Dubai
Completed:
2026
Product Used:
Fume Cupboards, Saturn & Mercury, SpaceSaver Working Wall, Wing
The refurbishment of 12 science laboratories at JESS Arabian Ranches marked the culmination of several years of collaboration between SB Laboratories, the school’s Head of Science and its Facilities team.
Established in Dubai in 1975, JESS has grown from just 17 pupils to a community of more than 2,300 students and is recognised as one of the UAE’s leading international schools. Its Arabian Ranches campus includes the school’s Secondary and Sixth Form provision, with a strong academic reputation and a longstanding commitment to high-quality teaching and learning.
From the early stages, the focus was on understanding how the laboratories were used and developing furniture solutions suited to the individual spaces. Rather than applying the same configuration throughout, each laboratory was considered separately, resulting in a combination of layouts and furniture systems designed for different practical teaching environments.
The completed laboratories incorporate Wing benches with storage alongside bespoke Saturn student workstations, integrating sinks, gas and electrical services directly into the working areas. SpaceSaver teaching walls provide extensive storage while incorporating whiteboards and screens.
The project also included mobile teacher’s desks and a Mobiline mobile recirculating fume cupboard, which connects to a docking station when required and can be wheeled away when not in use, allowing the unit to be shared between laboratories.
All the laboratory furniture was manufactured at SB Labs’ Manchester facility before being transported to Dubai and installed at the Arabian Ranches campus. Managing the project from design development and manufacture through to installation provided continuity throughout the process and enabled the details developed with the JESS team to be carried through into the completed laboratories.
Delivery and installation took place during a challenging period for the wider region, making the successful completion of all 12 laboratories particularly significant.
JESS Arabian Ranches joins a growing portfolio of SB Labs projects for international schools throughout the Middle East, spanning both new-build science facilities and the refurbishment of existing laboratories. Designed and manufactured at our Manchester facility, these projects involve close collaboration with schools and project teams in the region through to installation.
The SB Labs manufacturing plant, showrooms and offices are always open for viewing and a member of staff would be happy to provide a guided tour at any time.
