According to the recent Gensler Middle East Workplace Survey, 74% of employees at the most innovative companies in the region have flexi-offices and regularly work away from their primary workspace. Meanwhile, the region’s office workers spend on average 51% of their total week at their office.
“Alternative work environments, such as co-working spaces and hotels, are increasingly used by a large cohort of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and boutique-style businesses. To streamline operations, many large organisations are consolidating their workplaces into one location,” said the report.
INNOVATION MEANS GREAT PERFORMANCE
The survey also acknowledged that innovation and performance tend to operate hand-in-hand. “The Middle East workplaces that have high performance and effectiveness also score highly on our innovation index, or a composite of six critical questions that measure how a workplace supports, encourages, and creates strategies for new ideas and thought leadership,” said the Gensler report.
It continued: “Innovation and performance tend to operate in concert. The Middle East workplaces that have high performance and effectiveness also score highly on our innovation index, or a composite of six critical questions that measure how a workplace supports, encourages, and creates strategies for new ideas and thought leadership.”
The findings from the report showed that workplace performance is built on balance and that it’s a key driver of innovation. By Gensler’s topline metrics, Middle East workplaces are succeeding: “The region has the highest Workplace Performance Index (WPI) score among global regions we’ve studied. From the effectiveness and functionality of workspaces to creating a culture of transparency and autonomy, the Middle East is rivaling – if not outperforming – its global peers. One driver of this success is balance or the prioritisation of both focus and collaborative work. Currently, the Middle East leads other global regions in creating this type of workplace versatility workers need.”
UAE "SETS THE BENCHMARK" FOR THE REGION
According to the survey, the region is also one of the most fast-developing in the world, building “next-generation workplaces,” while highlighting Dubai and Abu Dhabi as “setting the benchmark” for key developments across the region, including workplace technology, amenities, and the overall experience that workers may come to expect in the region.