Central AC, start to finish

Central AC installation in Al Salihiyah

In Al Salihiyah, east Jeddah, central AC for villas and residential blocks demands seamless coordination between calculation, design and installation. Alrabih unifies all phases under one hand, so you receive a balanced system that works from day one without later repair costs.

  • 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 Salihiyah is a mature district mixing medium villas with multi-storey residential blocks, many built over different periods with varying insulation standards. Central systems here need precise load calculation because neighbouring villas can absorb heat very differently, and apartment blocks require sensitive balancing between floors and different units.

Al Salihiyah in east Jeddah is a mixed residential district with villas and multi-storey apartment blocks.

Al Salihiyah villas typically need 4 to 6 tonne central systems, while apartment blocks need larger units of 8 to 12 tonnes with separate distribution per floor.

The AC setup in Al Salihiyah

  1. 1

    Central system with horizontal duct distribution

    Al Salihiyah villas run ducts under false ceilings, while blocks typically route them through plant rooms or cavity walls per floor.

  2. 2

    One indoor unit per villa or floor block

    Small villas and blocks typically need just one indoor unit with branching ducts, while large blocks may need multiple units.

  3. 3

    Advanced air filtration system

    Al Salihiyah's mature urban environment carries dust and pollutants, so we fit high-efficiency filters and schedule duct cleaning to protect indoor air quality.

Before the visit

Before our visit in Al Salihiyah

  1. 1

    Bring full plan and note floor layouts

    We need the full floor plan for each level or entire villa, especially electrical and plumbing runs, to avoid installation conflicts.

  2. 2

    Confirm roof or upper-space access

    The outdoor unit needs a safe spot on the roof or garden, and ducts need clear pathways through upper voids without architectural obstructions.

  3. 3

    Coordinate with building management and neighbours

    In blocks, notify management and neighbouring units of work times, especially if installation requires wall opening or removal of existing fittings.

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.

Villas and blocks are mixed here, how do you size each type?

We survey each villa or block independently, assess floor area, windows, insulation, occupancy and usage, then calculate the right capacity for each without cross-influence from neighbours.

How do you handle different insulation standards between older and newer buildings?

We ask about construction year and wall and window materials, then adjust heat load based on age and insulation condition, since older buildings need higher capacity.

Al Salihiyah gets hot, does this change duct design?

Yes, high heat raises system load, so we choose thicker insulated ducts and site the outdoor unit with ample airflow to reduce noise and vibration in extreme heat.

How many ducts and air outlets does an apartment block need?

It depends on the number of units and size of each flat, but typically we use shared main ducts from the indoor unit with separate branches per flat or floor and airflow dampers for balance.

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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