Startup tech occupiers in Dubai typically cluster in Downtown / Business Bay, plan ~130 sqft per seat at mid fit-out ($105–160/sqft), and pay around 145 AED/sqft ($39 USD) on Class A.
Startup tech occupiers in Dubai typically cluster in Downtown / Business Bay, plan ~130 sqft per seat at mid fit-out">fit-out ($105–160/sqft), and pay around 145 AED/sqft ($39 USD) on Class A.
Startup tech occupiers in Dubai typically anchor in Downtown / Business Bay. Corporate HQs, professional services, regional headquarters.
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.
Typical startup tech fit-out targets mid specification at $105–160/sqft. Functional Cat-B with branded reception and standard meeting-room mix is standard.
Plan around 130 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount startups office in Dubai typically targets 13,000 sqft of leasable area.
Series B–D scale-ups prioritize flexibility and signature loft stock to attract engineering talent away from incumbents. 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 | Startup tech |
| naics | 541511, 541512, 518210 |
| preferredSubmarket | Downtown / Business Bay |
| preferredFitoutSpec | Mid |
| fitoutBand | $105–160/sqft |
| sqftPerSeat | 130 |
| 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.