Central AC, start to finish

Central AC installation in Al Khaleej

In Al Khaleej in north Jeddah, mid-rise apartment blocks need central AC that serves multiple units from one outdoor unit. Alrabih designs and installs the complete system to deliver fair distribution and separate control for each flat.

  • Design and build
  • Own-workshop ducts
  • Full commissioning

Clients We're Proud to Serve

Organisations and companies that trusted Alrabih with their projects.

  • Saudi Aramco
  • Ministry of Energy
  • Royal Saudi Land Forces
  • Royal Saudi Naval Forces
  • Al Baik
  • Centro Hotels by Rotana
  • King Abdullah Economic City
  • First Mills
  • Juffali
  • eXtra
  • Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Medical Center
  • Alesayi Motors
  • Abu Zaid
  • Water Desalination
  • Attieh Steel
  • SSCO
  • Creet
  • Emad Rizq
  • Alfaneyah
  • Rawat Alam Al Tasmeem
  • IBI Magix Arabia — Construction Services
  • Midtown for Construction
  • Petra Engineering Industries Co.
  • Hyrmas
  • Batterjee Medical College
  • Advanced Horizons Contracting Company
  • D.Metals
  • Benchbox — Masters of Space
  • Sadafco
  • Umm Al-Qura University
  • Saudi Arabian Drug Store (SADS)
  • Foamco
  • Ahmad A. R. Bin Afif Industries Co. (Sandwich Panel Factory)
  • Namariq
  • ALS

Who needs a complete central system?

  1. 1

    A new villa before finishing

    The finishing stage is the right time to run central AC ducts before the ceilings close. Delaying the decision means extra cost later or compromises in the duct route that weaken airflow in certain rooms.

  2. 2

    A commercial or office building

    A commercial building needs airflow that fits how the floors are divided and how the load varies between levels. The site survey sets unit count, duct routes and outlet positions before any decision is made.

  3. 3

    An old system draining power

    Old units, deteriorating ducts and leaking copper push the electricity bill up without cooling the space properly. Replacing the whole system starts with a fresh load calculation, not with larger units pushed into the same old ductwork.

Who it's for

  • Building a villa and need ducts before ceilings close

    We visit during the finishing stage, design duct routes and outlet positions, fabricate the ducts in our workshop and install them before the ceilings close, so you take over a fully working villa.

    Ask on WhatsApp
  • Managing a commercial building and replacing an old system

    We recalculate the loads, design airflow to match the current floor layout and replace both units and ductwork completely so the system runs reliably without repeated faults.

    Ask on WhatsApp

What the contract covers

  • Load calc and system design
  • Units from authorised distributors
  • Duct fabrication and fitting
  • Insulated Mueller copper runs
  • Full commissioning and handover
Request a quote

How we work

How we work

  1. 1

    Survey and load calculation

    The engineer visits, measures each zone, and calculates the thermal load per area, accounting for facade orientation, ceiling height and how the space will be used in Jeddah's hot and humid conditions.

  2. 2

    Design and unit selection

    We draw duct routes and outlet positions and select units from Carrier, YORK, General, Midea, Gree or Smart Gold, then present the design to you before any work begins.

  3. 3

    Fabrication and installation

    Round and rectangular ducts are fabricated in our workshop from G90 galvanised sheet to SMACNA standards, then installed on site alongside the copper runs, insulation and electrical connections.

  4. 4

    Commissioning and handover

    We pressure-test the copper lines, vacuum them, check air balance at every outlet and condensate drain fall, then hand the system over to you in full working order.

One contractor or several parties?

AlrabihThe usual way
Design and buildOne party accountableDesigner and installer split
DuctsOur workshop, G90 standardUnmonitored outside suppliers
CopperMueller up to 30 metres unweldedUnknown source, many joints
CommissioningPressure test, vacuum, air balanceStraight power-on, no testing
InsulationArmaflex and Kimmco fittedPatchy or missing

Some of our work

Ductwork, rooftop units and diffusers, from work we've completed in Jeddah.

  • Galvanized rectangular duct trunk with branch takeoffs and round diffusers, hung from a black ceiling, a Carrier unit visible behind — interior finishing stage.
  • Round diffusers and a spiral duct trunk in a tiled stairwell service shaft.
  • Rooftop ductwork and an exhaust fan, with Jeddah buildings in the background.
  • Rooftop packaged AC units with rectangular duct transitions, city buildings behind.
  • Insulated rooftop duct run beside a packaged unit, a warehouse roof in the background.
  • A grid of round diffusers in an open-plan office ceiling, mid-construction.
  • An insulated rooftop duct elbow, against a mountainous backdrop.
  • Large insulated ductwork running along a factory ceiling, with workers visible below.
  • A yellow round diffuser mid-installation, with spiral duct and a suspended ceiling grid.
  • Duct insulation wrap in progress on a construction site, bare duct still exposed.
  • A black-painted duct trunk with round diffusers and track lighting, in a finished retail interior.
  • An indoor AHU unit connected to round ductwork in a mechanical plant room, exposed concrete ceiling.
Similar project? Send us the details

Customer reviews

What our customers say

4.8

From 10 Google reviews

  • Muhammadramzan 2641

    “MashaaAllah. Services are so good. Behaviour and kindness 100/100. Prices are less then Market. Fully recommended”

  • shahzeb armani

    “Wow. Prices are so comfortable. Outstanding services. People are so talented and nice”

  • Tawfik AlyawerLocal Guide

    “U can find all u need for air conditioning”

Read every review on Google

Your satisfaction matters to us! If you had a great experience with us, we'd love a 5-star rating and a kind review.

Worked with us? Leave a review

Service areas

We come to you anywhere in Jeddah

From Al Shiraa and Al Yaqout in the north to Al Thaghr and Al Quraiyat in the south, with our base in Al Aziziyah.

Map of Jeddah by sector, with Alrabih's base in Al Aziziyah
Don't see your district?Message us. We most likely cover it.

What sets this district apart

Al Khaleej is dominated by mid-rise residential buildings of 5, 10 storeys with internal corridors and shared roofs. This layout demands precise planning to run ducts through the storeys, and separate indoor units in each flat fed by one central trunk. Summer heat and humidity mean the system works under constant load, so we choose an outdoor unit with adequate capacity and heavily insulated ducts to prevent cooling loss.

Al Khaleej is in north Jeddah, a district of mid-height apartment blocks with shared corridors and common roofs.

Most buildings here need unified central AC from the roof, and the outdoor unit typically sits on the shared roof because individual outdoor space is limited.

The AC setup in Al Khaleej

  1. 1

    Unified central system for multi-flat building

    One outdoor unit on the roof distributes cold air via main ducts to each flat, with a separate indoor unit and control in each dwelling.

  2. 2

    Elevated ducts within ceiling spaces between storeys

    Ducts pass through ceiling voids between storeys and in corridors, heavily insulated to reduce cooling loss and noise between units.

  3. 3

    Separate thermostats and dampers in each flat

    Each flat controls its cold-air flow via separate thermostat and damper, allowing supply to balance across units based on individual demand.

Before the visit

Before our visit in Al Khaleej

  1. 1

    Coordinate with building management and residents

    Inform building management and residents of the first visit and survey time, so we can access the roof, corridors and flats without obstruction.

  2. 2

    Measure roof, corridors and ceiling heights

    Make sure we have precise measurements of the shared roof, internal corridors and ceiling heights before we design the duct layout.

  3. 3

    Identify the best route for main ducts

    Work with us to choose the best route for main ducts through corridors and ceilings, avoiding existing services and minimising resident disruption.

FAQ

Questions about Central AC installation

How do you decide the right unit size for my villa?

We calculate the thermal load for each zone based on its area, ceiling height, number of external openings, orientation and how it will be used. In Jeddah the sun's effect on west-facing facades is significant, and high humidity goes into the calculation. We choose the unit size after this calculation, not before.

Do you make the ducts yourselves or buy them ready-made?

We fabricate round and rectangular ducts in our own workshop from G90 galvanised sheet or aluminium sheet depending on what the project needs. This lets us cut ducts to the exact site dimensions and fit them tightly, avoiding ill-fitting sections that leak air and raise electricity consumption.

What if the copper run to an outdoor unit is very long?

We use Mueller copper in runs of up to 30 metres without welded joints, which reduces potential leak points. If a run exceeds that, the survey determines whether the outdoor unit position needs rethinking or whether the refrigerant charge needs adjustment according to the type shown on the unit's nameplate.

Can each floor of the villa run on its own?

Yes, and it is settled at the design stage. Each floor can have its own unit, or the network can be split into zones with dampers and a thermostat in each, so you do not cool the whole upper floor while the family sits in the majlis. We recommend the right option after the load calculation.

Do the outdoor units need a special base on the roof?

Yes, and the roof surface determines what kind of base is needed. For villas we fabricate a raised steel frame that keeps the unit clear of pooled rainwater and allows airflow beneath it. The exact height and angle depend on the roof pitch and the condensate drain position, which the site survey establishes. The aim is to keep the unit level and to prevent vibration movement during operation.

Our building has 8 flats, can one system cool them all?

Yes, we design one central system with one powerful outdoor unit delivering cold air through ducts to each flat, and a separate indoor unit and thermostat in each flat for independent control.

Our internal corridors are tight, how do you run the ducts?

We visit and measure the corridors and ceilings precisely, and plan ducts above ceilings or within non-load-bearing walls where the structure allows. We coordinate with building management to confirm the best route before starting.

Can you install without disturbing current residents?

Yes, we coordinate with building management to minimise noise and disruption, and typically work in phases based on flat availability or off-peak hours.

The shared roof already has pipes and water tanks, how do you mount the unit?

We do a full survey of the roof and existing services at the first visit, and select the outdoor unit location to avoid pipes and tanks while maintaining safe clearance for maintenance.

The Jeddah corniche in cool weather

Start with a site survey

WhatsApp a brief description of the villa or building and your district, or call us Saturday to Thursday between eight in the morning and eight in the evening to arrange a survey visit.

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