Office landlords in Barsha Heights and Business Bay are competing on incentives again. What to ask for.
For a stretch, shell-and-core office space in Dubai let itself. That has softened, and landlords are once again willing to discuss contributions toward fit-out.
The contribution is usually framed as a rent-free period, which is simpler to administer but worth less than cash against the build if your programme is tight. Ask for both and see which they resist.
What tenants consistently under-negotiate is the reinstatement clause. A generous fit-out contribution paired with a full reinstatement obligation at lease end is not the deal it looks like on day one.
The market is not soft everywhere — fitted floor plates with parking still move quickly. But if you are taking shell and core, you have more room than you did eighteen months ago.