Privacy with a view
Majlis glass facades and aluminium-and-glass majlis doors
Majlis glass facades must do two things that seem to conflict: bring in plenty of light and keep the people inside fully private. The answer is not the size of the opening but the type of glass.
Why does a majlis need something different from the rest of the house?
In a Saudi home the majlis is the reception room, often with its own entrance and a facade straight onto the street. Its front should be wide, bright and worthy of guests, yet fully private.
Shrinking the opening defeats the first aim. The answer is the glass type and its treatment, sometimes with a mashrabiya in front, decided before fabrication, because changing the glass later means taking the facade apart.
What actually keeps majlis glass facades private?
Frosted glass, or a combination of treatments, rather than reflective glass alone. Reflective glass works in one direction and at one time of day: it reflects the brighter side, so by day, when outside is brighter, passers-by see a mirror.
After sunset this reverses: the lit room becomes the brighter side and is seen from the street, and a majlis is used most in the evening. So privacy is settled with one of these, or a mix:
- Frosted (sandblasted) glass — independent of the light, so it hides the view day and night while passing light.
- A frosted lower band with clear glass above — privacy at eye level, with view and daylight above it.
- An aluminium mashrabiya in front of the glass — breaks the direct view and shades, over any type of glass.
- Internal curtains for the evening — planned from the start by leaving enough depth in the opening.
Majlis facade options and when each one fits
| Option | Privacy by day | Privacy at night | Daylight inside | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective glass | Full | Reverses when the inside is lit | Good, with a view | Also cuts the heat coming in |
| Frosted (sandblasted) glass | Full | Full | Diffused light, no image | No view of the outside |
| Clear glass with a frosted lower band | At eye level | At eye level | Excellent | A common middle way at a reasonable cost |
| Aluminium mashrabiya in front of the glass | Breaks the view | Breaks the view | Shaded | A layer added over any other option |
| Partial cladding with a glass opening | Full on the solid part | Full on the solid part | Limited to the opening | Sets the exterior look and reduces the glass area |
The majlis door in aluminium and glass: a main entrance, not an internal door
The majlis door is seen first, opens with guests in front of it and takes heavy use. Three things are settled before fabrication:
- Opening system — a hinged leaf needs clear space equal to its width, which narrow entrances lack; sliding solves that but needs a side wall for the open leaf.
- Width — preferably two leaves that open together, so several guests can enter at once.
- Visual treatment — fully solid, or with a frosted glass panel that lights the entrance without revealing the inside.
A majlis door in aluminium starts from SAR 540/m² for Royal sliding on two tracks and SAR 585/m² hinged, supplied and installed, before VAT, in Makkah, with glass, aluminium slat or cladding infill. Match the profile colour to the rest of the facade (see aluminum window colours) and choose the lock with the door, since it is an outside entrance (see door locks and handles). Systems are explained under aluminium doors; for all-glass entrances see frameless glass doors.
What we build for the majlis
- The majlis glass facade: openings in the wall, or a continuous curtain wall facade
- The entrance door and majlis windows, within our aluminium doors and windows
- Mashrabiyas and partial cladding for the exterior look: aluminium cladding
- Fixed aluminium blades that shade the facade while air and light pass: louvers and sun breakers
- An internal partition between the majlis and the house: glass partitions
- A shade over the entrance or reception courtyard: aluminium pergolas
For a whole villa, the majlis is part of a wider scope; see villa aluminium works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best glass for a majlis facade when privacy comes first?
For privacy day and night, frosted (sandblasted) glass, because it does not depend on the light. If the view matters too, clear glass with a frosted band at eye level, or an aluminium mashrabiya in front of the glass.
Does reflective glass block the view at night?
No. Reflective glass reflects the brighter side, so it works by day. After sunset, with the room lit and the street dark, the effect reverses and the inside can be seen from outside, which surprises many majlis owners after installation.
What is the difference between a majlis facade and an internal partition?
The facade faces the street, so strength, insulation, water tightness and privacy all count. An internal partition only separates the majlis from the house, where privacy and sound matter, not weather. They are different systems in profile and cost.
How wide should a majlis door be?
A majlis door is a main entrance that opens with guests standing in front of it, so it is best made with at least two leaves that can open together. The final size is settled on site from the opening width and the space the leaf needs to swing.
Can glass and a mashrabiya be combined in one facade?
Yes, and it is one of the most requested majlis designs. The mashrabiya is a layer of aluminium profiles in front of the glass that breaks the direct view and gives shade without closing the opening. Its fixing and distance from the glass are settled before fabrication.
How much does a majlis glass facade cost?
From SAR 325/m² when built as openings in the wall with aluminum windows, and from SAR 470/m² as a continuous curtain wall facade, supplied and installed, before VAT, in Makkah. Treatments such as frosting and a mashrabiya are added on top.
Technical review: Eng. Hisham, factory manager at Qusoor Al-Sultan, with more than 20 years of management and technical experience in aluminium and glass. He reviews the technical content of this page. Last updated: 8 October 2026.