The 2025 Dubai Office Market Report by Savills reinforces what we’re seeing first-hand at HTS Interiors: Dubai’s office market remains highly competitive, but the real shift is how occupiers are responding.
With Q4 2025 average rents reaching AED 255 per square foot, a 32.4% year-on-year increase, office space is no longer just a line item. It’s a strategic asset. While rental growth began to moderate towards the end of the year, occupier expectations around quality, efficiency, and long-term value continue to rise.
For the design and build industry, this marks a transition from rapid expansion to smarter, more considered workplace investment.
Smaller Offices, Smarter Design
Savills highlights that 63% of tenant enquiries are for offices under 5,000 square feet, a trend that aligns strongly with our recent projects.
Smaller footprints demand:
- Intelligent space planning that maximises every square foot
- Flexible, multi-functional layouts
- Thoughtful integration of storage, collaboration, and focused work zones
At HTS Interiors, we see this as an opportunity. When space is limited, design quality becomes critical. The focus shifts from size to performance — creating workplaces that work harder, feel better, and adapt as businesses evolve.
Prime Locations Require Premium Fit-Outs
As prime business districts continue to command premium rents, occupiers expect environments that justify that investment not just visually, but operationally.
This is driving increased demand for:
- High-quality finishes and refined detailing
- Bespoke interiors that reflect brand identity
- Workspaces designed to enhance employee experience and productivity
In a market where location is already a premium, the interior environment becomes a key differentiator. Design and build partners must bridge commercial objectives with design-led thinking, a balance we prioritise on every project.
Cost Certainty Is Now a Design Priority
An important insight from the Savills report is the growing emphasis on regulatory protection, tenure security, and cost certainty. This is shaping how businesses approach fit-outs.
Clients are increasingly looking for:
- Clear scopes and transparent pricing
- Durable, future-proof solutions suited to longer lease terms
- Designs that minimise future disruption and retrofit costs
For design and build firms, this places greater value on early-stage workplace strategy, value engineering, and clear project governance. Certainty is no longer just financial but operational.
From Relocation to Repositioning
With many occupiers choosing to stay put rather than relocate, we’re seeing a clear rise in:
- Office refurbishments and upgrades
- Space reconfigurations within existing footprints
- Phased works in live, operational environments
This shift favours design and build partners who understand how to deliver minimal disruption with maximum impact, which means enhancing workplaces without interrupting business continuity.
Looking Ahead to 2026: Strategic, Selective Growth
The forecasts that 2026 will be defined by selective growth and strategic repositioning across key submarkets. For the design and build industry, this signals a move away from volume-driven delivery toward high-impact, value-led projects.
The most successful workplaces will be those that:
- Align space with business strategy
- Support employee wellbeing and performance
- Deliver long-term value, not short-term aesthetics
In this environment, workplace design is no longer just about the aesthetics but its commercial value.
At HTS Interiors, we help businesses navigate rising rents, limited availability, and evolving workplace expectations through strategic design and build solutions.
Whether you’re:
- Reassessing your workplace strategy
- Planning an office refurbishment
- Delivering a full fit-out in a premium location
Our team partners with you from concept to completion to create workplaces that are efficient, future-ready, and built for growth.
Source: Savills – Dubai Office Market Report, Q4 2025
