Display shops stock acrylic, glass and polycarbonate sheet side by side, and they look nearly identical. On a job, they behave very differently. Here is the comparison that settles which one to specify.
Material guides · 2026-08-15 · 5 min read
Acrylic transmits 92% of visible light and is optically clearer than glass under fluorescent or LED light (glass absorbs slightly more in thick sections). Polycarbonate transmits 88% and has a slight haze that is fine for diffusers but noticeable on displays. For window-clear shows, acrylic wins.
Polycarbonate is the impact king, 250 times stronger than glass and 15 to 20 times stronger than acrylic. Machine guards, security glazing and hurricane panels are polycarbonate. Acrylic resists impact like good glass; polycarbonate resists like armour.
All three scratch if cleaned wrong. Acrylic scratches polish out; polycarbonate scratches are usually permanent. Glass scratches are permanent too but less noticeable. In the UAE heat, uncoated polycarbonate yellows in 2–3 years unless you pay extra for UV coating; acrylic stays clear. Coated polycarbonate costs 40–60% more.
Acrylic laser-cuts with a glossy edge, bonds invisibly, thermoforms cleanly and engraves to white. Glass is cut by diamond saw (not laser), bonds are visible, and forming requires custom kilns. Polycarbonate resists laser cutting and bonding (solvents crack it), and thermoforms but bulkily. For custom work, acrylic is the easiest to fabricate.
Acrylic weighs 1.2kg per liter. Glass weighs 2.5kg per liter. Polycarbonate weighs 1.2kg per liter like acrylic. But glass pieces thicker than 6mm need careful packing, adding cost. For light shelves or displays, acrylic is the clear win.
Clear acrylic: baseline. Polycarbonate (uncoated): +25%. Polycarbonate (UV coated): +60%. Architectural glass: +40 to 50%. For small displays or lightweight pieces, acrylic is the cheapest; for impact-heavy environments, polycarbonate's extra cost is justified.
Pick acrylic for anything customers will look at: displays, signage, awards, shelves, partitions. Acrylic is clear, light, easy to brand and fabricate, and stays clear in the Gulf heat. Pick glass for load-bearing architectural glazing where you need weight and scratch resistance from thermal cycling. Pick polycarbonate only where things will be hit repeatedly and you can pay extra for UV coating.
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Acrylic. It is clearer than you think, lighter, cheaper to fabricate, and stays clear in Dubai heat. Glass is heavy, harder to cut, and shows every fingerprint. Save glass for architectural glazing.
For impact resistance yes, acrylic will crack where polycarbonate bends. But uncoated polycarbonate yellows in the UAE sun, coated polycarbonate costs 60% more, and acrylic is easier to fabricate into displays. Polycarbonate is the right choice for machine guards and outdoor durable work, not retail displays.
Cheap extruded acrylic looks slightly cloudy, especially in thick sections. Premium cast acrylic is optically clearer. We specify cast acrylic for all customer-facing displays to stay visibly clear under any lighting.
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