Media and entertainment occupiers in Dubai typically cluster in Downtown / Business Bay, plan ~165 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out ($165–240/sqft), and pay around 145 AED/sqft ($39 USD) on Class A.

  • Preferred submarket: Downtown / Business Bay.
  • Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($165–240/sqft).
  • Plan ~165 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
  • Class A rent context: 145 AED/sqft ($39 USD).
  • Typical lease: 3 years with 3 months rent-free.
  • Talent depth in Dubai: 78/100.

Media and entertainment office space in Dubai

Media and entertainment occupiers in Dubai typically cluster in Downtown / Business Bay, plan ~165 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out">fit-out ($165–240/sqft), and pay around 145 AED/sqft ($39 USD) on Class A.

TL;DR

  • Preferred submarket: Downtown / Business Bay.
  • Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($165–240/sqft).
  • Plan ~165 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
  • Class A rent context: 145 AED/sqft ($39 USD).
  • Typical lease: 3 years with 3 months rent-free.
  • Talent depth in Dubai: 78/100.

Where they cluster

Media and entertainment occupiers in Dubai typically anchor in Downtown / Business Bay. Corporate HQs, professional services, regional headquarters.

What they pay

Class A rent in Dubai runs 145 AED/sqft ($39 USD) on a 3-year lease with 3 months free. Prime submarkets sit at or modestly above the city index.

Spec and fit-out

Typical media and entertainment fit-out targets high-end specification at $165–240/sqft. Branded reception, full client-facing programming, premium furniture, and specialist AV are standard.

Headcount sizing

Plan around 165 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount media office in Dubai typically targets 16,500 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Creative-class talent prefers loft-style, photogenic submarkets with adjacent agency and post-production ecosystems. Deepest cross-border financial-services and consulting talent pool in the Middle East. Average all-in compensation indexes 78.

Tax and lease context

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.

Key facts

cityDubai
industryMedia and entertainment
naics512, 515, 519130
preferredSubmarketDowntown / Business Bay
preferredFitoutSpecHigh-end
fitoutBand$165–240/sqft
sqftPerSeat165
classARentLocal145 AED/sqft/yr
classARentUsd$39/sqft/yr
vacancyPct5.8%
typicalLeaseYears3
typicalRentFreeMonths3
talentIndex78
corporateTaxPct9%

Frequently asked questions

Where do media and entertainment occupiers lease office space in Dubai?
Most cluster in Downtown / Business Bay. Rent runs ~145 AED/sqft ($39 USD) for trophy and prime stock.
What fit-out spec do media and entertainment occupiers run in Dubai?
Typically high-end at $165–240/sqft.
How much office space per seat should a media and entertainment occupier plan in Dubai?
Plan ~165 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 16,500 sqft.
What NAICS codes describe the media and entertainment vertical?
Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 512, 515, 519130.
What is the talent index in Dubai?
78/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

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Editorial provenance

Reviewed by Samuel Okafor — EMEA contributing editor. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our methodology and editorial standards.

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