Latest news with #GenslerMiddleEast


Al Etihad
10-06-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Workplace innovation in focus as UAE employees seek wellness-focused offices
11 June 2025 00:15 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)For many UAE employees, offices are no longer just 'business hubs' but a space that should spark creativity and support their wellbeing as they prefer spending majority of their time in the workplace, a new survey has and design firm Gensler's latest Global Workplace survey provides a glimpse into the emerging needs of employees, based on insights from over 16,800 full-time office workers from 15 countries, including the employees opt to spend 67% of their workweek in office, which is above the global average of 60%, the poll showed. The intent is not merely about marking one's attendance but being part of 'experiences that matter'. They wanted to participate in team meetings and confidential conversations, while also aiming to be visible to the senior 28%, however, believe their meeting spaces are equipped to support these activities effectively.'Our research shows that employees want to come to the office for what they can't get at home: team synergy, chance encounters, and real-time decision-making,' Edith Eddy, Senior Interior Designer for Workplace at Gensler Middle East, told Aletihad.'We have an opportunity to redesign the office around collaboration - with a mix of enclosed and open zones, advanced tech for hybrid work, acoustic control, and hospitality-grade amenities that encourage teams to gather, create, and solve together.'The poll found that the UAE is among the top five countries where employees seek 'imaginative' and 'wellness-focused' spaces for aligns with a global trend that shows a growing preference for 'creative labs' and 'nature retreats' that create flexible, tranquil, and purpose-driven environments that support innovation and wellbeing. Setting the BenchmarkWith the UAE's constant drive to innovate, offices in the country have the potential to serve as global models for future-ready workplace design, Eddy said. 'With ambitious national agendas like We the UAE 2031 and the National Strategy for Wellbeing, there's a powerful mandate to re-imagine offices as enablers of innovation, talent retention, and wellbeing,' she said.'By designing spaces that prioritise creativity, connection, and cultural resonance, the UAE can set a global benchmark for future-ready workplaces that align with both economic and human capital goals.'Multiple regional headquarters that Gensler had designed in the country, for example, 'have gone on to pioneer the design template for all other offices for international clients around the globe', Eddy said. Preferred Amenities The distinctive Emirati community spirit and hospitality culture are also being reflected in workplace design, Eddy said. Here, offices value on-site prayer rooms as well as informal dining areas and also prefer offices that are within walking distance to coffee shops, medical centres, green spaces, and places of worship, highlighting a need for holistic, community-focused work terms of on-site amenities, employees in the country prioritised cafés, coworking zones, quiet rooms, libraries, and innovation hubs. Compared to their peers around the world, they are also more likely to value flexible work areas and food halls.'Purposeful design can transform the office from a place of routine into a platform for creativity and impact,' Eddy said. 'By embedding wellness into the very DNA of workplace design, UAE organisations can unlock higher engagement, lower burnout, and more sustainable performance.'


Time of India
09-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
What do UAE office workers really want? Insights from the 2025 Global Workplace Survey
UAE employees want 67% of their workweek in-office, but only 31% feel their current spaces support their best work due to noise and layout issues. (Representational Image) Global architecture and design firm Gensler has released its 2025 Global Workplace Survey, delivering an in-depth look at what office workers want, and aren't getting, in the United Arab Emirates. Marking its twentieth edition, the survey drew insights from more than 16,800 full-time office workers across 15 countries, including a focused sample from the UAE. The survey findings come at a crucial moment as the UAE pushes forward on national priorities such as the 'We the UAE 2031' vision and the National Strategy for Wellbeing. With this momentum in mind, the report provides a practical roadmap for employers and developers aiming to build future-ready workspaces aligned with innovation, talent attraction, and sustainable growth. 'The UAE has become a global benchmark for ambition and adaptability,' said Edith Eddy, Senior Interior Designer, Workplace, at Gensler Middle East. 'In cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, we are witnessing rapid shifts in how people live and work, and the workplace must evolve accordingly. Our research reveals a clear gap between what employees need to thrive — flexibility, creativity, and connection, and what their current spaces provide. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Amazon CFD : La clave para un ingreso extra (Conoce más) Empezar ahora Registrarse Undo Bridging this gap will be essential for organisations aiming to attract talent, foster innovation, and design workplaces that truly support the future of work in the Emirates. ' Workplace satisfaction in the UAE: Improvements, but still not enough Despite heavy post-pandemic investment in upgraded office spaces across the UAE, including new, in-demand office buildings in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, only 31% of UAE office workers strongly agree that their current workspace enables them to do their best work, according to Gensler. This places the UAE ahead of France and Japan, but behind the UK, India, and the United States in workplace satisfaction. Common pain points remain: Noise Lack of room availability Layout inefficiencies Top improvement areas identified by employees include: Quiet spaces for focus Better meeting room acoustics Access to informal collaboration zones A lot of noise is rated as the biggest concern voiced by UAE office staff about their workplaces A shift away from traditional 'business hubs' One of the report's most striking insights is the shifting vision for what an ideal workplace looks like. Only 15% of UAE workers said their ideal workplace is a formal 'business hub,' even though 29% said that describes their current environment. Instead, there's a marked preference for: 'Creative labs' 'Nature retreats' These settings are described as flexible, tranquil, and purpose-driven environments that support innovation and wellbeing. 'This reflects a global trend away from rigid corporate settings,' the Gensler report states. The UAE is now ranked among the top five countries worldwide where employees show a strong preference for imaginative and wellness-focused workspaces. In-office work still matters- if the office serves a purpose While flexible work is valued, UAE employees still see the office as essential. Respondents said 67% of their ideal workweek should be spent in the office, well above the global average of 60%. Yet actual attendance is lower, largely because current office setups aren't meeting employee needs. Top reasons for in-office attendance include: Team meetings Confidential conversations Visibility to senior leadership However, only 28% of UAE workers believe their meeting spaces are adequately equipped to support these functions. Amenities and neighbourhood features are increasingly important Gensler's survey also looked beyond the office walls. UAE employees showed a stronger-than-global-average preference for certain amenities both inside and around the workplace. Most valued in-office amenities: Cafés Coworking zones Quiet rooms Libraries Innovation hubs Preferred surrounding neighbourhood features: Walkable access to coffee shops Medical centres Outdoor green spaces Religious or spiritual facilities These preferences signal a broader desire for community-integrated, holistic work environments that support both professional productivity and personal wellbeing.


Al Etihad
22-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi ranks second globally in resident satisfaction
22 May 2025 20:59 KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI) Abu Dhabi has emerged as one of the world's most admired cities, ranking second globally in resident satisfaction, according to Gensler's newly released City Pulse 2025 findings. The report aims to provide an alternative metric for measuring emotional connection alongside factors like liveability and economic City Pulse 2025 report — based on insights from over 33,000 residents across 65 cities on six continents — found that 92% of Abu Dhabi residents were 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with their city, the second highest after Shanghai. Dubai ranked fourth with a score of 91%. 'UAE cities are some of the most admired globally for their quality of infrastructure and ambition,' said Tim Martin, Co-Managing Director and Principal at Gensler Middle East. Finding a Sense of Home Gensler's analysis suggests that satisfaction alone does not equate to loyalty. Residents are most likely to stay in places that not only provide top-class amenities but also those that foster strong emotional ties, including joy, pride, and a sense of home.'If the last two decades were about building world-class infrastructure, the next era must be about building world-class belonging,' Martin added. 'A truly magnetic city is one people don't just move to — it's one they stay in, raise families in, and feel deeply connected to. That's the opportunity for the UAE.'Martin said this insight is especially relevant for Abu Dhabi as it aligns with national strategies like 'We the UAE 2031 and Vision 2071', both of which aim emphasise human-centric growth and talent retention. He highlighted that the country had already taken proactive steps through Golden Visa programmes and innovation clusters designed to attract global talent. Gensler's report frames cities not just as economic engines but as 'emotional ecosystems.'Their findings show that one in three people globally is considering leaving their city, and the most important factor keeping them rooted isn't job opportunities or public services — it's whether they feel emotionally at its success, Martin cautioned that Abu Dhabi was not immune to global trends. The report highlights affordability as the top global factor influencing residents' decisions to move. With rising living costs, even cities with high satisfaction scores must address economic inclusion to maintain long-term appeal, the report said. Gensler said that for Abu Dhabi, this means expanding beyond traditional infrastructure metrics and investing in community cohesion, accessible housing, and inclusive design that invites all residents to participate in city life.'As we look to the future, especially with Vision 2071 and 'We the UAE 2031' in mind, the challenge is not just to attract talent, but to root it,' Martin said. 'Long-term city vitality will depend on how emotionally connected residents feel, to their neighbourhoods, to public life and to the idea of staying for decades.'