--- title: "Startup tech office space in Manama" description: "Where startup tech occupiers cluster in Manama, what they pay, and what the typical fit-out looks like." canonical: https://classa.info/cities/manama/industries/startup-tech pageType: city-industry lastUpdated: 2026-04-15T00:00:00.000Z license: "CC BY 4.0 with attribution to Class A Atlas (https://classa.info)." --- > Startup tech occupiers in Manama typically cluster in Seef, plan ~130 sqft per seat at mid fit-out ($105–150/sqft), and pay around 100 BHD/sqft ($25 USD) on Class A. ## TL;DR - Preferred submarket: Seef. - Typical fit-out spec: Mid ($105–150/sqft). - Plan ~130 sqft per seat for headcount sizing. - Class A rent context: 100 BHD/sqft ($25 USD). - Typical lease: 5 years with 6 months rent-free. - Talent depth in Manama: 76/100. # Startup tech office space in Manama **Startup tech occupiers in Manama typically cluster in Seef, plan ~130 sqft per seat at mid [fit-out](/topics/fit-out-capex)">fit-out ($105–150/sqft), and pay around 100 BHD/sqft ($25 USD) on [Class A](/glossary/class-a).** ## TL;DR - Preferred submarket: Seef. - Typical fit-out spec: Mid ($105–150/sqft). - Plan ~130 sqft per seat for headcount sizing. - Class A rent context: 100 BHD/sqft ($25 USD). - Typical lease: 5 years with 6 months rent-free. - Talent depth in Manama: 76/100. ## Where they cluster Startup tech occupiers in Manama typically anchor in Seef. Banking branches, retail HQs, professional services, hospitality. ## What they pay Class A rent in Manama runs 100 BHD/sqft ($25 USD) on a 5-year lease with 6 months free. Prime submarkets sit at or modestly above the city index. ## Spec and fit-out Typical startup tech fit-out targets mid specification at $105–150/sqft. Functional Cat-B with branded reception and standard meeting-room mix is standard. ## Headcount sizing Plan around 130 sqft per seat blended (workstation + circulation + amenity). A 100-headcount startups office in Manama typically targets 13,000 sqft of leasable area. ## Talent angle Series B–D scale-ups prioritize flexibility and signature loft stock to attract engineering talent away from incumbents. Strong Islamic banking, fintech, asset management, and reinsurance talent. University of Bahrain, Royal University for Women, and BIBF (Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance) anchor the regional pipeline. Multilingual (Arabic, English) talent supports international tenancy. ## Tax and lease context Headline corporate tax: 0%. Bahraini gross structure (rent inclusive of utilities and basic services). 3-5 year terms standard. Rent-free of 4-8 months on 5-year terms plus BHD 30-60/sqm TI typical. ## Key facts | city | Manama| | industry | Startup tech| | naics | 541511, 541512, 518210| | preferredSubmarket | Seef| | preferredFitoutSpec | Mid| | fitoutBand | $105–150/sqft| | sqftPerSeat | 130| | classARentLocal | 100 BHD/sqft/yr| | classARentUsd | $25/sqft/yr| | vacancyPct | 17.4%| | typicalLeaseYears | 5| | typicalRentFreeMonths | 6| | talentIndex | 76| | corporateTaxPct | 0%| ## Frequently asked questions ****Where do startup tech occupiers lease office space in Manama?**** : Most cluster in Seef. Rent runs ~100 BHD/sqft ($25 USD) for trophy and prime stock. ****What fit-out spec do startup tech occupiers run in Manama?**** : Typically mid at $105–150/sqft. ****How much office space per seat should a startup tech occupier plan in Manama?**** : Plan ~130 sqft per seat blended. A 100-person team typically takes 13,000 sqft. ****What NAICS codes describe the startup tech vertical?**** : Representative NAICS 2022 codes: 541511, 541512, 518210. ****What is the talent index in Manama?**** : 76/100. Use the city profile for full detail. ## Related - [**Startup tech — global overview**](/industries/startup-tech) - [**Manama — full city profile**](/cities/manama) - [**Financial services in Manama**](/cities/manama/industries/financial-services) - [**Asset management in Manama**](/cities/manama/industries/asset-management) - [**Investment banking in Manama**](/cities/manama/industries/investment-banking) - [**Legal services in Manama**](/cities/manama/industries/legal-services) ## Editorial provenance Reviewed by [**Class A Atlas Editorial Desk**](/about/authors/class-a-atlas-editorial-desk) — House byline · global editorial team. Last updated 2026-04-15. See our [methodology](/about/methodology) and [editorial standards](/about/editorial-standards). ### Primary sources for this page - [CBRE Marketview reports](https://www.cbre.com/insights) — CBRE - [JLL Office Insight](https://www.jll.com/en/trends-and-insights) — JLL - [Cushman & Wakefield Marketbeat](https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en/insights) — Cushman & Wakefield - [Savills World Research](https://www.savills.com/research_articles/) — Savills - [Colliers Global Office Outlook](https://www.colliers.com/en/research) — Colliers [Full sources index](/about/sources) · [Submit a correction](/about/corrections) ## Related topics - [**Class A Lease Negotiation**](/topics/class-a-lease-negotiation) — How to negotiate a Class A office lease — the playbook from LOI to signed deal. - [**Hybrid Workplace Strategy**](/topics/hybrid-workplace-strategy) — How to size, structure, and lease a Class A office for a hybrid workforce. - [**ESG / LEED for Tenants**](/topics/esg-leed-tenants) — How tenants evaluate, negotiate, and report on ESG performance in a Class A office lease. - [**Cross-border Expansion**](/topics/cross-border-expansion) — How to run a coordinated Class A office search across multiple geographies. - [**Fit-out Capex**](/topics/fit-out-capex) — How to budget, sequence, and govern Class A office fit-out capex. - [**Lease vs Flex**](/topics/lease-vs-flex) — When premium flex (coworking, [managed office](/glossary/managed-office)) beats a conventional Class A lease — and vice versa. --- Citation: Source: Class A Atlas (https://classa.info/cities/manama/industries/startup-tech), updated 2026-04-15T00:00:00.000Z.