Quick answer
Standard glass is fine only for cheap posters. Conservation (UV) glass protects but still reflects. Museum glass protects and nearly disappears. Anti-reflective acrylic does the same at half the weight and won’t shatter — best for big pieces.
Ask a framer what matters most in a frame and many will say the glass. It decides how the art looks in your room and how long its colours last. Here are the options you’ll be offered in Dubai.
The short comparison
| Glazing | UV filtering | Reflection | Weight | Breaks? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard clear glass | Minimal | ~8% | Heavy | Yes |
| Conservation Clear | Up to 99% | ~8% | Heavy | Yes |
| Museum Glass | Up to 99% | Under 1% | Heavy | Yes |
| Standard acrylic | Some | ~4–8% | Light | No |
| Anti-reflective museum acrylic | Up to 99% | Very low | Light | No |
Why UV protection matters so much here
Ultraviolet light is the main cause of fading. Dubai’s light levels are high even indoors, especially in apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows. UV-filtering glazing slows fading dramatically — but it doesn’t make direct sunlight safe, so still hang art out of the sun’s path.
When museum glass is worth it
- Original artwork, limited-edition prints and photography
- Dark artworks (reflections are most visible over dark areas)
- Rooms with windows opposite the wall
- Anything you’ll look at every day
When acrylic is the better choice
- Pieces larger than roughly 100cm, where glass gets heavy
- Children’s rooms, gyms, corridors and hotels
- Art that will be shipped or moved often
Acrylic scratches more easily than glass: clean only with a soft microfibre cloth and an acrylic-safe cleaner, never paper towels or glass spray.
When standard glass is fine
Low-value posters or prints you expect to replace, hung in dim spaces away from windows.
Try it yourself
Use the frame visualiser to switch between glazing types, or drag the glass comparison in our framing guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does museum glass block all UV?
Museum-grade glazing filters up to 99% of UV light. It greatly slows fading but doesn’t make direct sunlight safe for artwork.
Is non-glare glass the same as museum glass?
No. Non-glare glass is etched to diffuse reflections, which slightly blurs the image. Museum glass uses an optical coating, so it stays perfectly clear.
How do I clean museum glass?
Use a soft microfibre cloth with an ammonia-free glass cleaner sprayed onto the cloth, never directly onto the glass.