What are motorized curtains and how do they work?
Motorized curtains are made to measure curtains hung on a powered track. The track is an aluminium profile with a toothed belt running inside it. The curtain hangs from carriers that clip to the belt. A compact motor fixed to one end of the track turns the belt, which pulls the carriers open or closed.
For a pair of curtains that meet in the middle, one motor drives both halves at once, because the belt runs in opposite directions on each side. For a single curtain that draws to one side, the motor sits at the stack end. The curtain itself is the same as a manual one: you still choose the fabric, lining, heading and fullness. What changes is the track, the motor and the controls.
Many motors include a touch to start feature. Give the curtain a light tug by hand and the motor senses the movement and finishes opening or closing it. That means you are never stuck if the remote is out of reach.
Wired vs battery motors: which should you choose?
Every curtain motor needs power. The choice is between a motor wired to mains power and a motor with a rechargeable battery. Both are reliable when specified correctly. The right one depends on whether you can run a cable to the end of the track.
Wired motors are the first choice for new builds and full renovations, where an electrician can place a power point at the motor end before the ceiling is finished. Battery motors suit finished homes and rentals, where cutting into walls or ceilings is not an option. A battery motor typically runs for several months between charges, depending on curtain weight and how often it opens.
| Point | Wired motor | Battery motor |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Mains power at the motor end | Rechargeable battery, charged by cable |
| Best for | New builds, renovations, fit outs | Finished homes, rentals, retrofits |
| Installation | Needs an electrician to place a power point | No wiring, fitted in one visit |
| Maintenance | None for power | Recharge every few months, depending on use |
| Heavy or tall curtains | Preferred for heavy fabrics and long tracks | Check the motor rating against the curtain weight |
| Wall switch | Can be wired to a wall switch | Uses a wireless wall switch or remote |
Motorized curtain tracks: what matters
The track does as much work as the motor. A good motorized curtain track is rigid enough not to flex between brackets, runs quietly, and is fixed to something solid. Ceiling fixing is the most common choice in Dubai villas and apartments, either directly to the slab, to a timber backing inside a gypsum ceiling, or inside a ceiling recess so the track is hidden.
Tracks can be straight or curved. Curved tracks suit bay windows and rounded glazing, but the bend radius must suit the carriers, so this is measured on site. Double tracks let you run a sheer on the inner track and a blackout curtain on the outer track, each with its own motor. Our curtain tracks guide covers fixing and brackets in more detail.
Heading style matters too. Wave and ripplefold headings work especially well on motorized tracks, because the carriers are spaced evenly along a cord and the fabric folds into a regular wave every time. Pinch pleat curtains also motorize well. Eyelet curtains do not, because they need a pole rather than a track.
Want this done for you?
Home visits across Dubai, written quote within 24 hours, fitted on a fixed date.
Curtain motor brands, including Somfy
Somfy is the name many people search for when they look up a curtain motor, and it is one of several established motor makers. There are other reputable brands, at different price points, and many tracks are built to take a specific motor. What matters more than the name is that the motor is rated for the weight of your curtains and the length of your track.
Each motor is rated by the load it can pull. Heavy fabrics such as velvet, interlined curtains and blackout lined curtains on a double height window can weigh far more than people expect. We weigh up the fabric, lining, drop and width before choosing a motor, and we check that it works with the control system you want. We do not tie clients to one brand; we specify the motor that fits the job.
Control options: remote, app, voice and timers
Most motorized curtain systems offer several ways to control the same curtain. You can mix them: a remote in the bedroom, a wall switch by the door and an app for when you are away.
- Remote control: a handheld remote, often with several channels so one remote can run every curtain and blind in a room, or group them.
- Wall switch: wired or wireless, placed by the door like a light switch.
- Phone app: needs a hub or bridge on your home WiFi. Lets you control curtains from anywhere and set scenes.
- Voice assistant: most hubs connect to the main voice assistants, so you can say open the living room curtains.
- Timers and scenes: open the bedroom curtains at 7am, close the west facing living room at 2pm when the sun hits the glass.
- Smart home systems: many motors can link to a home automation system so curtains work with lighting and air conditioning.
Plan power before your fit out
The most common regret with motorized curtains is not planning them early. Once a gypsum ceiling is painted and the walls are finished, adding a power point at the end of every track means cutting and patching. If you are building, renovating or fitting out a villa, decide which windows will be motorized before the ceiling is closed.
For each motorized window, your electrician needs to know which end of the track the motor will sit at, so the power point lands in the right place, usually in the ceiling or just above the track. If you want curtains hidden in a ceiling recess, the recess must be wide enough for the track or tracks plus clearance, and it needs a solid timber backing for the fixings. If you want wall switches, the cable runs need planning at the same time.
We work with interior designers and contractors at drawing stage to mark motor positions and recess sizes. See our page for interior designers or book a home visit to plan a project.
Motorized curtains for tall windows and double height rooms
Double height living rooms are common in Dubai villas, with windows that can run well above 5 m. A manual curtain at that height needs a long wand and real effort, and the fabric wears at the leading edge from handling. Motorized curtains solve both problems and keep the curtain hanging evenly.
Tall curtains need a stronger specification. The fabric weight rises with every metre of drop, so the motor rating, track strength and bracket spacing all need checking. Seams and pattern matching need care over a long drop, and lining helps the curtain hang straight. Fitting at height also needs a tower or scaffold, which we plan as part of the job.
In strong Dubai sun, tall glazing also brings heat and UV fading. A motorized sheer on a timer can close over the hottest hours to protect floors and furniture, then open again in the evening. Our living room curtains guide has more ideas for large windows.
Motorized blinds in Dubai
Blinds motorize just as well as curtains. Roller blinds are the simplest, because the motor fits inside the roller tube and is invisible. Roman blinds use a motorized headrail. Both can run on mains power or battery, and both use the same remotes, apps and timers as motorized curtains, so a whole room can work together.
Motorized blinds in Dubai are popular for sunscreen roller blinds on large glazing, blackout blinds in bedrooms, and any window that sits behind a sofa, bed or kitchen counter. They also remove loose cords and chains, which is safer in children's rooms. See our motorized curtains and blinds page and the roman blinds vs roller blinds guide.
Motorized curtains Dubai price: what drives cost
Curtain motor price depends on the motor type, wired or battery, the motor brand tier, the track length, whether the track is curved or double, the number of motors, and whether you add a hub for app and voice control. On top of that sits the curtain itself: fabric, lining, heading, fullness and size.
As market examples, a Dubai competitor site in November 2026 showed motorized curtains from AED 2,000 for a 2 m by 3 m curtain, and motorized blinds from AED 950 for a 1 m by 1.5 m blind. These are entry prices for a single window, not a guide to a full room with sheers, blackout and double tracks.
We quote every motorized project in writing after a home visit, with the fabric, track, motor and controls listed line by line. See how we price and our curtain cost guide for every price driver.
