The rapid rise of the tech and creative sectors in recent years has reverberated throughout global office markets, causing fundamental shifts in the nature of workspaces. With improvements in infrastructure for sustained long-term tech growth, developers and landlords are adapting strategies to respond to the new geography of demand.

The creative model of office space — open floor plates, efficient layouts, and high ceilings — will become commonplace in new developments, with developers adding amenities and outdoor spaces.

With the Dubai Media City (DMC) and Dubai Internet City (DIC) free zones established in 2001, we witnessed a cluster effect for technology, advertising, media and information companies. Although take up per tenant remains small (as regional hubs for Arabic content), we expect to witness growing demand as millennials enter the workforce and drive change across the region.

This change will undoubtedly lead to growth in the size of office spaces and in overall demand by the sector compared to more traditional businesses. This will be exacerbated by disruptive technologies within the traditional sectors, including the financial.

The evolution of tech start-ups into viable entities will help generate the resources to pay higher rents for fully customised creative office spaces. This has caused a paradigm shift in the ways investors approach and evaluate real estate opportunities, which will impact the current office stock and rents, which currently average Dh160 per square foot.

With the emergence of tech sector as a potential driver of the economy, investment and development of infrastructure is necessary to cement and sustain Dubai’s standing as a tech hub. We have seen significant improvements in the digital services and infrastructure of Dubai to become a global “smart” city.

Developers will need to review their new projects and will need to offer unconventional workspaces, such as loft style with exposed brick and ceilings, open layout floor plans with high ceilings as well as building amenities such as collaboration spaces, coffee bars and roof decks/outdoor space.

In addition, employees want flexibility and to get that flexibility, they need a workspace that allows them to work where and how they need to. Modular components and the use of quiet rooms help fulfil that need, so privacy is provided when needed.

Dubai’s workforce is young by global demographic standards with an average working age of 25-35 years. The population aged 15-29 years old has grown by 7 per cent from 2000-15. And for Dubai to attract international young talent, it will need to remain competitive with its global peers such as London and New York.

Many corporate decision-makers have experienced both cubicles and the open office. They are aware of how an office can affect the people that work within it and the future of workplace strategy will be all about designing for people.

More businesses realise that taking care of their employees’ wants means a happier, healthier, workplace and in turn, increased efficiency, increased retention and an enhanced bottom-line. Studies have been conducted by companies such as the Middle East Council for Offices (MECO) and provided in depth studies on the trends which are occurring.

No form of real estate is exempt from the exponential expansion of technology. Technology is pushing change in space use, locations, and demand levels at an accelerated pace. Overall, the fear factor about technological disruption is easing, but corporate occupiers need to remain vigilant and adaptive to changes in the workplace to ensure they can obtain the most from their employees.

The writer is Partner — Commercial Leasing at Knight Frank.