Every office space says it’s good, but we here at SpiderBC – a business center in Sheikh Zayed Road – think that’s entirely subjective. Besides the fundamentals, anything else that might be good for others won’t always work out perfectly for you.
But we get that – and after helping out our fair share of confused clients, we’ve decided to make a quick guide to help you get the office room that’s the perfect fit for your business.
Keep reading to learn the details!
Top 10 Essential Questions to Ask When Renting Office Space in Dubai
Now, let’s get into the thick of it – we’ve covered every angle.
No need to worry about forgetting that one thing you know you need, but can’t remember.
We’re sure you’re going to remember that as you read!
Start With The Basics – What’s Your Budget?
A good businessman who knows his way around things can turn any office space into a flexible one, but you always need to have a solid base to build upon.
If you’re on a limited budget, no need to get a decked out office right away.
Focus on finding a well-furnished office that offers all the essentials first. You can address your business’s more specific needs later.
There are plenty of private offices in Dubai, as well as other more specialized office spaces you might need.
Do You Have The Requirements?
This one is more of a minor thing – if you’re not new to the UAE, you won’t have to think about this much.
You simply need to have a valid trade license – which you can get by accepting all the papers from Dubai’s Department Of Economic Development (DED).
As long as you have that, you’ll be golden – even if your business is new. Although, with a team-based business, you might also need to consider employee visas.
The license itself might vary based on where you are.
If you’re anywhere on the mainland, you’ll likely be asked for an LLC license. And if you’re in a free zone, you might need one specific to that zone, such as a DMCC license.
What Type Of Space Might Your Business Need?
Are you an individual that’s just getting started? Or do you have a full-fledged team behind you?
You’ll have to make sure all the necessities are there by considering those, first.
Ask yourself these questions: How much space do you need? Is there a specific setup that might help your team? What about smart amenities?
If you’re an individual, you probably won’t need much more than a small office.
However, if you’re in charge of a team, think about getting a lounge, podcast studio, or open areas for everyone to relax in.
Do You Get Anything More Than The Essentials?
Of course, comfortable furniture is a must, as well as high-speed WiFi.
But sometimes, you might miss an important feature or two that’ll affect how versatile you can be with your office setup.
Here are a few things you can keep an eye out for:
- Break Areas: Informal lounge or breakout spaces encourage casual interactions, and brainstorming sessions, and provide a change of environment. Great for a team or when often working with business partners.
- Secure Parking: Ample and secure parking facilities offer convenience and peace of mind for employees and visitors.
- Cafeteria or Catering Services: An on-site cafeteria or catering services save time and provide convenient dining options for employees.
- Reception and Concierge Services: Professional reception and concierge staff create a welcoming atmosphere and assist with various administrative tasks. Remember, every single first impression matters for a high-end client, so this way, you can impress them from the get-go.
- Video Conferencing Facilities: Well-equipped video conferencing rooms enable seamless communication if you’ve got a remote team or simply make things more convenient for clients.
- IT Support: On-site IT support ensures efficient troubleshooting and maintenance of technology infrastructure. You don’t want to end up running into glitches in the middle of an important presentation, after all.
- Event or Training Space: A versatile event or training space allows for hosting seminars, workshops, or team-building activities.
- Meeting Rooms: Well-equipped meeting rooms help bring out productive collaborations, client meetings, and presentations. You can find plenty of low cost meeting rooms in Dubai.
What Are The Aesthetics And How Much Control Do You Have Over Them?
Speaking of first impressions, it’s not just the receptionists that matter.
The whole journey up to your meeting room is going to make up how your deals go – so consider that before looking any deeper, as well.
For instance, are the interior areas of the venue besides your meeting room well kept? What about parking space?
A lot of good business centers will be able to offer you the benefits of both.
You can even control the lighting and furniture placement of the room you rent out.
Even as an individual, there are plenty of useful features to look out for in this regard – such as adjustable tables and the like.
How Much Control Do You Have Over The Room Climate?
You want your clients and your team to be at maximum comfort at all times – otherwise you’re likely to get a direct hit on productivity.
So, check in with the people supplying the office space and see if they offer heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
Are individual office renters allowed to control them? Or is it regulated through some other way, such as communal control?
Do they only work on working days? What about weekends or nights, for when you might invite your clients for relaxed meetings?
In some cases, you might be able to install your own amenities for such purposes, but if that’s the case, you’ll likely need to be in a long-term plan, and you’ll need permission from the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.
What About The Noise Levels?
Your client is definitely going to have a hard time even trying to understand what idea you’re trying to present, if there’s some noise grating into their ear.
Such an environment is far from professional – so you’ll have to be very aware about all the things that can make noise.
If the building has a lot of floors, is there any ambient noise coming from the interior? Plus, if the actual building itself is on a busy road, you also need to check how many cars you can hear.
Even if there’s noise, you can ask for soundproofing facilities installed.
Are There Any Security Protocols In The Office And Surroundings?
Almost all renting spaces come with cameras and security personnel – since this is for everyone’s safety, you can’t really avoid it.
Just make sure that nothing sticks out and can potentially get in the way of your clients.
And check in if your team members can enter the office during weekends, too.
This might even turn out useful if you’re running a full business with the space, through a brand new team.
In such cases, renting spaces can offer you peace of mind by offering more safety regulations.
Most high-end offices won’t have any security that gets in the way – we’ve got our own sets of serviced offices in Dubai that offer such features while also doing so in a way that adds to your professional image.
Will You Work With A Team Or A Partner?
A standard office space will work just fine for a team.
But if you’re going to be working together with teams from other businesses, you might want to consider a coworking space, which can handle such a scale more effectively.
These are also called shared offices. They offer better space, and all the relevant security benefits.
With a good sharing office space in Dubai, you won’t have as many large financial obligations – there are many membership options.
For one, there’s no long-term leases to deal with and you can customize your needs as they grow, from daily, monthly or even annual options offered through subscriptions.
Does The Supplier Of The Space Offer Other Services?
Many times, you’ll find that office space suppliers will have other complementary services that you can use to streamline your business.
Be sure to look into those – you might be pleasantly surprised. We have our own offerings too.
Aside from low-cost offices, we also offer full-fledged Corporate Services, ranging from consultancy to Digital Marketing.
You heard that right – we can take care of a large part of your business’ management for you. We’ll be more than happy to have a direct hand in helping your business grow.
We can even get you started with our Dubai Company Setup packages.
Come Give SpiderBC A Try
We’re sure the depths of our questions show how aware we are of the needs of our clients, down to the smallest details.
If you’re looking for a professional, high-quality office for rent in Sheikh Zayed Road that won’t burn a hole in your pocket, you’ll love what we have on the menu.
