Darkness, privacy and protection
Roller shutters for windows: aluminium rolling shutters, manual and electric
Roller shutters for windows are aluminium curtains that roll into a box above the opening. The key decision is not the type but its timing: the box position and the power point are settled before plastering, not after.
What is a roller shutter, and what does it give you?
A roller shutter is a curtain of linked aluminium slats that wraps around a tube in a box above the opening and runs down two side guides, which also stop it being lifted from outside. Rolling shutters, roll-up or roll-down shutters and exterior or outdoor window shutters all mean the same product; ours are custom-made to each window opening, manual or electric.
It is an external layer outside the window, not a replacement for one. What it gives is complete blackout, full privacy at any light level, a layer of protection in front of the glass, and less heat, because it stops the sun before it reaches the glass.
When should you decide where the shutter box goes?
Before plastering. If a recess is left at the top of the opening during construction, the box sits inside it and disappears behind the plaster; if not, the only option is a surface-mounted box above the window. This is the most common regret with shutters, because it cannot be changed once the finishes are done.
- Concealed box: hidden in a recess at the top of the opening, for a clean facade.
- Surface-mounted box: fixed above the window outside, the only option on a finished building; it works as well, but it shows.
Taller openings need wider boxes, and tight openings are checked on site. If you are building now, decide the shutters with the aluminium windows, not after.
Which roller shutter slat and operation should you choose?
Choose the slat by the room and the operation by the size of the curtain. Hollow aluminium slats are lighter and cheaper, while foam-filled slats make an insulated roller shutter that is stiffer and quieter, with better thermal and acoustic performance. Manual suits small and medium openings; electric is the practical choice on wide, tall openings, where the curtain gets heavy.
| Option | What it is | Strength | Limit | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollow aluminium slat | A hollow formed slat | Lighter and cheaper | Rattles in wind, dents sooner | Small and medium openings |
| Foam-filled slat | A slat with an insulating core | Stiffer, quieter, insulates | Costs more | Bedrooms, wide openings |
| Manual (strap or crank) | Raised by hand | No wiring, works in power cuts | Heavy on wide openings; straps wear | Modest openings and budgets |
| Electric (tubular motor) | A motor inside the roller tube | Convenient on heavy curtains | Power point needed before plastering | Villas, wide and tall openings |
| Remote control | An add-on to electric | Runs several shutters together | Smart remote SAR 270 per shutter | Villas with many openings |
Colours: white, beige, grey, brown or black.
Electric (motorised) roller shutters: what to settle before the wiring
The motor sits inside the roller tube, so it takes no extra space, but motorised, automatic roller shutters need three decisions made with your electrician:
- A power point at the opening, run before plastering; afterwards it means surface conduit or breaking the wall.
- A manual override, a key or crank for power cuts, written into the order, never assumed.
- The switch or remote, and whether each shutter runs alone or a whole floor shares one control.
Motors come in two grades: German or Chinese in standard, Italian in premium.
Electric roller shutter prices: what goes into a quote?
A roller shutter is priced per square metre of the shutter itself, as a separate item from the window. Electric roller shutters start from SAR 360/m² in the standard grade with a German or Chinese motor and from SAR 630/m² in premium with an Italian motor, supplied and installed before VAT in Makkah; manual shutters are priced by quote.
- Hollow or foam-filled slats
- Manual or electric, the motor and the override
- The opening size, where height counts twice: curtain area and box size
- A concealed or surface-mounted box
- The number of openings in one order
A smart remote adds SAR 270 per shutter; a wall switch costs nothing extra. Other cities add 3% to 10% for transport and installation. Compare roller shutter prices with other systems in our price guide.
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Electric, standard grade | From SAR 360/m² | Tubular motor with a wall switch |
| Electric, premium grade | From SAR 630/m² | Premium motor with a wall switch |
| Smart remote | +SAR 270 per shutter | Runs several shutters together |
| Manual (strap or crank) | Priced by quote | No wiring; works in power cuts |
| Outside Makkah | +3% to 10% | Transport and installation only |
Roller shutters in Makkah, Jeddah and across Saudi Arabia
Every aluminium roller shutter is made to its opening at our factory in Wadi Jalil, Makkah, which has delivered more than 250 projects since 2018, and installed across the Kingdom by our own team. You deal with one maker rather than separate roller shutter companies and installers. To order:
- Send the sizes, the number of openings and a photo of the top of each.
- We confirm the box type, the side clearance and the power point.
- The curtain, box and guides are made to size.
- The shutter is fitted, its limits are set and it is handed over.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose a manual or an electric roller shutter?
Manual costs less and needs no wiring, which suits small and medium openings. Electric is the practical choice on wide, tall openings, where the curtain gets heavy, provided the power point is run before plastering.
What happens to an electric shutter in a power cut?
Order a motor with a manual override, a key or crank that raises the curtain without power. Write it into the order explicitly, because without it the room stays dark and closed until the power returns.
Can a roller shutter be fitted to an existing window?
Yes. The shutter is an external layer fitted outside the existing window, so the frame and glass stay as they are. On a finished building the box is surface-mounted above the window, because a concealed box needs a recess left during construction.
What upkeep does a roller shutter need?
Little: keep the side guides clear of dust and raise the curtain straight so the slats stay in their guides. A motor stores its open and close limits, so a wrong stopping point is a setting, not a new motor. We maintain the shutters we install, within the warranty and after it.
How long does a roller shutter order take?
Indicatively 10 to 14 working days from approved shop drawings to handover for an order under 30 m², and about 13 to 18 for 30 to 59 m².
What is the difference between louvers and shutters?
A roller shutter closes the opening; louvers only shade it. The shutter is a curtain of aluminium slats that rolls into a box above the opening and comes down for complete blackout and privacy. Aluminium louvers, or louvres, are fixed blades in front of the opening that block the sun while air and light pass between them.
Are roller shutters good for home security?
Yes, as residential security shutters they add a layer of protection to the house. When it is down, an aluminium roller shutter covers the whole window opening in front of the glass, and its two side guides hold the curtain so it cannot be raised from outside. It also keeps every room private whatever the lighting inside, by day or night.
Can roller shutters be fitted to balcony and patio doors?
The same aluminium roller shutter fits a balcony or patio door, including a sliding glass door, made to the opening with a box above and side guides. These tall, wide openings make the curtain heavy, so electric operation is usually the practical choice. Side clearance for the guides is checked on site, and the closed shutter guards the glass.
How much do electric roller shutters cost per square metre in Saudi Arabia?
From SAR 360/m² for the standard grade and SAR 630/m² for the premium grade, supplied and installed in Makkah before 15% VAT. A smart remote is SAR 270 extra per shutter, and transport and installation outside Makkah add 3% to 10%. Manual shutters are priced by quote, and the cost calculator gives a range for your sizes.
Related services
A shutter is fitted over a window, so start with aluminium windows and the route on aluminium doors and windows. For insulation rather than darkness, see double glazing; for permanent shade with air and light passing, fixed aluminium louvers.
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.