Ghost Door vs Pocket Door: Which Is Right for a Dubai Villa?
Choose a pocket door if the wall can be built or opened to hold the panel, so the door disappears into it. Choose a ghost door if the wall must stay as built. The panel slides on a concealed track beside the opening. Both need clear wall length, and a free site survey confirms which one fits.
Send a photo of the wall and opening on WhatsApp +971 55 310 5461 · Free site survey
What a ghost door is
A ghost door is a sliding glass door whose hardware is hidden or kept visually small, so the eye stays on the glass. The track and support are still there, built into the detail, usually at the ceiling.
The panel slides along the track and parks beside the opening. So the wall or ceiling above must carry the weight of the door, and you need enough clear wall for the panel to travel. Don't assume plasterboard alone will hold a glass door.
Read the full ghost sliding doors page for the planning details.
What a pocket door is
A pocket door slides into a cavity inside the adjoining wall. When it is open, the leaf is out of sight and the doorway is clear.
The catch is that the cavity is part of the construction. Your contractor builds it, and it has to be designed and kept free of pipes and cables. SEG supplies and installs the pocket system. That is why a pocket door is easiest to plan before the walls close.
The pocket sliding system page covers the product. Our guide on how much space a pocket door needs goes deeper on the wall.
Ghost door and pocket door side by side
| Ghost sliding door | Pocket sliding system | |
|---|---|---|
| Wall work | No cavity. The ceiling or wall must support the track and the door weight. | A purpose-designed cavity with enough length and width. Your contractor builds the cavity. |
| Space when open | The panel parks beside the opening, so that stretch of wall stays occupied. We confirm the exact length at the site survey. | The leaf sits inside the wall. The wall face stays free, but the wall must be built to hold it. Datasheet available on request. |
| Renovation | Sometimes possible. Depends on ceiling or wall construction and support. May mean opening and repairing finishes around the track. | Wall must be assessed first. Some projects need a new lining or partition. |
| Look | Hidden or reduced hardware. The open panel stays visible. | The leaf disappears when open. |
| Maintenance access | Runners and adjustment points stay reachable. | Track, rollers and a way to remove the panel must be planned before finishes close. |
| Suits | Existing walls that must stay, renovations, studies and meeting rooms | New builds, fit-outs before walls close, major renovations |
| What drives the quote | Glass, track, concealment work, structural support | Glass, hardware, installation. The cavity and finish repair are your contractor's work. |
| Product page | Ghost sliding doors | Pocket sliding system |
New build or renovation: which fits?
New build or full fit-out. If the walls are not yet closed, a pocket door is realistic. The cavity can be planned with the wall, and services can be routed around it. Pick it if you want the open doorway completely clear.
Renovation where walls must stay. A ghost door usually asks less of the building. Opening a wall to create a pocket involves structure, services and finishes, so check the wall first.
Somewhere in between. If you are already replacing a partition, a pocket door may be possible even in a renovation. Send us a photo in that case.
What to check in a UAE villa or apartment
- Wall type. Villa interiors are often blockwork or stud partitions. A pocket needs very different work in each.
- What is inside the wall. Sockets, switches, pipes and cables cannot run through the pocket zone.
- Opening width and ceiling height. They set the panel size, and with it the space the panel needs to park.
- What sits above the ceiling. A ghost track needs solid support. Check before the ceiling is finished.
- Floor level. Tile thickness and level changes affect the bottom guide and the clear opening.
- Wet areas. If the wall backs onto a bathroom, tell us. Moisture and pipework in that wall limit what is possible.
- Apartments. Check with building management before any wall is opened. Rules on access and working hours vary by building.
If neither suits
Sometimes the answer is neither.
- A single sliding door runs on the wall face and needs no cavity, if you are happy to see the door when open.
- A pivot glass door swings on a pivot axis. It suits a feature entrance where you have swing clearance.
- A slim casement door is a hinged door in a slim frame, a familiar choice where swing space exists.
Ordinary hinged doors also remain a sensible choice when a minimal look is not the priority. If a simpler door fits your brief, we will say so.
Five questions to point you to the right door
Answer in order. A photo of the wall can change the result.
| # | Question | If yes | If no |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Can the wall be built or opened to hold the panel? | Pocket door | Go to question 2 |
| 2 | Is there clear wall length beside the opening for a parked panel? | Ghost door or single sliding door | Go to question 3 |
| 3 | Is it an entrance or feature door where a swing suits? | Pivot door, with swing clearance | Send us a photo of the opening |
| 4 | Will wall and ceiling finishes already be closed? | Ghost door is more likely. Check support first | A pocket door stays possible |
| 5 | Do you need sound control or fire performance? | Raise it in your first message. It is a separate specification for either door | No extra requirement |
Send a photo of your wall
Send a photo of the wall and the opening on WhatsApp +971 55 310 5461, and we will tell you which option fits. We arrange a free site survey within 24 hours. After the free site survey we prepare a written quote. There is no obligation to buy. Our own installation team does the work, typically about 7 days after the survey, depending on project scope.
- WhatsApp or phone: +971 55 310 5461
- Email: [email protected]
- Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm (Sunday enquiries are handled on Monday)
- Book a free site survey
Written by Junaid Iqbal. Last updated: 5 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is a ghost door?
A ghost door is a sliding glass door with concealed or visually reduced hardware. It slides on a supported track, usually at the ceiling, and parks beside the opening. The track and support are still there. They are built into the detail rather than left on show.
What are the disadvantages of a pocket door?
A pocket door needs a purpose-built wall cavity, so it takes more planning and builder's work. It is harder to retrofit. Pipes and cables cannot cross the pocket. Hidden hardware needs a planned access route, or a simple repair can turn into wall work.
Is a pocket door the same as a sliding door?
A pocket door is one type of sliding door. A standard sliding door runs along the face of the wall. A pocket door slides into a cavity inside the wall, so the leaf disappears when open.
Can a pocket door be fitted in an existing wall?
Sometimes. It depends on the wall structure, thickness and what is inside it. Some projects need a new lining or partition. Do not cut into a wall until the construction and responsibilities are confirmed. We assess it from a photo first, then at a survey.
Which one needs more wall space when open?
Both need a stretch of wall beside the opening. With a ghost door, the parked panel stays in view and occupies that wall. With a pocket door, the panel sits inside the wall, but the wall must be built to hold it. We confirm exact dimensions at the site survey, and the datasheet is available on request.
What is a good alternative to a pocket door?
If the wall cannot take a cavity, a ghost door or a single sliding door is the usual alternative. A slim casement or pivot door works where there is room to swing. The right choice depends on the wall and opening.
What affects the price of a ghost or pocket door?
Four things drive it: glass type, size, hardware and installation. Your contractor builds the wall cavity for a pocket door, so that work is arranged and priced with them. A ghost quote may include concealment work and structural support. We quote in writing after a free site survey.
Tell us about the space and we will tell you what actually works.