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Structural glazing facades in Makkah and across Saudi Arabia
Structural glazing bonds the glass to an aluminium frame from the inside with structural silicone, so the facade reads as one continuous glass surface with no visible frames. Qusoor Al-Sultan fabricates and installs it from Makkah, from SAR 470/m² supplied and installed, before VAT.
What is structural glazing?
Structural glazing, often called SSG for structural silicone glazing, is a facade system in which the glass is bonded to the aluminium frame behind it with structural silicone instead of being clamped by an outer cap. The result is a hidden-frame, frameless-looking facade, most requested on modern villas, offices and showrooms. The same system is also known as an invisible or seamless curtain wall, and in specifications as a structural silicone glazed curtain wall.
Before the system is detailed, we need clarity on:
- facade dimensions and module divisions
- positions of openings
- edges, corners and junctions with neighbouring elements
- glass requirements and finishes
- the technical specification of the project
Because the outer glass is the architecture, our technical office keeps the facade lines, divisions and junctions tied to the design intent while it develops the shop drawings, material take-off and fabrication data.
How does frameless structural glazing differ from a framed facade?
Both are aluminium and glass facade systems sold at the same price. In structural glazing the frame is hidden and silicone holds the glass, giving one continuous surface. In a framed curtain wall, a pressure plate and outer cap hold the glass, so the profile lines stay visible as a grid across the elevation.
| Aspect | Structural glazing | Curtain wall |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | Hidden: the glass reads as one continuous surface | Visible: profile lines are part of the look |
| Glass fixing | Structural silicone on the aluminium frame, from inside | Pressure plate and outer cap |
| Typical use | Modern villas, offices and showrooms | Mid-rise and high-rise buildings |
| Opening vents | Possible; seen from outside as part of the glass, with different profiles and hardware | Possible, integrated within the grid |
| Decided early | Facade divisions, vent positions and panel fixing to the structure | Stick or unitized, and the positions of openings |
| Starts from | SAR 470/m² supplied and installed | SAR 470/m² supplied and installed |
For stick and unitized assembly see our curtain wall page, and to add cladding to the comparison see glass facade systems compared.
Grades, glass options and what sets the rate
Structural glazing is priced exactly like the curtain wall, on the same grades with Alupco profiles: Standard (Smart system) from SAR 470/m² and Premium (SG 50) from SAR 530/m², supplied and installed, before VAT, in Makkah. Single tempered glass is included, and the options add:
- double glazing: +SAR 27/m²
- laminated double glazing (1.52 + 6 + 6): +SAR 200/m²
- reflective tinted glass: +SAR 36/m²
- Low-E glass: priced on request
Glass type, facade height and access place a project within the published range of SAR 470–780/m². Outside Makkah, transport and installation add 3% to 10% by city. Indicative lead time: 25–34 working days from approved shop drawings to handover for under 50 m², longer as the area grows. Every range is listed in our aluminium and glass price guide.
Choosing glass for a silicone-bonded facade
Because the glass is held by structural silicone, its choice is tied to the system details, the way it is supported and its connection points to the building. The structural silicone sealant bond and the facade’s resistance to wind loads are reviewed against the Saudi Building Code and the project specification. For glass types in depth, see architectural tempered glass.
Clear or reflective tinted glass?
Clear glass admits the most daylight. Reflective tinted glass returns part of the sun’s heat and adds SAR 36/m², but its privacy works by day only: once the interior is lit at night, it can be seen from outside. Orientation, sun exposure and the privacy you need decide between them.
Choosing a structural glazing company: what to check
A structural glazing facade is decided before fabrication, so ask what a company does itself. At Qusoor Al-Sultan, one technical office prepares the shop drawings and material take-off and reviews the silicone bond and wind loads against the project specification. Our factory in Wadi Jalil, Makkah, fabricates the aluminium frames, and we install them on site.
- Price: Smart grade from SAR 470/m² and SG 50 from SAR 530/m², supplied and installed, before VAT, in Makkah.
- Lead time: an indicative 25–34 working days for under 50 m², counted from approved shop drawings.
- Coverage: projects across Saudi Arabia, with transport and installation adding 3% in Jeddah up to 10% in Abha, Tabuk and Qassim.
- Track record: more than 250 projects since 2018, with warranty support after handover on the facades we install.
What to send
Send facade drawings, elevations, sections and the specification
Add details, glass schedules and the BOQ if available, with the project city and current stage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between structural glazing and a curtain wall?
Both are aluminium and glass facade systems, and the difference lies in the look and the glass fixing: structural glazing hides the frame and shows continuous glass, while a curtain wall shows its profile lines. The choice follows the design and the specification, not the name.
How much does structural glazing cost per m²?
From SAR 470/m² supplied and installed, before VAT, in Makkah, on the Standard grade (Smart system), and from SAR 530/m² on the Premium grade (SG 50), with Alupco profiles. The published range runs to SAR 780/m², set by glass type, facade height and access; integrated windows and doors are priced separately.
Is there a cheaper alternative to structural glazing?
Yes, by reducing the glass area: aluminium windows set within the wall start from SAR 325/m², and cladding panels for the solid parts from SAR 180/m², with a different look from a continuous glass surface. A curtain wall is not cheaper, because both systems share the same price from SAR 470/m².
What should I send first to review a structural glazing facade?
Send facade drawings, elevations or sections and the available specification, with the BOQ if there is one, the project city and its current stage. Mark any opening vents on the drawing, because they are decided at design stage, not after installation.
Are there structural glazing windows?
Structural glazing is a facade system, not a window type. People searching for structural glazing windows usually mean vents inside the glass facade. These are possible: they appear from outside as part of the glass surface, need different profiles and hardware, and are fixed at design stage, at SAR 315 per top-hung window and SAR 990 per door.
What is semi structural glazing?
Semi structural glazing usually means 2-sided structural glazing, a hybrid of a framed curtain wall and full structural glazing. Structural silicone bonds two edges of each pane, often the vertical ones, while a pressure plate and cap clamp the other two, so the profile lines run in one direction instead of forming a grid.
How do 2-sided and 4-sided structural silicone glazing differ?
By the edges that show a frame. In 4-sided structural silicone glazing, all four edges of each pane are bonded to the aluminium frame from inside, so only slim silicone joints show; that is the structural glazing priced on this page, from SAR 470/m². In 2-sided glazing, the two capped edges leave visible lines in one direction.
Can a structural glazing facade be black?
Yes. A black facade uses dark reflective tinted glass with an aluminium profile coated black, so from outside it reads as one continuous dark surface. Reflective tinted glass adds SAR 36/m², and a special profile colour is priced in the quote.
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.