What types of glass are commonly used in curtain wall systems for the Middle East?

Curtain wall glass selection for Middle East projects balances daylight, solar control, safety and durability. Insulated glazing units (IGUs) are the default choice: double-glazed (with argon fill) or triple-glazed units provide thermal separation between exterior and interior environments. Low-emissivity (low-E) coatings are essential to reduce infrared heat transfer while maintaining visible light — many Gulf projects use spectrally selective low-E coatings tuned to maximize visible transmittance and minimize solar heat gain. For safety and security, tempered (heat-strengthened) glass or laminated glass (PVB or SGP interlayers) is specified depending on project risk profiles, blast requirements and code demands relevant to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Riyadh. Solar-control or reflective glass options help reduce cooling loads for western and southern façades; fritted or ceramic-printed glass provides passive shading, reduces glare and can be used to achieve privacy while preserving transparency. For facades requiring acoustic performance, laminated glass with acoustic interlayers is effective in office towers in Doha and Bahrain. Edge-seal technology and warm-edge spacers are recommended to prolong IGU life in high-temperature environments. As a manufacturer of metal-glass curtain walls, we configure glass types to the project’s orientation, wind and sand exposure, and local codes to ensure optimal thermal, safety and aesthetic performance across Gulf climates.