Ubiquiti airFiber 5 Mid-Band AF-5 in Dubai, UAE
A high-capacity, integrated 5 GHz point-to-point bridge for connecting buildings, extending service-provider backhaul, and creating dedicated wireless links where a properly engineered path is available.
Plan the link before ordering
Share the two site coordinates, proposed mounting heights, required throughput, link distance, quantity, and installation expectations. FourTeck can help shape the quotation around the actual deployment.
Direct answer for buyers
The AF-5 is Ubiquiti’s integrated mid-band airFiber radio for building a dedicated outdoor point-to-point connection between two sites. It is mainly considered for network backhaul, inter-building connectivity, service-provider transport, and temporary or permanent links where trenching fibre is not the preferred option. It is best evaluated by organisations that can provide clear line of sight and suitable mounting at both ends. Before proceeding, confirm the permitted UAE frequency plan, path clearance, link budget, desired capacity, structural loading, power and grounding, interference conditions, installation access, and whether the design requires failover. The advertised throughput and maximum range are engineering limits rather than guaranteed results for every site.
What the AF-5 does
The Ubiquiti airFiber 5 Mid-Band AF-5 creates a directional wireless Ethernet bridge between two fixed outdoor locations. Each endpoint is aimed at the other, allowing traffic to move across the wireless path as part of a wider routed or switched network. The integrated antenna simplifies product selection because the radio and directional antenna are supplied as one assembly.
Typical designs use a pair of AF-5 units, one at each end of the path. The device offers a Gigabit Ethernet data interface, a separate 10/100 management interface, an alignment-tone port, GPS synchronisation, multiple selectable channel widths, and support for full- or half-duplex operating strategies according to the deployment design.
Who should consider it
The AF-5 may fit wireless internet service providers, logistics compounds, education campuses, hotels, construction operations, utilities, industrial sites, farms, security networks, and businesses with two buildings that need a high-capacity network connection. It is particularly relevant when the link can be engineered with strong line of sight and when the required capacity fits within the practical performance of the selected channel and local RF environment.
It may be unsuitable where there is no clear path, mounting structures are weak, the 5 GHz environment is heavily congested, local frequency use is restricted, or the business requires a guaranteed carrier service without designing redundancy and service-level controls around the wireless link.
Business challenges the AF-5 can help address
Fibre cannot be installed quickly
A planned point-to-point link can provide an alternative transport path between two sites while avoiding civil work, subject to line of sight, mounting, regulation, and spectrum conditions.
Two buildings operate as one network
The bridge can carry business traffic between facilities so users, cameras, voice systems, servers, and applications can access shared resources according to the wider network design.
Backhaul capacity must be increased
Service providers may use the AF-5 as a dedicated transport link where its practical throughput, channel plan, interference tolerance, and range are appropriate for the network segment.
A temporary project needs connectivity
Construction and event environments may consider a wireless bridge when both endpoints can be securely mounted, powered, grounded, aligned, monitored, and later relocated.
Core capabilities that influence the buying decision
Integrated directional system
The radio incorporates separate transmit and receive antenna sections with 23 dBi gain, reducing the need to match a separate external antenna to the AF-5.
Flexible RF planning
Selectable 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 MHz channel widths allow an engineer to balance capacity, noise exposure, and spectrum availability.
GPS frame synchronisation
GPS timing can support coordinated radio operation where the network design benefits from synchronised frames and careful frequency reuse.
Outdoor mechanical design
The supplied pole mount and stated wind-survivability values support outdoor deployment, but the supporting pole, brackets, anchors, and building structure still require engineering review.
AF-5 suitability matrix
| Requirement | Suitable when | Confirm before ordering |
|---|---|---|
| Inter-building network link | Both rooftops or towers have clear line of sight and stable mounting positions. | Path clearance, Fresnel-zone clearance, cable routes, grounding, and required throughput. |
| Long-distance backhaul | A detailed link budget supports the distance and the permitted EIRP is adequate. | UAE frequency rules, antenna height, terrain, earth curvature, rain fade, and interference. |
| High application traffic | The realistic link capacity meets peak and future traffic, not merely average demand. | Traffic profile, duplex mode, channel width, latency expectation, and redundancy. |
| Rapid project deployment | Site access, structural approval, power, permits, and installation crews are coordinated. | Lead time, lift access, safety method statement, weather window, and commissioning plan. |
| Critical business connectivity | The solution includes monitoring, spare strategy, surge protection, and an independent failover path. | Recovery objectives, support ownership, replacement process, and secondary connectivity. |
Verified technical information
Figures below reflect Ubiquiti’s current AF-5 technical page. Regional rules and site conditions remain decisive.
| Brand and model | Ubiquiti airFiber 5 Mid-Band, AF-5 |
|---|---|
| Product type | Integrated outdoor point-to-point wireless bridge |
| Maximum stated throughput | 1.2+ Gbps; practical performance depends on the complete link design |
| Maximum stated range | 100+ km, dependent on regulatory region and deployment conditions |
| Packets per second | 1+ million |
| Data and management interfaces | One Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 data port and one 10/100 MbE RJ45 management port |
| Auxiliary interface | One RJ-12 alignment-tone port |
| Antenna gain | 23 dBi transmit and 23 dBi receive, integrated dual-slant antenna |
| Beamwidth | 6 degrees |
| Channel widths | 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 MHz |
| Modulation | Up to 1024QAM MIMO, with lower modulation modes supported as link conditions require |
| Encryption | 128-bit AES |
| Synchronisation | GPS radio-frame synchronisation |
| Power method | Four-pair passive PoE; 50V, 1.2A Gigabit PoE adapter included |
| Supported voltage | 42–58V DC |
| Maximum power consumption | 40W |
| Dimensions | 938.4 × 468.4 × 281.4 mm |
| Weight | 16 kg |
| Mounting | Pole-mount kit included |
| Operating temperature | -40 to 55°C |
| Frequency guidance | The hardware supports region-specific ranges within approximately 5.47 to 5.95 GHz. Confirm the permitted UAE channels, EIRP, DFS requirements, and licensing position before deployment. |
Compatibility and dependency notice
The AF-5 should not be purchased as an isolated item without confirming the complete link design. A typical point-to-point path requires two compatible endpoints, suitable pole or tower structures, shielded outdoor Ethernet cabling, grounding, surge protection, a protected AC source for the PoE injectors, network-switch capacity, and a documented commissioning plan. The included passive PoE adapter is not the same as standards-based 802.3af or 802.3at power, so power compatibility must be checked carefully.
Frequency availability, allowed transmit power, Dynamic Frequency Selection obligations, and usable channel widths are region dependent. Performance also changes with interference, alignment accuracy, path obstruction, cable quality, temperature, rain, and the selected duplex arrangement. FourTeck can help organise these questions, but final radio-frequency and structural decisions should be based on a qualified site survey and applicable UAE regulation.
Recommended purchase and deployment journey
Define the service objective
State what the link must carry, the peak and future bandwidth, acceptable latency, business criticality, availability target, VLAN or routing requirements, and whether the path replaces fibre or supplements it.
Survey both locations
Capture coordinates, elevation, proposed mount height, rooftop access, line of sight, Fresnel clearance, nearby radio sources, cable route, power availability, grounding points, and structural constraints.
Complete link engineering
Calculate expected receive levels, fade margin, channel choice, EIRP compliance, modulation expectation, throughput, and interference risk. Check whether AF-5 is the right model rather than assuming every 5 GHz airFiber product is interchangeable.
Confirm the bill of materials
Include two radios per link, outdoor-rated shielded cabling, compatible surge protection, grounding materials, mounting hardware beyond the included kit where required, network equipment, UPS capacity, spares, and installation services.
Install and align safely
Use an experienced team with suitable roof or tower access procedures. Accurate alignment is essential because the integrated antenna has a narrow beam. Secure all mechanical and weatherproofing elements before testing.
Commission, document, and monitor
Record signal levels, modulation, capacity, latency, error rate, configuration, firmware, frequency, channel width, grounding inspection, photographs, and acceptance results. Establish alerts and a maintenance owner.
Capacity planning beyond the headline throughput
The 1.2+ Gbps figure is useful for identifying the product class, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed application rate. Real capacity depends on modulation, channel width, duplex mode, RF noise, receive signal quality, packet size, local regulations, and the balance between uplink and downlink traffic. A buyer should begin with the business requirement rather than the product maximum.
For a campus link, calculate traffic from users, video surveillance, voice, backups, cloud access, storage replication, and future projects. For a service-provider backhaul, examine peak subscriber demand, oversubscription policy, protocol overhead, latency sensitivity, and growth over the intended lifecycle. The link should have operating headroom so ordinary changes in weather or interference do not immediately cause service degradation.
Channel width is an important trade-off. Wider channels can increase potential throughput but expose the receiver to more noise and require a larger clean spectrum block. Narrower channels may be more stable in congested environments but provide less capacity. The most suitable setting is identified through spectrum analysis, path engineering, and commissioning tests.
RF planning, alignment, and interference control
A successful AF-5 deployment depends on disciplined radio planning. Clear visual line of sight is necessary, but it is not the only requirement. The Fresnel zone around the direct path also needs adequate clearance because objects inside that zone can cause diffraction and multipath effects even when the far endpoint can be seen. Trees, cranes, new buildings, rooftop equipment, and terrain changes can affect the path after installation, so the survey should consider future obstruction risk.
The AF-5’s narrow 6-degree beam helps concentrate energy and reduce reception from unwanted directions, but it also makes alignment accuracy important. Mounting structures must resist movement. A small mechanical shift at one end can significantly alter the receive level over a long path. Installers should use the alignment indicators, signal displays, and measured link statistics rather than relying only on visual aiming. Final alignment should be checked at both endpoints and secured after the best stable result is found.
Spectrum conditions in the 5 GHz range can vary throughout the day. A channel that appears quiet during installation may become busy later. Planning should include scans at representative times, consideration of nearby wireless operators, and a documented channel strategy. GPS synchronisation can support coordinated networks, but it does not remove the need for frequency planning. The chosen frequency and EIRP must remain within UAE requirements, including any Dynamic Frequency Selection obligations.
Link design should also account for noise-floor changes, adjacent-channel energy, and self-interference from radios installed at the same tower. Physical separation, polarisation, frequency spacing, shielding, synchronisation, and careful cable routing may all contribute to a cleaner installation. FourTeck can help the buyer define the information required for an RF specialist or installation partner to validate these factors before the equipment is committed.
Mechanical, power, and environmental preparation
The AF-5 is a substantial outdoor unit measuring approximately 938.4 by 468.4 by 281.4 millimetres and weighing 16 kilograms. The supplied pole-mount kit is part of the radio package, but the pole, tower leg, wall bracket, roof frame, anchors, and building structure are project components. They must be selected for the local site, equipment weight, wind exposure, maintenance access, and installation method. Ubiquiti states wind survivability of 200 km/h and wind loading of 863 N at that speed, but these product values do not certify the supporting structure.
Power reaches the unit through four-pair passive PoE using the included 50V, 1.2A Gigabit adapter. The installer should verify the AC supply, UPS runtime, earthing arrangement, cable length, cable category, shield continuity, surge protection, and indoor location of the injector. Passive PoE polarity and voltage must be treated carefully; connecting the radio to an incompatible power source can damage equipment. Outdoor cable should be UV resistant and routed with drip loops, weatherproof entry points, and adequate separation from high-voltage conductors.
Dubai’s heat, dust, humidity, and coastal salt exposure make workmanship important even where the stated operating-temperature range is suitable. Cable glands, connectors, grounding points, fasteners, and brackets should be inspected periodically. Rooftop installations also need safe access for future alignment checks or replacement. A maintenance plan should define who can reach the site, what tools are needed, and whether a spare unit or preconfigured replacement is held for important links.
Suitable business environments
Campus and education networks
A pair can link administration, teaching, accommodation, or sports buildings when fibre routes are unavailable. Capacity planning should include video, learning platforms, voice, and central services.
Warehouses and logistics compounds
The bridge can connect separated warehouses, gates, yards, and offices. Buyers should consider camera traffic, access control, handheld terminals, and the operational impact of link interruption.
Hospitality and resort sites
Properties with detached buildings may use a point-to-point path for guest systems, administration, surveillance, and telephony. Redundancy and traffic segmentation may be important.
Wireless service providers
Operators can evaluate AF-5 for transport between distribution sites. Spectrum reuse, GPS timing, tower loading, monitoring, spares, and regulatory compliance require operator-level planning.
Construction and temporary facilities
The system may provide project connectivity where a secure line of sight is available. Relocation plans, temporary structures, dust, power quality, and changing obstructions should be included in the design.
Industrial and utility locations
Remote buildings or operational zones can be linked for data, voice, telemetry, and video. Environmental hazards, electrical protection, network segmentation, and failover require project-specific review.
Network integration considerations
The AF-5 functions as part of a broader Ethernet environment. The design should define whether the link carries a transparent Layer 2 segment, routed traffic, management VLANs, voice, video, storage replication, or service-provider transport. Network teams should document MTU requirements, VLAN handling, quality-of-service expectations, spanning-tree behaviour, routing convergence, multicast traffic, and security controls at both ends.
Management access should be isolated from user traffic where practical. Use strong credentials, controlled administration networks, secure firmware processes, configuration backups, and monitoring. The 128-bit AES wireless encryption feature protects the radio link, but the overall security posture also depends on endpoint switches, routers, firewalls, identity controls, and operational practices.
For critical paths, consider diverse routing. A second wireless path should not share the same mast, power source, spectrum risk, or line-of-sight obstruction where true resilience is required. A wired or cellular failover may be more independent than a second radio mounted beside the first.
Operational ownership after installation
A wireless backhaul link needs ongoing visibility. The operations team should monitor signal strength, noise, modulation, throughput, Ethernet errors, temperature, uptime, and configuration changes. Baseline measurements taken at commissioning make it easier to identify gradual alignment drift, new interference, damaged cabling, or power problems.
Define who receives alerts, who can access each rooftop or tower, who holds configuration backups, and how replacement hardware will be obtained. Maintenance should include visual inspection of mounts, fasteners, cable jackets, grounding, surge protectors, connectors, and weather seals. After severe weather or construction work near the path, validate signal and alignment.
Firmware changes should be reviewed and tested rather than applied without a rollback plan. Important links benefit from documented change windows, spare strategy, and escalation contacts. FourTeck can help include configuration, documentation, and support coordination as separate quotation items where required.
Buyer questions to resolve before requesting a quote
Provide coordinates rather than an approximate road distance so the radio path can be assessed accurately.
Include roof, pole, or tower height and any nearby obstacles that may enter the Fresnel zone.
State current peak traffic, future growth, traffic direction, and the most sensitive applications.
Define acceptable downtime and whether a separately engineered failover path is needed.
Confirm safe access, mounting responsibility, cabling, grounding, spectrum configuration, and testing.
Specify units, accessories, cabling, surge protection, mounts, UPS, configuration, testing, documentation, and support.
Procurement checklist for the AF-5
✓ Exact AF-5 model and required quantity
✓ Two endpoints confirmed for each link
✓ Site coordinates and path distance
✓ Required throughput and traffic direction
✓ UAE frequency and EIRP review
✓ Spectrum survey and interference assessment
✓ Pole, tower, or wall mounting design
✓ Outdoor cable and surge protection
✓ Grounding and lightning protection scope
✓ Passive PoE and UPS arrangement
✓ Installation, alignment, and access method
✓ Configuration and acceptance testing
✓ Monitoring and support responsibility
✓ Current availability and warranty confirmation
How FourTeck can support the buying process
FourTeck can assist with requirement clarification before a quotation is prepared. This may include confirming whether the AF-5 is the requested exact model, reviewing the number of links and endpoints, identifying accessories and infrastructure items, and documenting the installation or configuration scope. For a more accurate discussion, buyers should provide the location of each endpoint, approximate or surveyed distance, target capacity, proposed mounting height, photographs, power availability, and preferred deployment date.
Where engineering input is needed, the commercial scope can separate product supply from path survey, RF planning, mounting, cabling, grounding, alignment, configuration, testing, and documentation. This is important because not every quotation automatically includes installation or project services. FourTeck can also help compare the AF-5 with nearby Ubiquiti airFiber options when the path, spectrum, or capacity requirement suggests another radio architecture may be more appropriate.
For broader infrastructure planning, review FourTeck’s business technology products, explore available installation and configuration services, or send project details through the FourTeck Dubai contact page. Buyers with multi-country requirements can also use the regional technology enquiry channel.
UAE availability and support guidance
Contact FourTeck to confirm current UAE availability for the Ubiquiti airFiber 5 Mid-Band AF-5. Availability may depend on quantity, product lifecycle, regional supply, and vendor lead time. The presence of a model on a manufacturer website does not by itself confirm local stock or a fixed delivery date. A quotation should identify the exact model, quantity, destination, included components, warranty terms, and any services requested.
For projects across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ajman, FourTeck can coordinate requirement review, quotation preparation, delivery planning, and discussion of installation or configuration scope after the sites and responsibilities are known. Rooftop access, tower work, permits, safety requirements, cable routes, power, grounding, and commissioning tests can materially change the project scope. Buyers should include these details early rather than treating the radio as a simple indoor device. Warranty guidance should be confirmed in the final commercial offer because coverage may vary by source, region, and vendor policy.
GCC availability
Organisations planning point-to-point wireless links across the GCC can ask FourTeck to review the intended destination, model, quantity, capacity target, and service scope before a quotation is coordinated. The AF-5 may be considered for projects in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman, but permitted frequency ranges, EIRP limits, import requirements, power arrangements, installation access, and service availability can differ by country. Product availability and vendor lead times can also vary by quantity and procurement channel. Share the two endpoint locations, deployment environment, required timeline, expected traffic, and whether the request includes only equipment or also survey, configuration, alignment, testing, and support. FourTeck can help organise model-selection and bill-of-material questions, but local regulatory approval and final RF design must be confirmed for the destination. For Kuwait-focused enquiries, buyers may also review FourTeck technology support in Kuwait.
Africa availability
FourTeck can support organisations evaluating the AF-5 for selected African deployments by clarifying the exact product requirement, endpoint count, accessories, power and mounting needs, configuration scope, and procurement destination. Projects in East Africa and other regions often require careful checks for local frequency rules, power standards, shipping arrangements, site access, tower condition, climate exposure, vendor lead time, and the availability of qualified installation resources. Buyers should provide the destination country, two site coordinates, link distance, desired capacity, quantity, deployment schedule, and expectations for installation, support, or training. Availability should be confirmed for each request; no assumption should be made about local inventory, customs outcomes, or immediate shipment. Regional project planners can explore FourTeck Africa technology coordination, as well as dedicated information for Kenya technology projects and Uganda business technology requirements.
Related options and services to consider
Ubiquiti airFiber 5 High-Band AF-5U
A closely related integrated model with a different high-band frequency profile. It should not be substituted without checking regional frequency requirements and the exact design.
Ubiquiti airFiber 5XHD
A separate-radio architecture used with a compatible external antenna. It may suit designs that need different antenna gain or form-factor choices, subject to engineering review.
Point-to-point link survey
A survey can validate line of sight, Fresnel clearance, mounting, cable routes, power, spectrum conditions, access, and structural constraints before purchase.
Installation and alignment
Professional mounting, grounding, weatherproof cabling, precise alignment, configuration, testing, and documentation can be scoped separately according to the site.
Network resilience planning
Critical links may require an independent backup circuit, monitored failover, UPS protection, replacement strategy, and operational escalation process.
Surge and grounding components
Outdoor Ethernet paths need compatible surge protection and grounding selected for the site. Exact compatibility and installation method should be confirmed.
Why businesses contact FourTeck
Businesses commonly contact FourTeck when they need to convert a broad connectivity requirement into a clearer procurement request. For the AF-5, this can mean checking the exact model, identifying how many units are required, clarifying the link objective, separating hardware from installation services, and ensuring the quotation reflects mounting, cabling, power, grounding, configuration, and testing needs. FourTeck can also help buyers compare alternative Ubiquiti radio options without assuming that nearby models have identical frequency support or performance.
The purpose of the consultation is to reduce ambiguity before ordering. It does not replace a qualified RF survey, structural assessment, or local regulatory approval. Buyers receive the greatest value when they share accurate site data, realistic capacity goals, a clear support expectation, and the intended project schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Is the AF-5 sold as a complete point-to-point link?
A working point-to-point link normally requires one compatible radio at each endpoint, so buyers commonly need two AF-5 units per path. The exact package, quantity, mounting additions, cabling, protection, and services should be confirmed in the quotation.
Can the AF-5 always deliver 1.2+ Gbps?
No fixed application throughput should be assumed. The stated maximum depends on channel width, modulation, duplex configuration, signal quality, interference, regulatory limits, packet conditions, and link engineering.
Can it be used for a 100 km link?
Ubiquiti states a 100+ km maximum range, dependent on regulatory region. A link at that scale requires detailed path profiling, earth-curvature and Fresnel analysis, adequate tower height, link-budget validation, legal frequency use, and realistic capacity expectations.
Does the AF-5 require a separate antenna?
No. The AF-5 is an integrated system with 23 dBi transmit and receive antenna gain. This distinguishes it from modular radios such as the AF-5XHD, which are used with compatible external antennas.
What power supply is included?
Ubiquiti lists a 50V, 1.2A Gigabit passive PoE adapter as included. The radio uses four-pair passive PoE and supports 42–58V DC. It should not be connected to an unverified PoE source.
Is a licence or subscription required?
No recurring software subscription is identified as a base requirement for the radio itself. However, frequency licensing or regulatory permission may be region dependent, and any management, support, or service arrangements should be confirmed separately.
Can FourTeck install and configure the link?
Installation, mounting, cabling, grounding, alignment, configuration, testing, and documentation can be discussed as project scope items. Availability and pricing depend on the sites, access conditions, distance, structural needs, and responsibilities.
What information is needed for a quotation?
Provide the required quantity, endpoint coordinates, link distance, capacity target, mounting height, site photographs, delivery destination, desired timeline, and whether the request includes survey, installation, configuration, or support.
Is the AF-5 currently available in Dubai?
Current UAE availability must be confirmed at the time of enquiry. Supply can depend on quantity, regional channel, product lifecycle, and vendor lead time. FourTeck can coordinate an availability check and quotation.
Discuss your AF-5 link requirement
Send the endpoint locations, required capacity, quantity, and preferred project scope. FourTeck can help organise model confirmation, quotation, current UAE availability, and installation planning.
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