--- title: "Startup tech office space in Riyadh" description: "Where startup tech occupiers cluster in Riyadh, what they pay, and what the typical fit-out looks like." canonical: https://classa.info/cities/riyadh/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 Riyadh typically cluster in Diplomatic Quarter, plan ~130 sqft per seat at mid fit-out ($3600–5400/sqft), and pay around 2200 SAR/sqft ($55 USD) on Class A. ## TL;DR - Preferred submarket: Diplomatic Quarter. - Typical fit-out spec: Mid ($3600–5400/sqft). - Plan ~130 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. # Startup tech office space in Riyadh **Startup tech occupiers in Riyadh typically cluster in Diplomatic Quarter, plan ~130 sqft per seat at mid [fit-out](/topics/fit-out-capex)">fit-out ($3600–5400/sqft), and pay around 2200 SAR/sqft ($55 USD) on [Class A](/glossary/class-a).** ## TL;DR - Preferred submarket: Diplomatic Quarter. - Typical fit-out spec: Mid ($3600–5400/sqft). - Plan ~130 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 Startup tech 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 startup tech fit-out targets mid specification at $3600–5400/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 Riyadh 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. 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](/topics/lease-renewal-strategy) options standard. Free rent of 3-6 months on a 5-year Class A deal. ## Key facts | city | Riyadh| | industry | Startup tech| | naics | 541511, 541512, 518210| | preferredSubmarket | Diplomatic Quarter| | preferredFitoutSpec | Mid| | fitoutBand | $3600–5400/sqft| | sqftPerSeat | 130| | 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 startup tech 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 startup tech occupiers run in Riyadh?**** : Typically mid at $3600–5400/sqft. ****How much office space per seat should a startup tech occupier plan in Riyadh?**** : 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 Riyadh?**** : 78/100. Use the city profile for full detail. ## Related - [**Startup tech — global overview**](/industries/startup-tech) - [**Riyadh — full city profile**](/cities/riyadh) - [**Financial services in Riyadh**](/cities/riyadh/industries/financial-services) - [**Asset management in Riyadh**](/cities/riyadh/industries/asset-management) - [**Investment banking in Riyadh**](/cities/riyadh/industries/investment-banking) - [**Legal services in Riyadh**](/cities/riyadh/industries/legal-services) ## Editorial provenance Reviewed by [**Samuel Okafor**](/about/authors/samuel-okafor) — EMEA contributing editor. 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/riyadh/industries/startup-tech), updated 2026-04-15T00:00:00.000Z.