As organisations navigate shifting market conditions and evolving workforce needs, how are you reshaping your Middle East real estate footprint to support growth, agility and long-term business goals?
Organisations across the Middle East are increasingly adopting flexible workspace strategies that blend traditional offices with coworking spaces and satellite locations, allowing them to scale operations quickly while managing costs effectively. Many are prioritising strategic locations in emerging business districts and free zones that offer regulatory advantages, modern infrastructure, and access to diverse talent pools.
Technology integration has become central to real estate decisions, with companies seeking smart buildings that enable hybrid work models and provide data-driven insights into space utilisation. Additionally, organisations are incorporating sustainability requirements into their real estate portfolios to align with regional ESG commitments and attract talent who prioritise environmental responsibility.
This strategic approach to real estate enables businesses to remain agile in response to market fluctuations while supporting employee wellbeing and operational efficiency.
With businesses under increasing pressure to do more with less, what role does the physical workplace now play in driving productivity, collaboration, and smarter use of space?
The physical workplace has evolved into a strategic asset that directly influences business performance, with organisations designing spaces that prioritise collaboration zones, quiet focus areas and technology-enabled rooms to maximise productivity. Occupiers prioritise accessibility, quality, and locations. Cost remains critical but not at the expense of quality, efficiency and access to amenities.
JLL research shows companies using workplace analytics discover 30-40% of office space remains underutilised during peak hours, presenting significant right-sizing opportunities. Modern offices now serve as collaboration hubs for high-value activities while routine work shifts to remote settings, with activity-based environments enabling organisations to reduce their footprint by 20-30% while improving employee satisfaction.
This strategic approach transforms real estate from fixed overhead into a flexible tool that adapts to evolving business needs while supporting both financial objectives and workforce wellbeing.
From an investment perspective, what makes the GCC an attractive market for long-term workspace expansion, even as global businesses face tighter budgets and changing priorities?
The GCC presents exceptional long-term workspace expansion opportunities driven by substantial government-backed infrastructure investment. The Middle East has USD 3 trillion in projects cash flow through 2030, with the UAE alone accounting for USD 795 billion. The region’s strategic economic diversification initiatives, such as UAE’s Operation 300bn and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, are creating sustained demand across multiple sectors while offering compelling tax advantages including 0% income tax and competitive corporate tax rates.
Office markets demonstrate strong fundamentals with exceptionally low vacancy rates. Dubai’s Prime and Grade A vacancy sits at 0.2% and 3.4% respectively, while Abu Dhabi reports 0.1% Prime and 1.0% Grade A vacancy, supporting stable rental growth and investor returns (data from pre Iran war situation).
Additionally, continued business-friendly regulatory reforms, streamlined licensing through initiatives like NextGenFDI, and the presence of over 7,700 companies in DIFC alone demonstrate the region’s ability to attract quality tenants that provide long-term income stability for workspace investors.
The region is known for its pace of development and innovation. How are you using flexible workspace models and agile real estate strategies to respond to changing business demands and unlock greater efficiency?
Organisations are focused on portfolio optimisation and strategic growth, with reducing operating costs, optimising space utilisation, and achieving organisational efficiency emerging as the top three priorities for corporate real estate organisations. Despite cost pressures, the majority of occupiers anticipate portfolio expansion rather than contraction, with demand remaining resilient across global markets and gross leasing volumes showing steady activity.
The focus has shifted from workplace planning to implementation, with organisations now actively executing their real estate strategies rather than merely conceptualising them, indicating a move toward decisive action in reshaping portfolios. Sustainability, employee experience, and supporting business growth round out the top priorities, demonstrating that occupiers are balancing financial discipline with strategic investments in ESG credentials and workforce wellbeing to maintain competitive advantage.
For global brands, maintaining a strong workplace presence in the Middle East sends a clear message. What does continued investment here say about the region’s strategic importance in an increasingly competitive global market?
Continued investment in Middle East workplace presence signals that global brands view the region as a critical growth engine and strategic gateway to emerging markets, with the UAE leading as the highest amongst the region in expected headcount growth. The sustained commitment demonstrates confidence in the region’s economic transformation and government initiatives creating diversified, knowledge-based economies that attract multinational corporations seeking stable, long-term operational bases.
The concentration of 7,700 active companies in DIFC and 11,128 licenses in ADGM, combined with 25% year-over-year growth in these financial centers, underscores that the region has evolved beyond a sales office location into a strategic headquarters hub for regional and global operations.
Global brands’ willingness to commit to premium Grade A space – prioritising efficient floor plates, central CBD locations, and sustainable building certifications, reflects their recognition that the Middle East offers unparalleled access to high-net-worth consumers, favorable tax environments and positioning within a rapidly growing market of strategic geopolitical and economic importance.
What is your favourite project so far or if there are any upcoming projects they are excited for?
The scale and ambition of initiatives in the ME region are all equally exciting. What stands out is the expansive growth in mix-use developments and how the ME region is harnessing this momentum to position itself further in the global market. These transformative developments such as Al Maktoum International Airport expansion creating the world’s largest aviation hub is an exciting example.
