Where do real estate and infrastructure occupiers lease office space in Dubai?

Most cluster in DIFC. Rent runs ~145 AED/sqft ($39 USD) for trophy and prime stock.

What fit-out spec do real estate and infrastructure occupiers run in Dubai?

Typically high-end at $165–240/sqft.

How much office space per seat should a real estate and infrastructure occupier plan in Dubai?

Plan ~215 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 21,500 sqft.

What NAICS codes describe the real estate and infrastructure vertical?

Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 531, 237.

What is the talent index in Dubai?

78/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Real estate and infrastructure occupiers in Dubai typically cluster in DIFC, plan ~215 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out ($165–240/sqft), and pay around 145 AED/sqft ($39 USD) on Class A.

Preferred submarket: DIFC.
Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($165–240/sqft).
Plan ~215 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.

Real estate and infrastructure office space in Dubai

Real estate and infrastructure occupiers in Dubai typically cluster in DIFC, plan ~215 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: DIFC.
Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($165–240/sqft).
Plan ~215 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

Real estate and infrastructure occupiers in Dubai typically anchor in DIFC. Investment banks, asset managers, hedge funds, family offices, insurance, law firms.

What they pay

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.

Spec and fit-out

Typical real estate and infrastructure 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 215 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount real estate office in Dubai typically targets 21,500 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Sponsor and asset-management teams favor trophy CBD addresses with proximity to investment-banking and law-firm tenancy. 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

city	Dubai
industry	Real estate and infrastructure
naics	531, 237
preferredSubmarket	DIFC
preferredFitoutSpec	High-end
fitoutBand	$165–240/sqft
sqftPerSeat	215
classARentLocal	145 AED/sqft/yr
classARentUsd	$39/sqft/yr
vacancyPct	5.8%
typicalLeaseYears	3
typicalRentFreeMonths	3
talentIndex	78
corporateTaxPct	9%

Frequently asked questions

Where do real estate and infrastructure occupiers lease office space in Dubai?: Most cluster in DIFC. Rent runs ~145 AED/sqft ($39 USD) for trophy and prime stock.
What fit-out spec do real estate and infrastructure occupiers run in Dubai?: Typically high-end at $165–240/sqft.
How much office space per seat should a real estate and infrastructure occupier plan in Dubai?: Plan ~215 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 21,500 sqft.
What NAICS codes describe the real estate and infrastructure vertical?: Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 531, 237.
What is the talent index in Dubai?: 78/100. Use the city profile for full detail.

Editorial provenance

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

Primary sources for this page

CBRE Marketview reports — CBRE
JLL Office Insight — JLL
Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat — Cushman & Wakefield
Savills World Research — Savills
Colliers Global Office Outlook — Colliers

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