Investment banking occupiers in Dubai typically cluster in DIFC, plan ~215 sqft per seat at trophy fit-out ($240–360/sqft), and pay around 145 AED/sqft ($39 USD) on Class A.
Investment banking occupiers in Dubai typically cluster in DIFC, plan ~215 sqft per seat at trophy fit-out">fit-out ($240–360/sqft), and pay around 145 AED/sqft ($39 USD) on Class A.
Investment banking occupiers in Dubai typically anchor in DIFC. Investment banks, asset managers, hedge funds, family offices, insurance, law firms.
Class A rent in Dubai runs 145 AED/sqft ($39 USD) on a 3-year lease with 3 months free. Trophy submarkets command a 20–40% premium above the city index.
Typical investment banking fit-out targets trophy specification at $240–360/sqft. Bespoke design, signature feature, top-tier MEP and acoustic packages are standard.
Plan around 215 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount banking office in Dubai typically targets 21,500 sqft of leasable area.
Bulge-bracket teams favor signature trophy assets with full client-facing programming and large floor plates. Deepest cross-border financial-services and consulting talent pool in the Middle East. Average all-in compensation indexes 78.
Headline corporate tax: 9%. Standard lease 3 years with annual rent escalators (typically 5%) and a renewal option. Service charges billed separately. Security deposit of 5-10% standard. Ejari (lease registration) is mandatory.
| city | Dubai |
|---|---|
| industry | Investment banking |
| naics | 523150, 522110 |
| preferredSubmarket | DIFC |
| preferredFitoutSpec | Trophy |
| fitoutBand | $240–360/sqft |
| sqftPerSeat | 215 |
| classARentLocal | 145 AED/sqft/yr |
| classARentUsd | $39/sqft/yr |
| vacancyPct | 5.8% |
| typicalLeaseYears | 3 |
| typicalRentFreeMonths | 3 |
| talentIndex | 78 |
| corporateTaxPct | 9% |
Reviewed by Samuel Okafor — EMEA contributing editor. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.