Maintaining a swimming pool in Dubai is fundamentally different from maintaining one in Europe or North America. The combination of 45 degrees C plus summer temperatures, intense UV, airborne desert dust, occasional winter rainfall, and hard mains water creates conditions no generic pool guide addresses. This is the schedule we follow for our own AMC clients — pools we have maintained since 2013.
Summer: May to September
This is when pools work hardest and fail most often. Chlorine consumption roughly doubles compared to winter. Algae can establish within 48 to 72 hours of a chlorine drop. Evaporation concentrates everything dissolved in the remaining water. Weekly tasks: full water test, chemical adjustment, filter backwash, salt cell inspection, increased pump run time to 8 to 10 hours daily. After shamal events, run the pump continuously for 24 hours, backwash immediately, and test chlorine.
Autumn: October to November
The best season for major pool work — acid washing, equipment replacement, tile repair. Post-summer water rebalance: most pools need a partial drain and refill to bring stabiliser and calcium levels back into range. Equipment post-summer service is essential after five months of intensive operation.
Winter: December to February
For heated pools, weekly service continues with reduced chemical dosing. For unheated pools, reduce pump run time to 4 to 6 hours daily. Fortnightly service is acceptable but never stop service entirely — a pool with zero circulation for three months will be green by March, and the restoration cost will exceed what you saved.
Spring: March to April
The most important maintenance window of the year. Full equipment service now prevents summer breakdowns. Chemical reset: drain and refill enough water to bring stabiliser below 50 ppm and calcium within range. Increase pump run time to summer schedule. Book your summer weekly slot before technician schedules fill up.