Emerging Trends in Dubai Property Market

Summary: Dubai real estate is witnessing a number of changes in the commercial sector. One of the emerging trends in the commercial property market is the conversion of warehouse space to office premises. Thus, supply of the real estate market in Dubai is shaping up to meet the property demand.

Dubai real estate is witnessing a number of changes in the commercial sector. One of the emerging trends in the commercial property market is the conversion of warehouse space to office premises. Companies that require large open plan spaces, such as advertising or marketing companies have been seen to lease warehouse space and easily transform it into efficient office space. This provides a cost effective solution for businesses that need to be near the business centre but may not wish to pay the premium rates of prime location office space. Warehouse rental rates suitable for office conversions fluctuate between 40-65AED per sq. ft (warehouse space rent exclusively used for storage purposes averages 28-35AED per sq. ft), whereas rents in the Central Business District (CBD) may be 225-250AED per sq. ft. The property market in Dubai is tight and therefore the concept of Split Offices has come into being. Many professional services firms, faced with the prospect of particularly high rents in prime locations tend to lease a small space suitable for client meetings in the Central Business District so as to boast an address on a prestigious location such as e.g. Sheikh Zayed Road, and move their operations to a secondary location where rents may be more affordable e.g. Garhoud, thus effectively saving on huge overheads. Thus, supply of the real estate market in Dubai is shaping up to meet the property demand.