The latest addition to the attractive range of real estate at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading international financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, is proving a big hit with tenants – with 98 per cent of office space already leased nearing maximum capacity, just months after completion.
Completed in March 2018, The Exchange, part of Gate Village, is set to be home to the regional headquarters of numerous global names, including Nasdaq Dubai and Alsharq News Services. The speed at which nearly all of the 114,000 sq. ft. of office space at The Exchange has been snapped up is an affirmation to DIFC’s position as the financial centre of choice in the region.
Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, said, "The Exchange is bringing world-class office experience to our tenants. We are seeing more international companies move to Dubai, or expand their presence here, which demonstrates the growing importance of the emirate, and DIFC, as a global investment and finance hub."
Among those that moved into The Exchange is Nasdaq Dubai, which has expanded its current presence in DIFC. As part of its expansion, Nasdaq Dubai is home to MarketSite, which features an event space for market-opening bell-ringing events drawing global visibility, where a wide range of organisations and individuals can make key announcements to the world. The space is also open for corporate functions, seminars, roundtables and educational forums on the economy and business scene.
Hamed Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Nasdaq Dubai, said, "The Exchange provides us with flagship premises and first class facilities as we expand our product offerings and global investor base. MarketSite is a powerful platform for our issuers, market participants and others in the financial services community to tell their story to the world."
Another tenant at The Exchange is CNBC International, a leading global business and finance news network, which is expanding its Middle East operations with a new base at MarketSite. Set to open in October, CNBC International’s studio will ensure the world is kept up to date on the latest developments right from the heart of DIFC.
In addition, Alsharq News Services, the future home for "Bloomberg Asharq" Television, radio and other news outlets will be moving to The Exchange building.
The Exchange is part of the Centre’s ongoing commitment to develop its world-class infrastructure to meet the requirements of the DIFC’s growing community and retain its reputation for providing the most attractive, sought after business environment in Dubai. The ground plus eight-storey building has a total leasable area of 147,000 sq. ft, of which 114,000 sq. ft. is office space and 33,000 sq. ft. is retail space. The development also includes ‘The Exchange Square’, a landscaped piazza, serving as an extension of the existing Gate Village podium, and three licenced world-class restaurants.
|