Built-in fire pits in Dubai

For half the year Dubai is about shade, and for the other half it is about warmth. From roughly November to March the evenings turn cool, and in the desert breeze a garden can feel chilly after dark. A fire pit gives people a reason to stay outside: it is a focal point, a source of light and a place the conversation naturally gathers. A portable steel bowl from a shop does this for a while, but it is easy to knock over, it scorches the paving and it never quite looks part of the garden. A built-in fire pit is designed with the seating around it, sits on a base made for heat and, if it runs on gas, has its supply routed safely underground.

This is the first decision, because it shapes everything else.

• WoodReal crackle and smell, but smoke, sparks and ash. It needs space around it and may not suit close neighbours.
• GasClean, instant and controllable. It needs a properly installed supply and burner, and the line is laid before the paving.
• BioethanolNo fixed supply and little smoke, but a smaller flame and fuel that has to be handled and stored carefully.

A fire pit is one of the few garden features where spacing is a safety issue, not only a matter of looks.

• Clearance overheadKeep open flame away from pergola roofs, fabric canopies, umbrellas and overhanging palm fronds, which dry out and burn easily.
• Distance from the house and boundarySmoke and heat should not reach doors, windows or the neighbour's garden.
• WindThe prevailing breeze decides where smoke goes and how sheltered the flame needs to be.
• Heat-resistant base and surroundThe pit sits on a base that can take heat, with a surround that does not crack or stain.
• Children and petsEdge height, a cover when the pit is not in use and enough space to walk around it.
• Community rulesSome communities have rules on open flames or gas installations, which we check during the approvals stage.

• Fuel typeA gas burner and supply line is a bigger job than a wood-burning pit.
• Size and formA round pit, a linear feature or a fire table.
• Built-in seating around it
• Surround and paving finishes
• Whether it is sunkenExcavation, retaining walls and drainage add work.
• Lighting and surrounding landscaping

A fire pit feels right when it is designed with what surrounds it: a seating area, a sunken lounge, a lawn or a pool deck. We plan it with the rest of your outdoor space so the paving, lighting and planting all lead to it, and so the clearances are right from the start rather than fixed afterwards.