What Pool Maintenance Includes
A proper service visit is more than a quick skim. Our maintenance covers the full set of tasks that keep the water safe and the equipment healthy:
- Skim, vacuum & brush — remove surface debris, vacuum the floor, and brush walls and waterline to stop algae and scale building up.
- Chemical balancing — test and dose chlorine, pH, alkalinity and stabiliser so the water is safe and comfortable, and the surfaces and equipment are protected.
- Filter backwash & clean — clear the filter (sand or cartridge) so it keeps the water turning over properly.
- Equipment checks — visual and operational checks on the pump, filter, chlorinator, heater/chiller and lights.
- Water testing — regular testing, with lab-quality water-quality checks on the higher tiers.
- Basket emptying & general housekeeping — skimmer and pump baskets cleared each visit.
AMC Tiers — Basic, Comprehensive, Premium
Pool AMC in Dubai is priced by size × frequency × tier. All figures below are indicative, ex-VAT (add 5% VAT) and confirmed after a pool inspection.
Pool size
Basic (chemical + bi-weekly clean)
Comprehensive (weekly clean + filter + water test)
Premium (full + equipment checks + priority support)
Small (plunge / ≤24 m²)
~AED 350–600 /mo
~AED 500–800 /mo
~AED 800–1,000 /mo
Medium (standard 24–40 m²)
~AED 500–800 /mo
~AED 800–1,200 /mo
~AED 1,200–1,500 /mo
Large / villa (40 m²+)
~AED 800–1,200 /mo
~AED 1,200–1,500 /mo
~AED 1,500–2,000+ /mo
What's included by tier:
- Basic — water chemical balancing & dosing, surface skimming, vacuuming/brushing, basket emptying, and a visual equipment check.
- Comprehensive — everything in Basic, plus filter backwash/clean, a water-quality lab test, operational checks on the pump/filter/chiller, and waterline/tile-line cleaning.
- Premium — everything in Comprehensive, plus fuller equipment checks and priority/emergency support.
Not included in AMC (so there are no surprises): electricity and water (you pay DEWA directly), equipment repair or replacement, descaling/acid wash and major repairs or parts. We quote those separately — see the services page.
One-off clean, no contract? A single maintenance visit is typically around AED 150–300 indicative, more for a large pool or a deep clean. The pool maintenance calculator gives an indicative monthly AMC figure for your pool. For one-off and recurring pool cleaning visits specifically, see our pool cleaning in Dubai page.
How Often Should a Pool Be Cleaned in Dubai?
Frequency depends on size, usage and the season:
- Weekly — the right baseline for most Dubai pools, and strongly recommended through the hot months when chemistry drifts fastest and algae grow quickly.
- Bi-weekly — workable for smaller, lightly-used pools in cooler months, usually on the Basic tier.
- Heavy use, large pools or peak summer — may need more than weekly attention to stay ahead of algae and evaporation.
Dubai-Specific Challenges
Pool care here is genuinely different from cooler climates:
- Heat & evaporation — high temperatures mean fast evaporation, more frequent top-ups, and chemistry that concentrates and shifts quickly, so dosing needs regular correction.
- Algae — warm water plus sunlight is ideal for algae; consistent chlorination, brushing and circulation are what keep a pool clear.
- Dust storms — blown dust and sand load the water and clog filters, often calling for extra cleaning and a filter backwash after a storm.
- Strong UV — hard on finishes and equipment over time, which regular checks help catch early.
Green-Pool Recovery
If a pool has been left and turned green, it usually isn't a write-off. Recovery typically means shock-treating the water, brushing and vacuuming out the dead algae, running and backwashing the filter, then rebalancing the chemistry — sometimes over several days for a badly neglected pool. Once it's clear, an AMC keeps it that way. We quote green-pool recovery after seeing the pool, as effort varies a lot with how far it has gone.
Salt vs Chlorine
Both are valid in Dubai — the difference is how the chlorine is delivered:
- Traditional chlorine — chlorine added directly. Lower upfront cost, but more hands-on dosing and chemical handling.
- Saltwater (salt chlorination) — a salt cell generates chlorine from dissolved salt, giving softer-feeling water and steadier levels with less manual dosing. It needs a chlorinator/salt system (an indicative AED 3,000–6,000 to install) and cell upkeep.
We maintain both, and can convert a chlorine pool to saltwater — see the services and equipment pages.
To set up an AMC or get a pool back on track, the quickest start is an indicative figure from the maintenance calculator, followed by a short pool inspection so we can confirm the tier and price for your pool.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should a pool be cleaned in Dubai?
Weekly maintenance is the right baseline for most Dubai pools, and it's strongly recommended through the hot months when chemistry drifts fastest and algae grow quickly. Smaller, lightly-used pools can sometimes run bi-weekly in cooler months, while large or heavily-used pools in peak summer may need more than weekly attention. We set the frequency based on your pool's size, usage and the season.
How much does pool maintenance cost per month in Dubai?
Indicatively, pool AMC runs from roughly AED 500–1,500 per month depending on size, visit frequency and tier — small bi-weekly pools at the lower end, larger weekly pools at the upper end, ex-VAT (add 5% VAT). A one-off clean without a contract is typically around AED 150–300. These are indicative figures, confirmed after a pool inspection; the maintenance calculator gives a quick monthly estimate.
What's included in a pool maintenance contract?
Basic AMC covers chemical balancing and dosing, skimming, vacuuming and brushing, basket emptying and a visual equipment check. Comprehensive adds filter backwash/clean, a water-quality lab test, operational pump/filter/chiller checks and tile-line cleaning. Premium adds fuller equipment checks and priority support. Electricity and water, equipment repair/replacement, descaling and major parts are not included and are quoted separately.
Can you recover a green pool?
Usually, yes — a green pool is rarely a write-off. Recovery typically means shock-treating the water, brushing and vacuuming out the dead algae, running and backwashing the filter, and rebalancing the chemistry, sometimes over several days for a badly neglected pool. Because the effort varies with how far it has gone, we quote green-pool recovery after inspecting the pool, then put it on an AMC to keep it clear.
Is a saltwater pool better than chlorine in Dubai?
Neither is strictly better — it's a trade-off. Saltwater (salt chlorination) gives softer-feeling water and steadier chlorine with less manual dosing, but needs a salt system (indicatively AED 3,000–6,000 to install) and cell upkeep. Traditional chlorine costs less upfront but is more hands-on. We maintain both and can convert a chlorine pool to saltwater if you prefer.