Appeal of UAE boosts supply of office space |
|
Network this!
The UAE is growing as a business hub and as new companies move into the market they obviously need a base, which has seen office space double in some areas.
Dubai has been the most lucrative with office space growing by 200 per cent this year alone, according to organisers of The Office Exhibition, DMG World MediaDMG World Media
.The annual event will be held for the eighth time next March and a record number of exhibitors are expected as multinationals and local firms set up shop here.
"This is a boom time for office suppliers," says Exhibition Director Sinead Bridgett. "The regional trend is highlighted in Abu Dhabi where, since 2000, office supply has grown by 50 per cent to a total of 460,000 square metres of gross floor area.
"This growth will accelerate in the next five years as the new master plan for the city takes shape, and it's a similar pattern in Dubai and other parts of the region."
It is also a lucrative time for office outfitters, with more than half of the companies spending between $300,000 and $1 million (Dh1.1m to Dh3.67m) on design and equipment, with some investing even more.
"The event is a valuable one-stop shop for the region's wealthy architectural and interior design firms, for consultants and specifiers, agents and distributors, as well as for the aspirational end-user," adds Bridgett.
Almost 300 companies from 25 countries are expected to be involved, with manufacturers and suppliers of workstations, IT systems and security and lighting all pushing their latest products.
New company Red is one supplier due to take part and it sees the event as an opportunity. Hani Al Qasem, Managing Director of Red's parent company, The Arki Group says, styles - just as in the fashion industry - are also changing in the workplace. "Office style used to be more conventional and simple; this has started to change towards more modern and timeless interiors and furniture in the last few years," he says, adding that the construction boom in Dubai has been particularly beneficial. Yet, as we are finding with a number of sectors, furniture manufacturers are not immune from the global slowdown and as such Al Qasem is braced for any problems that may lie ahead.
"The financial crisis has seen some projects being put on hold and cash flow is being slowed down in recent months," he says.
However, other companies are still pressing ahead. Chris Watson, Managing Director of interior design firm KPSKPS
, says: "A lot of the growth has to do with Dubai establishing itself as a prominent business district. Over the past five years we have seen 30 to 40 per cent growth year-on-year."And with reports of a shortage of office space in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, companies must make the most of what they have. This could prove lucrative for some as international firms continue to demand a presence, due to the UAE being an emerging market.
© Emirates Business 24/7 2008
Community Comments (0) - 
Comment on this article 
Comment on this article
The opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect Zawya. Read our Comment Policy.
Loading ...
Zawya Comment Policy:
-
Zawya encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You agree that when you add content to this discussion your comments will not:
1.1 Contain any material which is libelous or defamatory of any person, is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory or causes damage to the reputation of any person or organisation.
1.2 Promote sexually explicit material, violence, discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age or any illegal activity.
1.3 Be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence.
1.4 Be threatening, abuse or invade another's privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety.
1.5 Be used to impersonate any person, to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person, or be likely to deceive any person.
1.6 Give the impression that they represent Zawya.
1.7 Advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse. - The content posted on www.zawya.com is created by members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of Zawya. Zawya reserves the right to review all comments prior to posting and edit or delete any contribution, but Zawya is not responsible for and can not be held liable for any content posted by members of the public on www.zawya.com.
- Zawya is not responsible for the availability or content of any third party sites that are accessible through www.zawya.com. Any links to third party websites from www.zawya.com do not amount to any endorsement of that site by Zawya and any use of that site by you is at your own risk.
- By submitting your comment, you hereby give Zawya the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comments worldwide, in perpetuity.
Loading ...Community Buzz
Stories
Companies
Most viewed companies by Community in the last 24 hrs
| Company Name | Country | Industry |
| Saudi Binladin Group | Saudi Arabia | Construction and Design |
| Consolidated Contractors Company | Overseas | Construction and Design |
| Saudi Electricity Company | Saudi Arabia | Electric Utilities |
| Dodsal Engineering and Construction | UAE | Construction and Design |
| Saudi Telecom | Saudi Arabia | Telecommunications Services |
| Emirates Telecommunications Corporation | UAE | Telecommunications Services |
| Al Azizia Panda United Company | Saudi Arabia | General Retailers |
| Agility Public Warehousing Company | Kuwait | Transportation Services |
| Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company - Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia | Construction and Design |
| Saudi Basic Industries Corporation | Saudi Arabia | Petrochemicals |
Projects
Most viewed projects by Community in the last 24 hrs
| Project Name | Country | Sector |
| Takreer - Ruwais Refinery Expansion | UAE | Oil and Gas |
| ENEC - Nuclear Power Plant | UAE | Power and Water |
| Emirates Aluminium (EMAL) - Smelter Complex - Phase 1 | UAE | Industry |
| SATORP - Jubail Refinery and Petrochemical Complex | Saudi Arabia | Oil and Gas |
| Dubai RTA - Dubai Metro | UAE | Infrastructure |
| Qatar Foundation - Sidra Medical and Research Center | Qatar | Real Estate |
| ADNOC/ConocoPhillips - Sour Gas Fields Development - Shah Field | UAE | Oil and Gas |
| SATORP- Jubail Refinery and Petrochemical Complex - Conversion Unit and Sulphur Package (Part 2) | Saudi Arabia | Oil and Gas |
| Abu Dhabi DOT - Abu Dhabi Metro | UAE | Infrastructure |
| Takreer - Ruwais Refinery Expansion - Offsites and Utilities Package | UAE | Oil and Gas |