Globally, workplace research shows a mixed picture.
Cushman & Wakefield’s Curating Workplace Experience That Matters report found that while 70% of employees now feel they can do their best work, only 40% rate their wellbeing as very good or excellent. Perhaps most strikingly, 40% believe their office does not fully support its intended purpose.
For employers and landlords, this signals an urgent need: workplaces can no longer be judged by size or location alone. They must deliver an experience that makes time in the office feel worthwhile - connecting people, supporting wellbeing, and enabling productivity.
Dubai’s Response: The Rise of the Micro Office
In the UAE market, there is even further pressure. With Grade A office occupancy consistently above 95%, demand is not the problem, but choice is. Many SMEs, start-ups, and project teams don’t require large HQ footprints, yet they also want more than a desk in a co-working centre.
This is the gap that micro-offices are designed to fill. Typically ranging from studios of around 650 sq ft to larger spaces closer to 1,600 sq ft, micro-offices offer tenants the ability to right-size their footprint. At HQ by Rove, the modular design gives occupiers flexibility to scale up or down more easily, ensuring control over space allocation without committing to surplus square footage.
At HQ by Rove, launching at Marasi Bay in Business Bay, Cushman & Wakefield Core has partnered with IRTH Group to deliver a new category of office space: compact, private units embedded in a hospitality-led, experience-rich communal environment, specifically catering to small businesses.
Experience is the Differentiator
The real innovation is not the office size, but the ecosystem around it. Tenants at HQ by Rove will have access to curated communal spaces - lounges, wellness facilities, rooftop space, work pods, smart meeting suites - all underpinned by a building-wide, world-class concierge service (the HQ Desk) operated by Cushman & Wakefield Core.
Key highlights of the HQ Desk include:
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Professional Call Handling: a local number with receptionist support and 24/7 voicemail-to-email.
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High-Speed Internet Everywhere: secure Wi-Fi with a unique password that follows you through the building.
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Full Support Team: office assistant, receptionist, secretary, dedicated account manager, and IT enablers.
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On-Site Tech Support: responsive IT assistance for day-to-day issues.
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Smart Bookings Made Easy: advanced system for reserving coworking zones, meeting rooms, and pods.
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Mail and Courier Management: professional handling of deliveries and parcel logistics.
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HQ Connect: travel logistics, relocations, and short-term accommodation coordination via the Rove network.
This approach directly addresses the global workplace experience gaps identified in the research:
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Flexibility and choice: micro units offer scalable private space, while communal areas provide collaboration, socialisation zones and focus areas.
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Technology integration: smart booking and seamless connectivity simplify daily operations.
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Wellbeing and inclusivity: wellness spaces, sensory design, and curated programming respond to employee needs beyond the desk.
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Culture and community: a shared, actively managed environment fosters connections between teams and businesses.
Property Management Reimagined
This model also reflects a broader shift in the role of property management in Dubai. No longer limited to maintenance and operations, landlords and managers are increasingly expected to curate experiences that shape tenant satisfaction and long-term asset value. At HQ by Rove, this is being delivered through active programming of communal areas, integration of concierge services, and a deliberate focus on making the workplace frictionless.
For tenants, that means an environment where operational drag is removed, where the office itself becomes an enabler of business growth. For landlords, it means assets that are more resilient, differentiated, and aligned with the evolving demands of global occupiers.
Why It Matters for Dubai’s Market
In a city where prime office space is scarce, micro-offices offer an accessible entry point for new market entrants, while also providing established firms with flexible project space. For landlords, this model enhances asset value by embedding services and experience into the core of the property – particularly when leveraged under an established and trusted brand like Rove. For tenants, that means an environment where administrative burdens are lifted, allowing the office itself to become an enabler of business growth.
As our global research makes clear, the currency of workplace experience is time. Employees who view office time as wasted will default to working from home. By contrast, environments that are curated to feel purposeful, connected, and frictionless are fast becoming strategic tools for attraction and retention.
