Restaurant & cafe HVAC
Restaurant & cafe HVAC in Thuwal
In Thuwal, far north Jeddah, restaurants and cafés face strong coastal climate challenges with high humidity and salt air. Alrabih designs robust AC systems that protect ducts and coils from rust and separate odours effectively in a tough coastal environment.
- Pressure balance
- Make-up air
- Coil protection
Clients We're Proud to Serve
Organisations and companies that trusted Alrabih with their projects.
When your restaurant needs a specialist
- 1
Kitchen smells reaching diners
When the extract hood pulls out more air than is replaced, the kitchen goes negative and draws air from the dining room, bringing smells with it. The answer is calculating the volumes and delivering make-up air close to the hood.
- 2
Dining room stays warm despite the AC
A full dining room in Jeddah's humid summer raises heat and moisture load noticeably. Design must account for peak occupancy, and the right diffuser layout achieves even cooling across tables, not cold near the duct and warm in the corners.
- 3
Repeated breakdowns in kitchen AC units
Grease vapour from the burners settles on evaporator coils and blocks airflow, raising pressure and stressing the compressor. Placing the unit away from grease currents and scheduling coil cleaning reduces this damage significantly.
Who it's for
Opening a new restaurant that needs a full HVAC system
We design the cooling and make-up air system from scratch to match your kitchen and dining layout before you open.
Ask on WhatsAppYour restaurant is running but smells are reaching the tables
We survey the existing system, measure pressure between kitchen and dining, then correct the fault by adding make-up air or adjusting the air balance.
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What the work covers
- Kitchen and dining pressure survey
- Make-up air for hood
- Diffuser layout for dining
- Ductwork to SMACNA standards
- Air balance commissioning
How we work
How we work
- 1
Site and kitchen survey
We visit, measure the spaces, review the existing extract hood and burner positions, and find where negative pressure is occurring before any design work.
- 2
Design and equipment selection
We design the make-up air and cooling systems together, and select units from Carrier, YORK, General, Midea, Gree or Smart Gold to suit the space and the load.
- 3
Duct fabrication and installation
We fabricate ducts in our workshop from G90 galvanised sheet to precise sizes, install the units, and run Mueller copper in runs of up to 30 metres without welded joints, insulated with Armaflex.
- 4
Balancing and handover
We run the system and adjust dampers until the kitchen sits at slight negative and the dining room at slight positive, confirming that doors open easily and no kitchen smell crosses to the guests.
Integrated design or separate units with no balance?
| Alrabih | The usual way | |
|---|---|---|
| Make-up air | Calculated and delivered to the hood | Usually not addressed |
| Dining pressure | Slight positive, no smell transfer | Negative, pulls kitchen air in |
| Coil protection | Unit placed away from grease | Repeated breakdowns |
| Cooling spread | Diffusers sized for full occupancy | Uneven, warm corners |
| Kitchen ductwork | Fabricated in-house from G90 sheet | Off-the-shelf sizes, poor fit |
Everything your AC needs, from one team
From system design and duct fabrication to installation, commissioning and maintenance.

Split AC installation
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Duct installation
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Central AC installation
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Duct fabrication
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Cold room installation
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Electro-mechanical works
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Chiller & AHU installation
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HVAC design
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AC repair & faults
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AC cleaning
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Refrigerant charging
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Central AC maintenance
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Chiller maintenance
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AC removal & refitting
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Duct cleaning & sanitising
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AC servicing by brand
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Operation & maintenance contracts
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AHU maintenance
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Fridge & freezer service
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Cold rooms
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Display fridges & chillers
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Factory HVAC
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Warehouse HVAC
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Villa & home HVAC
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Hotel HVAC
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School HVAC
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Hospital HVAC
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Mosque HVAC
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Mall & retail HVAC
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Restaurant & cafe HVAC
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Some of our work
Ductwork, rooftop units and diffusers, from work we've completed in Jeddah.
Customer reviews
What our customers say
- 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”
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 reviewService 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.

What sets this district apart
Thuwal is a coastal area near the sea with modern buildings but exposed to high humidity and salt-air corrosion of metals and components. Restaurants and cafés here need extra protection for metal ducts and coils from rust, plus strong separation between kitchen and dining because humidity speeds odour and moisture spread. Modern designs provide space for systems, but materials must resist the coastal environment.
Thuwal sits on the coast in far north Jeddah, a modern district highly exposed to sea humidity and salt air.
Most restaurants here choose rust-resistant materials for ducts and outdoor units, since salt accelerates corrosion.
The AC setup in Thuwal
- 1
Salt and rust-resistant materials
Ducts and outdoor units are made from salt-resistant materials to withstand coastal exposure.
- 2
Powerful extraction with distant outlets
Extraction outlets direct vapours and salt spray away from the building and neighbours.
- 3
Extra protection for outdoor units
Protective salt-resistant coating on outdoor units, with partial cover for protection from direct moisture.
Before the visit
Before our visit in Thuwal
- 1
Position the outdoor unit away from direct sea exposure
If possible, place the outdoor unit on the building side away from direct coastal winds.
- 2
Carefully identify drainage and outlet locations
Ensure drain pans and outlets are away from the foundation and areas where salt spray accumulates.
- 3
Prepare access for regular cleaning
Ensure safe access to outdoor units and ducts for regular cleaning without delays or safety obstacles.
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FAQ
Questions about Restaurant & cafe HVAC
What is the difference between make-up air and kitchen air conditioning?
Make-up air replaces the volume the hood extracts, its purpose is pressure balance not necessarily cooling. Kitchen air conditioning tackles burner heat and lowers temperature for the staff. Both may be needed, and the site survey determines which your kitchen requires.
Do outdoor seating areas need a different approach in Jeddah?
Yes. In Jeddah's heat and humidity, fans alone are not enough during peak months. The right option depends on whether the space has an open roof or a partial enclosure and how large the area is. We assess the spot and propose suitable units after the survey.
How are AC coils protected from kitchen grease?
The first step is design: we position kitchen units in airflow paths away from the grease rising off the burners. In preventive maintenance contracts we schedule pressure coil cleaning before build-up raises stress on the compressor, because early cleaning is simpler and less costly than a repair.
Can existing ductwork in an operating restaurant be repaired or does it need replacing?
The decision follows a duct inspection: we look for air leaks, grease build-up inside, and sheet corrosion from Jeddah's salty air. If the structure is sound we seal joints with Foster sealants and re-insulate with Kimmco. If not, we fabricate new sections in our workshop and replace the damaged runs.
Does a packed dining room during peak season affect how the AC performs?
Yes, every person in the room adds heat and moisture, and this is significant in Jeddah's summer. Design therefore accounts for full occupancy load, not average attendance, and diffusers are positioned to deliver even cooling across all tables. The exact layout is confirmed after the site survey.
Salt and humidity affect AC equipment here, how do you protect it?
We choose rust-resistant materials for ducts and fittings, and recommend protective coating for outdoor units and regular cleaning to prevent salt buildup.
High humidity increases moisture in the dining room, how do you manage this?
We recommend continuous extraction fan operation to remove excess humidity from kitchen and dining, plus regular drain-pan cleaning.
How do you separate kitchen vapours from guests in a damp coastal environment?
We design strong negative pressure in the kitchen that pulls vapours and moisture straight out of the building before spreading, plus treat kitchen return air.
How often must coils and ducts be cleaned because of salt?
We recommend cleaning every two to three months in coastal environments, rather than the standard seasonal cycle.












































































