Interior Design and Fit-Out in Masdar City

An interior that matches a sustainability-led district

Sustainability indoors is mostly about decisions nobody notices at the launch: how much of the existing unit is stripped out and thrown away, how long the chosen materials will last, how much energy the lighting and equipment draw, and how easily the space can be changed when the business grows. Those decisions are made at design stage, which is why we raise them in the first meeting rather than at procurement.

A district built around sustainability raises expectations of what happens indoors. Tenants moving here often want their space to show that commitment in ways staff and visitors can see and feel, not only in a policy document. We cannot promise a certification or a rating, but we can make choices at every stage that reduce waste and energy use and that will stand up to scrutiny. Typical measures include:

• Reusing ceilings, partitions, flooring or furniture already in the unit where they are sound
• Specifying durable materials that will not need replacing at the next refresh
• LED lighting with daylight and occupancy controls
• Low-emission paints, adhesives and finishes where suitable alternatives exist
• Joinery and partitions designed to be taken apart and reused when the layout changes

Workplaces for technology and research teams

Technology and research businesses rarely fit a standard office template. Their teams switch between deep concentration, quick huddles, calls with partners in other time zones and presentations to investors, and the floor has to cope with all of it. We plan a mix of open benching, enclosed focus rooms, flexible project areas and well-equipped meeting rooms, then test the mix against real headcount and growth plans.

Acoustics, cable management, reliable power at every desk and a comms room that can grow are designed in from the start. For the wider workplace service, including briefing, furniture selection and installation, see our office interior design page.

Cafés, shops and client-facing units

If your business serves the public, such as a café, a shop or a showroom, the interior has to work as a brand statement and as a practical operation at once. Counter heights, queuing space, storage, back-of-house routes and lighting all shape how the unit trades. Our commercial interior design service covers these projects, and we list extras such as signage or specialist equipment separately in the estimate so there are no surprises. Fit-out close to businesses that are already trading also means planning deliveries and noisy works around the neighbours.

Approvals for a Masdar City tenancy

Approvals for a fit-out in Masdar City may involve the landlord or building management and the relevant authority, and which of them apply depends on the unit and on what you plan to change. Abu Dhabi's approval system is its own, with authorities and processes kept separate from Dubai's, so for every Masdar City unit we confirm the route before the design is finalised.

We prepare the drawings and documents the reviewers ask for and make the submissions within our programme. Because timing depends on the scope and on the bodies involved, we do not give approval timescales, but the approvals stage is planned in from the first drawing.

Design only or design and build from Dubai

Tenants who already have a contractor can take our design-only package: concept, 3D renders, drawings and a specification that spells out each material and its sustainability credentials where the manufacturer publishes them. Tenants who want one accountable team can appoint us for design and build, covering procurement, construction, supervision and handover. Our fit-out company page sets out how we run a build.

With our team working from Dubai, visits to a Masdar City site are fixed in advance around the survey, inspections before ceilings close, and snagging. Between visits, progress is reported in writing with photographs.

Budget and handover

Projects start from AED 150,000. Beyond that, the floor area, the number of enclosed rooms, the grade of finishes, audiovisual and MEP work and the furniture package decide the figure. Some lower-impact choices cost more at the outset and some cost less, and reusing what is already in the unit can save a great deal; we show the trade-offs in the estimate so you can decide with the numbers in front of you.

You approve each area in 3D before orders are placed. The space is snagged jointly before handover, and defects in our work are remedied according to a 12-month defects liability period set out in your contract.

Nearby areas we cover

Among the surrounding districts where we also work is Khalifa City, which is useful if your office and your home both need attention. To begin, the estimate form asks for the building, the size of the space and your brief.