review, 5/5
Black metal grid framing, pegboard shelving and stainless steel waste bins we fabricated for a kiosk fit-out. Same sheet metal, welding and finishing work that goes into a bar counter.
Working from the drawing: survey, shop drawings and MEP coordination
We fabricate from your drawing, but we survey the site before any sheet is cut. A 10mm discrepancy at the wall becomes a visible gap at the joints once the counter is installed.
- Send the drawing on WhatsApp to +971 52 270 9796. A CAD PDF, a joinery detail or a hand mark-up is enough to start.
- We survey the site and check finished floor level, wall plumb, ceiling height and existing services.
- We flag clashes with joinery, glass fronts, beer lines and MEP routes.
- You approve one shop drawing. We then confirm a fixed price against that approved drawing.
- Fabrication runs in Ajman. You get a delivery and install date in writing.
The drawing should show total linear metres and the shape in plan, radius corners and the drinks return, drip channel position, sink and glass washer cut-outs, GFI and glass shelf heights, socket and conduit points, foot rail detail, plus grade and finish callouts.
For a licensed outlet, the undercounter fridge, glass washer and ice machine need power and drainage inside the carcass. DET fit-out approval and the DEWA supply application both expect the counter drawn around those routes, not modified on site. Cutting a finished counter on install day costs you the finish and a day of the programme.
What a stainless steel bar counter costs in Dubai
Custom stainless steel bar counter fabrication in Dubai runs from AED 1,800 to AED 4,500 per linear metre ex VAT. Finish, fold detail and the amount of undercounter storage set where you land in that band.
Worked example: a 3.6 linear metre straight bar in a Dubai Marina restaurant, 304 sheet, mirror polish, front, top and undercounter.
- Bar top, 2mm 304, mirror polished, folded 40mm edge with drip channel: AED 3,600
- Bar front, 1.5mm 304, mirror polished, three recessed panels and two returns: AED 5,600
- Undercounter carcass, 1.2mm 304, mid shelf, ventilation slots and service cut-outs: AED 2,200
- Delivery, site install and silicone sealing: AED 1,000
Total AED 12,400 ex VAT, about AED 3,450 per linear metre. The same bar in brushed 304 lands near AED 9,800 ex VAT. In gold electroplated PVD it moves up to about AED 15,500 ex VAT.
Working from Ajman keeps transport simple for Sharjah venues, while Abu Dhabi and Al Ain jobs carry a small delivery line on the quote. For how these numbers move across other counter types, see our more stainless steel fit-out guides.
A finished dining space with a black metal V base under the marble top and a fluted console behind. F&B interiors need the metalwork to land square before joinery and seating go in.
Lead time, delivery and installation across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi
A custom stainless steel bar counter in the UAE takes 7 to 10 working days from approved shop drawing to delivery. Add electroplated PVD and plan for 10 to 14 working days.
We deliver in our own vehicles and install with our own fitters across Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and the remaining emirates. A straight 3 to 4 linear metre bar usually installs in one day. Hotel and mall venues often need out-of-hours installs, which we handle when access and permits are arranged in advance.
The price was fair for the steel work. They finished on time and the fit was good.
Pushpjeet Singh, Google review, 5/5
Ready to price it? Send the drawing on WhatsApp for a free fixed quote and we will come back with a fixed number, no hourly rates and no surprises.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a stainless steel bar counter cost in Dubai?
Most stainless steel bar counter fabrication in Dubai runs between AED 1,800 and AED 4,500 per linear metre ex VAT. A 3.6 linear metre bar with front, top and undercounter in mirror-finish 304 lands around AED 12,400 ex VAT. Brushed finishes sit lower in the band and electroplated gold or rose gold PVD pushes toward the top.
What is the lead time for a custom stainless steel bar counter in the UAE?
Plan for 7 to 10 working days from approved shop drawing to delivery for a standard 304 counter. Electroplated or PVD finishes add three to four days, so allow 10 to 14 working days. Installing a 3 to 4 linear metre bar on site usually takes one day.
Should I use 304 or 316 stainless steel for a bar counter?
Use 304 for indoor bars in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Move to 316 for beachfront or poolside venues where salt air sits on the metal, and for counters cleaned with aggressive chemicals. 201 grade is not suitable for a wet bar because it rusts at weld lines and under wet glass mats within months.
How durable is an electroplated stainless steel finish on a bar counter?
An electroplated PVD finish over 304 holds its colour for 10 years or more indoors when it is cleaned with mild soap and water. Abrasive pads, bleach and strong chlorine cleaners will dull or scratch the surface, so brief the bar team on cleaning. The colour is part of the metal, so it does not peel like paint.
Do you install the bar counter on site and do you work outside Dubai?
Yes. We deliver and install with our own fitters across all seven emirates, including Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Most bars install in a single day, and we can work out of hours for hotel and mall venues when access and permits are arranged before the install date. We survey the site before fabrication so the counter meets the walls and the MEP points first time.
