Where do government and public affairs occupiers lease office space in Riyadh?

Most cluster in Diplomatic Quarter. Rent runs ~2200 SAR/sqft ($55 USD) for trophy and prime stock.

What fit-out spec do government and public affairs occupiers run in Riyadh?

Typically high-end at $5500–8200/sqft.

How much office space per seat should a government and public affairs occupier plan in Riyadh?

Plan ~240 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 24,000 sqft.

What NAICS codes describe the government and public affairs vertical?

Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 813, 541820.

What is the talent index in Riyadh?

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

Government and public affairs occupiers in Riyadh typically cluster in Diplomatic Quarter, plan ~240 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out ($5500–8200/sqft), and pay around 2200 SAR/sqft ($55 USD) on Class A.

Preferred submarket: Diplomatic Quarter.
Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($5500–8200/sqft).
Plan ~240 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
Class A rent context: 2200 SAR/sqft ($55 USD).
Typical lease: 5 years with 4 months rent-free.
Talent depth in Riyadh: 78/100.

Government and public affairs office space in Riyadh

Government and public affairs occupiers in Riyadh typically cluster in Diplomatic Quarter, plan ~240 sqft per seat at high-end fit-out">fit-out ($5500–8200/sqft), and pay around 2200 SAR/sqft ($55 USD) on Class A.

TL;DR

Preferred submarket: Diplomatic Quarter.
Typical fit-out spec: High-end ($5500–8200/sqft).
Plan ~240 sqft per seat for headcount sizing.
Class A rent context: 2200 SAR/sqft ($55 USD).
Typical lease: 5 years with 4 months rent-free.
Talent depth in Riyadh: 78/100.

Where they cluster

Government and public affairs occupiers in Riyadh typically anchor in Diplomatic Quarter. Embassies, consulates, diplomatic agencies, international NGOs.

What they pay

Class A rent in Riyadh runs 2200 SAR/sqft ($55 USD) on a 5-year lease with 4 months free. Prime submarkets sit at or modestly above the city index.

Spec and fit-out

Typical government and public affairs fit-out targets high-end specification at $5500–8200/sqft. Branded reception, full client-facing programming, premium furniture, and specialist AV are standard.

Headcount sizing

Plan around 240 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount public office in Riyadh typically targets 24,000 sqft of leasable area.

Talent angle

Lobbying and public-affairs teams cluster near legislative anchors; long-duration leases and conservative concession packages are normal. Growing tech, finance, and professional services talent. Strong Saudi national talent pipeline through Vision 2030 education programs. Saudization (Nitaqat) program requires meeting Saudi national employment quotas.

Tax and lease context

Headline corporate tax: 20%. Net leases. 5-year terms with renewal options standard. Free rent of 3-6 months on a 5-year Class A deal.

Key facts

city	Riyadh
industry	Government and public affairs
naics	813, 541820
preferredSubmarket	Diplomatic Quarter
preferredFitoutSpec	High-end
fitoutBand	$5500–8200/sqft
sqftPerSeat	240
classARentLocal	2200 SAR/sqft/yr
classARentUsd	$55/sqft/yr
vacancyPct	4.6%
typicalLeaseYears	5
typicalRentFreeMonths	4
talentIndex	78
corporateTaxPct	20%

Frequently asked questions

Where do government and public affairs occupiers lease office space in Riyadh?: Most cluster in Diplomatic Quarter. Rent runs ~2200 SAR/sqft ($55 USD) for trophy and prime stock.
What fit-out spec do government and public affairs occupiers run in Riyadh?: Typically high-end at $5500–8200/sqft.
How much office space per seat should a government and public affairs occupier plan in Riyadh?: Plan ~240 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 24,000 sqft.
What NAICS codes describe the government and public affairs vertical?: Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 813, 541820.
What is the talent index in Riyadh?: 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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