Companies have always tried to figure out how to execute their processes efficiently while minimizing costs. In addition, and quite notably, the covid-19 pandemic has compelled businesses to rethink how much office space they need.
Remote work went mainstream in 2020 as businesses were forced to offer their services from home. The longer they did so, the more they realized how well they could function without being physically present in an office space. And that was how virtual offices became popular, even in Dubai.
But what is a virtual office, what are the benefits, and how do you know it’s right for your business?
Alongside the best virtual offices in Dubai that are covered in this article.
What is a Virtual Office?
A virtual office is a service that offers a business the functions of traditional office space, such as a physical address and meeting rooms, without the company bearing the overhead cost of owning or renting the property. In other words, employees can work from home and access phone answering services and videoconferencing at a prestigious address.
For example, you could work from home but have your business address at Jumeirah Lake Towers without paying their outrageous rent! Imagine that!
Virtual offices are typically for businesses that need a professional business address but do not have to work from any dedicated space. This could be an online store, cleaning and handyman services, consultancy, or other professional startups.
You acquire the virtual office space to have a formal business address you can mention to clients rather than your home address.
How Does a Virtual Office Space Work?
Virtual offices operate as a unit but do not necessarily exist in a fixed location. Being virtual, they typically work and are accessed via the Internet. Therefore, virtual offices do not need chairs, desks, or actual space.
When you subscribe to a virtual office in Dubai, you will be given a virtual address in a notable industrial business center near the Burj Khalifa. This can help your company appear more high-profile than it is. You’ll also typically get phone answering services.
A virtual office package may include a dedicated receptionist and mail forwarding services. However, these aren’t always necessary.
A virtual office setup is excellent for startups and small businesses who want to cut costs but still have access to typical office-related features.
Although you can utilize phone answering, live receptionist, and videoconferencing services from anywhere, you may choose to visit the office premises to meet with clients.
Since the pandemic, many startups and small businesses have been looking for a virtual office in Dubai, knowing the benefits of having a prestigious address in this great city.
Benefits of Virtual Offices
Virtual offices come with many advantages:
#1 Low Cost
Virtual offices are billed monthly, and users do not incur the cost of renting, leasing, or buying an actual office space. The business also avoids maintenance costs for janitorial, gardening, and furnishing services. Since not all startups have the funds to acquire and maintain — or even need — a dedicated commercial space, virtual offices become the best solution.
#2 Low Barrier to Employment
With a virtual office in Dubai, businesses do not need to employ people who only live locally. Instead, you can source great talents from all over the globe and leverage the benefits of remote work.
Startups and small businesses may even hire freelancers, thereby avoiding the cost of employee benefits, insurance, and taxes.
#3 Improved Productivity
A virtual office relieves employees of commuting and administrative tasks, allowing them to be more productive with their time.
#4 A Prestigious Business Address
With a virtual office in Dubai, you can get a business address at a prestigious location in the city. Moreover, getting such sites becomes more accessible since the virtual office space is limitless, so you’re never told: “every floor is occupied.”
You can also acquire such a prestigious virtual address at a fraction of the cost of leasing traditional office spaces in that location.
#5 Meeting Rooms
A client or investor would not be impressed when you ask them to your home or garage to discuss business. But when you direct them to your office address in the heart of a reputable business center, they consider you serious. A virtual office brings credibility.
#6 Your Small Business Can Appear Larger
Since you get access to call handling, a mailing address, and video conferencing, your small business can appear larger than it is. You may also get a physical space to meet clients. This helps your company appear professional and reputable in your clients’ eyes, attracting more traffic and revenue.
#7 Employees May Leverage the Freedom Optimally
Because workers are no longer closely supervised by their heads, they are judged by the quality of work they produce instead of how they make it. This allows employees to be more creative and develop innovative problem-solving methods without fear.
#8 Easily Scalable
Physical office space isn’t always easy to change as your business expands and needs change. You may have to relocate the building, invest in serious additions, or move into a new property. All this is a hassle.
You can easily subscribe to more sophisticated services and hire more talents without worrying about accommodating them with virtual offices.
How Much Does a Virtual Office Cost in UAE?
Costs for using a virtual office can range from AED 4500 to more than AED 12000. The more services added, the more expensive it will be. Second, a virtual office can provide a mailing address, telephone answering, and videoconferencing services.
The cost of a virtual office is far less than that of traditional office spaces.
Additionally, a virtual office in Dubai can be arranged as a monthly rental, offering flexibility to change as soon as your office needs to change without waiting till the end of your lease year.
Increased Privacy
Coworking spaces, shared and serviced spaces, do not offer the level of privacy you may want. Virtual offices are probably the best solution if you’re uncomfortable working beside a stranger.
Best Virtual Office Services in Dubai
Clients and business partners usually prefer doing business with companies based in the same city, putting other out-of-city providers at a disadvantage. Dubai is one of the world’s most well-developed and industrialized cities, with endless opportunities for any business to thrive.
So if you’re a small business looking to grow, finding a virtual office in Dubai is wise. Besides, using your home as a business address is not legally allowed in Dubai.
However, with so many virtual offices, which should you go for?
We’ve compiled a list of Dubai’s best virtual office service providers to ease your dilemma.
- MyOffice
- Servcorp
- Regus
- The Executive Centre
- UNBOX
- OBK
- SORP
- Spiderbc
MyOffice
As one of the best virtual offices in Dubai, MyOffice helps you establish your company in a prime business centre in the heart of the city. They offer fully furnished and well-maintained offices, including lounge areas.
What makes MyOffice one of the best virtual offices in Dubai is its add-ons, including company formation and concierge services.
MyOffice offers business addresses in Dubai’s most prestigious addresses, Dubai Downtown and Dubai Marina.
Features
- Conference room with impressive furniture
- Dedicated telephone service with a multi-lingual team, further supporting your global network.
- Organized mail management
- Luxury business lounges allow remote business owners to have a traditional office-space feeling.
- Well-equipped facilities
- Wide range of business support services
- A flexible and easy business setup process
- Personalized support for each client
- Monthly payment plans allow businesses to avoid committing for longer than they want if they need a change.
- Free workspace – MyOffice provides five days of free workspace and 5 hours of free meeting room access monthly.
Pricing
Prices are according to size. Contact the company and inform them of what location you desire a virtual address, and they’ll offer you a quote.
Servcorp
Servcorp is a virtual office service that allows you to run your business anywhere. Moreover, you can get a renowned address in one of the prime locations in Dubai.
Servcorp offers four virtual offices in Dubai:
- Emirates Towers on Sheikh Zayed Road
- Boulevard Plaza in Downtown Dubai
- Al Habtoor Tower in Dubai Marina, and
- Almas Tower in JLT
Servcorp characteristically boasts of giving you everything but the physical office. You get telephone services, a mailing address, IT support, a dedicated receptionist, mail management, video conferencing, etc.
Features
- Their actual address can become your business address
- Unique password Wi-Fi with 99.99% uptime
- Mail management
- A phone number is assigned instantly
- Dedicated receptionist to answer your calls
- 24/7 voicemail to email
- Print from any desk
- Up to 3 hours per day of FREE coworking spaces worldwide
- Three days per month FREE private office
- Coffee and tea as you lounge and during meetings.
Pricing
Servcorp’s Virtual office in Dubai starts at AED 392 monthly, billed yearly. The first month is free with no obligation.
URL: https://www.servcorp.ae/en/
Regus
Regus is a virtual office in Dubai located at Standard Chartered Tower, Level 5 Emaar Square, Downtown Dubai. As one of the best virtual offices in the city, they are dedicated to serving small businesses with helpful security and reception, a private office space, a meeting room, and automated response.
They have several branches in many countries, establishing their reputation and offering businesses a global network. With Regus, you can have a virtual address in prime locations and meeting rooms wherever needed.
Features
- Meeting rooms – Regus offers meeting rooms in every famous city globally, giving you a global network.
- Mail forwarding services – They can receive your business mail and forward them to your home, so you don’t have to give away your house address publicly.
- Monthly agreement – you can subscribe monthly if you don’t want to commit.
- Dedicated local phone number – this virtual office offers you a regional or national phone number to add credibility to your local presence.
- Lounge – like the traditional office space, Regus allows users to walk in and lounge in their dedicated area.
Pricing
Regus offers virtual offices in Dubai with monthly prices ranging from AED 329 to AED 515, depending on location and services.
URL: https://www.regus.com/en-gb/united-arab-emirates/dubai/virtual-offices
The Executive Centre
The Executive Centre offers virtual offices in 32 notable cities, including Dubai. As a result, the Executive Center is one of the best virtual offices to consider if you’re looking for a prominent business address at the Dubai World Trade Center.
They offer virtual offices, a business concierge, and meeting rooms at Level 3, One Central, Dubai World Trade Center, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai.
With a distance of just 12-min by car from Dubai International Airport and a 5-min walk to the Metro Station, this prestigious address will most likely improve your traffic.
Features
- Professional mail management
- Phone answering services
- Business concierge (on-demand)
- Conference rooms, although you’d have to request this service separately.
Pricing
The price starts at AED 400. You can choose to pay for any service or their complete Virtual Office solution.
URL: https://www.executivecentre.com/en-ae/locations/
UNBOX
UNBOX allows you to run your business remotely, supported by a dedicated phone number and a professional team at a prime location.
Strategically located in the heart of Dubai’s business district, an UNBOX virtual office space positions you in one of Dubai’s notable landmarks.
UNBOX sits close to Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Mall, and the distinctive Burj Khalifa, positioning you to receive traffic from numerous valuable customers doing local searches.
Features
- Elite business address
- Mail handling
- High-speed, secure Wi-Fi
- Call answering service
- 4 hours of access monthly
- Estidama tenancy contract. You get a full lease agreement to obtain your Trade License.
Pricing
UNBOX does not publicize pricing on its website, so you’d have to inquire about their support.
URL: https://www.unboxinc.com/virtual-office
OBK
OBK Business Centre is a virtual office service provider that prides itself on a dedicated receptionist and secretarial support.
Additionally, they have different virtual office packages, so you’ll most likely find the one that best meets your business needs.
Features
- A virtual address in Downtown Dubai
- A dedicated receptionist to handle your day-to-day business operations
- Private and dedicated local phone number
- Call answering service
- Mail forwarding service upon request
- Access to well-equipped conferencing facilities
- 24/7 office assistant
- IT solutions
- On-demand boardrooms
Pricing
OBK is considered the cheapest virtual office in Dubai. Their virtual office services come in three packages:
- Business address package – From AED 200 monthly
- Telephone answering package – from AED 300 monthly
- Address & telephone package – from AED 400 monthly
Note that each package comes with more services than the package is named. However, access to the boardroom and meeting room comes at an exclusive cost.
URL: https://www.obkbc.com/virtual-office-dubai/
SORP
As one of Dubai’s best virtual office services, SORP helps establish a strong virtual presence in one of the world’s most prestigious locations.
When you subscribe, you get a virtual business address at Barsha Heights, within SORP Business Center, five minutes away from Dubai Internet City.
Features
In addition, to call answering and business addresses, SORP also offers consultancy services like assistance with:
- Company incorporation
- Business bank account opening
- Economic substances with the UAE
- License renewal.
These do not come with the virtual office package, but you can request them should you need these services. It’s like having a provider close to you that can assist with other aspects of your business whenever you need them.
Pricing
Since SORP believes every business is unique, they tailor their services to meet your needs, which attracts custom pricing.
URL: https://sorp.ae/en/virtual-office-dubai/
Spiderbc
Spiderbc provides virtual office addresses in a prime location in Dubai, alongside conference rooms, mail forwarding, and other office-related services.
As one of Dubai’s top virtual office service providers, Spiderbc has what it takes to portray your business as a fully functional company at a reasonable cost.
Spiderbc offers business addresses in the Conrad Hotel – Business Tower, Sheikh Zayed Road.
Features
- Prestigious Office Address Located at Conrad Hotel (opposite World Trade Center)
- Dedicated phone line
- Meeting Room 8 Hours per month
- Shared Desk 8 Hours per month
- Receptionist services
- High-Speed Internet
- Phone answering service
- Access to lounge and Meeting Rooms
- Copy printing service
- Tea and coffee
- Conrad Hotel Membership card
Pricing
A basic virtual office package with professional telephone answering services and meeting rooms starts at AED 4500 annually. The price varies depending on the business center and Dubai location you rent from.
URL: https://www.spiderbc.com/virtual-office-dubai/
Final Words
So, there you have it! The eight best virtual offices in Dubai. Of course, 8 is still a large number, and you may still be unable to pick among them.
Any of these eight services will work perfectly for your small business needs. However, you might want to consider things when choosing to include your preferred business location and pricing.
OBK remains one of our top picks as it offers excellent value for money (starting price at AED 200) while offering mail handling and a business address in Downtown Dubai.
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