“Mosquito net” sounds like one product, but there are four main types — pleated, roller, sliding and fixed — and each is built for a different kind of opening. Choosing the wrong one is the most common reason a screen looks awkward, jams, or simply doesn’t get used. This guide compares all four, so you can match the right system to every window and door in your Dubai home.
The four main types at a glance
- Fixed nets — a permanent framed screen. Simplest and most affordable; best for windows you don’t need to reach through.
- Roller nets — the mesh rolls up into a slim cassette when not in use. Great for kitchen windows and openings you want clear sometimes.
- Sliding nets — a screen that slides across, matching sliding doors and windows. The natural choice for walk-through balcony doors.
- Pleated (plissé) nets — the mesh folds like a concertina and almost disappears. Made for wide, panoramic openings.
Fixed mosquito nets
A fixed net is a mesh panel in an aluminium frame that stays in place. There are no moving parts, so there is nothing to jam or wear out — which also makes it the most durable and the cheapest option per square metre.
Best for: bedroom and living-room windows, ventilation windows, any opening you don’t walk through.
Trade-off: it stays on the window, so it’s not ideal where you want a completely clear, unobstructed view on demand.
Roller mosquito nets
A roller (or roll-up) net keeps the mesh wound inside a compact cassette. Pull it down when you want it, let it retract when you don’t. Because the mesh is protected inside the cassette when open, it stays cleaner in Dubai’s dusty air.
Best for: kitchen windows, frequently opened windows, anywhere you want the option of a totally clear opening.
Trade-off: the mechanism costs more than a fixed net and needs an occasional wipe of the track to keep running smoothly.
Sliding mosquito nets
Sliding screens run on a track alongside your existing sliding doors or windows, so you slide the net across just like the glass. This is the go-to solution for balcony and terrace doors you walk through many times a day.
Best for: balcony doors, terrace access, large sliding windows.
Trade-off: needs a track with enough room beside the opening; quality of the rollers matters a lot for smooth daily use.
Pleated (plissé) mosquito nets
Pleated screens are the premium solution. The mesh folds flat like an accordion and sits in a very slim profile, so when retracted it’s almost invisible — perfect for not spoiling a panoramic view. They span very wide openings (up to around 6 metres) that other systems can’t.
Best for: floor-to-ceiling glass, wide terraces, panoramic doors, design-led interiors.
Trade-off: the most expensive type, but also the most elegant and the one that adds the most everyday comfort to large openings.
Quick comparison
- Cheapest: fixed → roller → sliding → pleated (most premium).
- Most discreet when open: pleated and roller.
- Best for walk-through doors: sliding (standard doors) and pleated (very wide openings).
- Lowest maintenance: fixed (no moving parts).
- Widest span: pleated.
How to decide for your home
Work opening by opening rather than picking one type for the whole home. A villa might use fixed nets on bedroom windows, roller nets in the kitchen, sliding screens on the balcony door and a pleated system across a panoramic living-room opening. Our step-by-step guide to choosing the right mosquito net for your Dubai home covers mesh material, frame colour and budget alongside opening type.
Whatever you choose, the mesh and the seal do the real work — a well-made net of any type will keep insects out if it’s measured accurately and fitted with proper edge sealing. That’s covered in do mosquito nets really keep out Dubai’s insects.
Frequently asked questions
Which type is cheapest?
Fixed nets are the most affordable per square metre, followed by roller, then sliding, with pleated systems at the premium end. Get an exact figure for your openings with the price calculator.
What’s best for a balcony door?
A sliding screen for a standard door, or a pleated system if the opening is very wide.
Which is best for a panoramic window?
Pleated — it folds away almost invisibly and spans openings other types can’t.
Can I mix types in one home?
Yes, and you usually should — match each opening to the type that suits it.
Not sure which type fits your openings?
A free on-site measurement is the easiest way to decide — we look at each window and door and recommend the right system for it. Book your free measurement and we’ll map out the best mix for your home.