Skimmer pools for villa gardens in Dubai
The skimmer pool is the most common pool in Dubai villa gardens: simple to run, flexible in shape and easy to fit around a house. We have built them at villas in The Villa, including a 9 x 4 pool with a glass corner.
Free site visit · Approvals handled by us · Designed in 3D
What a skimmer pool is
In a skimmer pool the water line sits a short distance below the coping stones. Openings in the pool wall, the skimmers, draw water from the surface together with leaves, dust and insects, and send it through the filter before it returns through inlets. Because there is no overflow channel and no balance tank, the system is simpler and needs less space underground than an overflow or infinity pool. That makes it a practical choice for most villa plots, and the money saved on hydraulics can go into the things you see: the shape, the finish, the deck, the shade and the lighting.
Skimmer pools we have built
Project Miracle
The Villa, Dubai · 1500 sqm · December 2022 - May 2023A 9 x 4 skimmer pool with a glass corner overlooks the seating area, alongside a gazebo, pergola, date palms and a redesigned boundary wall.
View project →
Project Jewel
The Villa, Dubai · 750 sqm · February 2020 - July 2020A 3.5 x 7 skimmer pool sits within new landscaping, part of a villa project that also added covered parking.
View project →More of our work: YouTube · Instagram · our Google reviews
Small details that change how a skimmer pool looks
Project Miracle, The Villa
A skimmer pool does not have to look ordinary. At Project Miracle the 9 x 4 pool has a glass corner, so the water can be seen in section from the seating area beside it. A water spout falls into the pool from a raised wall, and a pergola with seating stands at the far end.
The same principle applies to a smaller pool. At Project Jewel, a 3.5 x 7 skimmer pool was set into new landscaping, with a paved deck for loungers, a lawn and stepping stones around it. The size of the pool was chosen to leave room for the rest of the garden.
Shapes and options
Rectangular
The simplest to build, cover and swim in. It lines up with the house and the paving grid.
L-shaped or stepped
Lets a shallow area or seating ledge sit beside a deeper swimming zone, often wrapping around a corner of the garden.
Glass panel or corner
A glass section in the wall shows the water from the side. It needs careful structural detailing where the glass meets the concrete.
Water spout or wall feature
A spout or cascade from a raised wall adds sound and movement and can hide the view of a boundary.
Concrete or fibreglass
We build skimmer pools in reinforced concrete for any shape, or in fibreglass where a ready shell suits the plot.
What to think about in the design
- Where the pool sitsClose enough to the house to be used every day, far enough to leave a deck and a path around it.
- Sun and shadeIn summer, afternoon sun heats both the water and the deck. A pergola, gazebo or tree line on the west side makes a real difference.
- Skimmer positionsSkimmers work best downwind, where the wind pushes debris. Their lids sit in the deck, so they are placed with the paving pattern in mind.
- Plant roomThe pump and filter need a ventilated, accessible place that is not next to the seating area.
- PrivacyBoundary walls, screens or planting can shield the pool from neighbours' windows.
How we deliver it
Project Study
A free site visit to measure the garden, check access for digging and look at sun, wind and privacy.
Plan
Pool size, shape, depth, finish and equipment are fixed along with the surrounding landscape. You receive a programme.
Visualization
The pool and garden are designed in 3D, so you can see the pool from the house and the deck before work begins.
Execution
Our in-house team builds the pool and the landscape around it, with a dedicated project manager as your single point of contact.
We apply for the approvals required; which ones depends on your community and scope.
What changes the cost
- Pool size and depth
- Shape, steps, ledges and seating inside the pool
- Concrete or fibreglass construction
- Finish: tile, mosaic or plaster, and the coping
- Glass panels, water features and lighting
- Deck, shade and landscaping around the pool
- Access for excavation and removal of soil
Questions and answers
Is a skimmer pool cheaper than an overflow pool?
What size skimmer pool fits a villa garden?
Can a skimmer pool have a glass wall?
Can I turn my skimmer pool into an overflow pool later?
Do you build skimmer pools in fibreglass?
Do you handle approvals?
How long does a skimmer pool take?
Guides and ideas
Related services
Contact Us
Ready to bring
your vision to life?
Get in Touch
We appreciate your interest in OutMazed ® Design and would be delighted to assist you with your design requirements. Our team of professionals are committed to providing you with the highest standard of service and satisfaction possible.
Please feel free to contact us and let us know what you're interested in or looking for. We are here to assist you whether you need help with a new project, renovation, or just some design advice. Fill out the contact form below, and one of our staff will contact you as soon as possible.
Alternatively, you can also reach us via phone or email, and our friendly staff will be happy to help you. We encourage you to take the first step towards transforming your space with OutMazed ® Design by contacting us today.
