How Big Should a Private Office Be in ADGM?

The right size for a private office ADGM companies rent depends on three numbers: how many people sit there, how many employee visas you need, and how much privacy the work requires. ADGM publishes one hard figure that affects size directly: for leased premises, one employee visa requires 8 square metres in the standard Category A and B case. Everything else, from layout to meeting space, is a practical choice.

This guide explains how to size a private office ADGM businesses can actually use, how it compares in cost with a row of dedicated desks, and which questions to put to a provider before signing. It is written for small teams, advisory firms, and growing startups choosing between a desk and a lockable room on Al Reem Island.

How much space does an ADGM company need per employee?

ADGM's Corporate Affairs page sets out the allocation ratios licensed persons are entitled to. For leased premises in Category A and B with a standard business activity, the area required for one visa is 8 square metres. For a business centre address, the ratio is by desk instead: two visas per desk for standard activities and three for innovation activities.

The page does not define "desk" or "innovation", and it does not say how a private office inside a business centre is counted. Ask your provider and ADGM which ratio applies to your arrangement before you plan headcount around it. Our guides on visas per desk and dedicated desk visa capacity versus seating explain why seats and visas are not always the same number.

A worked example: what the 8 square metre rule means

If the premises ratio applies to your private office, the arithmetic is simple:

• 3 visas need 3 × 8 = 24 square metres
• 5 visas need 5 × 8 = 40 square metres
• 8 visas need 8 × 8 = 64 square metres

That is the quota view, not a seating guide. A room of 24 square metres might hold more desks than it has visa capacity, or the other way round. Ask the provider for the room's area in square metres, the number of workstations it holds, and how ADGM will count it for visa purposes.

Is a private office cheaper than several dedicated desks?

Sometimes, and the break-even point is lower than many teams expect. Aegis's listed prices are AED 1,150 per month for a Dedicated Desk and AED 4,500 per month for a Private Office. The comparison for a team of different sizes:

Four dedicated desks cost slightly more than one private office, so from four people the lockable room costs no more. The comparison only works if the private office seats your team, so confirm its capacity first. See the pricing page for current rates, and our private office vs coworking guide for the privacy side.

When does a team need a private office instead of desks?

Cost is only one test. A private office earns its price when one or more of these applies:

• Confidential work. Client files, calls, or compliance work that should not be seen or heard in a shared area. This is particularly relevant for regulated firms, as covered in our guide to FSRA-regulated firm office requirements.
• Frequent client meetings. If clients visit weekly, a room you control saves booking time. Compare it with a meeting room in our article on ADGM meeting rooms versus a private office.
• Secure storage. Documents and equipment that need a door you lock.
• A team identity. A space with your name and layout, rather than a row in a shared floor.

If none of these applies, desks are usually the more economical choice. Our guide to private office rent in ADGM explains what drives the price.

What does a private office at Aegis include?

Aegis lists its Private Office with an ADGM-suitable office address, a fully furnished office, a configurable layout, priority support, and all Dedicated Desk benefits, which include 24/7 access, dedicated lockers, and extra monthly meeting room credits. It starts at AED 4,500 per month. View it on the private office page. The office is on Al Reem Island, inside ADGM's jurisdiction under Cabinet Resolution No. 41 of 2023, in Addax Tower.

The pricing page does not state the office's area or how many people it seats. Those details differ by unit, so ask the team for the floor plan before you decide.

Why choose a private office on Al Reem Island?

A private office Al Reem Island companies take is inside ADGM's jurisdiction, so the address supports an ADGM licence in the same way any address inside that jurisdiction does. A furnished private office in a business centre also removes the fit-out work and lease paperwork that a conventional office lease brings, which suits a small team that wants to start working quickly. The same building can then provide meeting rooms for larger client sessions, so you do not need to size the office for the busiest day. For a wider comparison of providers, see our guide to office space providers in ADGM.

Ten questions to ask before signing for a private office

1. What is the area in square metres, and how many workstations does it hold?
2. How will ADGM count it for visa quota: per desk or per area?
3. Is it furnished, and can the layout be changed?
4. Who registers the lease on AccessRP, and when do I receive confirmation?
5. What are the term, notice period, and renewal terms?
6. Can I move to a larger or smaller room within the building?
7. What meeting room time and visitor arrangements are included?
8. What are the access hours, and is the room lockable by my team only?
9. What other charges apply besides the monthly rate?
10. Does the address support my licence category?

Question four matters at every renewal. ADGM's licence renewal application asks for a Certificate of Registration of Lease, so a lease that is signed but not registered can hold things up. Our AccessRP lease registration guide explains the steps.

Start with desks and move up, or start with an office?

Both paths work. Starting with desks keeps cost low while the team is small, and moving up later is simple when the provider has both in one building, so the ADGM address does not change. Starting with an office suits teams that already need confidentiality or have the headcount to fill it. Our piece on flexible workspace for ADGM startups explains the case for starting flexible.

Frequently asked questions

How big should a private office be for an ADGM company?

It depends on headcount, visa needs, and how you work. For leased premises, ADGM's ratio is one visa per 8 square metres in the standard Category A and B case, so a team needing three visas would need 24 square metres on that basis.

Is a private office cheaper than dedicated desks?

At Aegis's listed prices, four dedicated desks (AED 4,600 a month) cost slightly more than one private office (AED 4,500), provided the office seats the whole team.

Does a private office give more visa capacity than a desk?

It depends on how ADGM counts the space. Business centre addresses are counted per desk and leased premises per area, so confirm the ratio with the provider and ADGM.

What is included in a private office at Aegis?

An ADGM-suitable office address, a fully furnished office, a configurable layout, priority support, and all Dedicated Desk benefits, from AED 4,500 per month.

Can I upgrade from a desk to a private office later?

Aegis operates both in the same building, so an upgrade does not need a new ADGM address. Confirm the terms with the team when you switch.

The short version

Work out the headcount and visas you need, use ADGM's 8 square metre and per-desk ratios as a starting check, compare the private office with the same number of dedicated desks, and ask for the room's area and capacity in writing. To see which space fits your team, contact Aegis Coworking.