AL FATTAN CURRENCY HOUSE

OVERVIEW

Al Fattan Currency House comprises two interconnected office towers within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), developed by Al Fattan Properties. Tower 1 rises to 10 floors above ground and Tower 2 to 34 floors, together delivering a combined net leasable area of approximately 512,000 square feet of Grade A office accommodation. The project was completed in the mid-2000s as part of DIFC's initial master plan build-out and forms part of the original commercial fabric of the precinct. The dual-tower configuration provides operational flexibility for single occupiers who may need to expand or contract across the two towers within the same building address.

OFFICE STOCK AND TENANT PROFILE

The combined NLA of approximately 512,000 square feet accommodates financial services firms, law firms, and professional services tenants typical of the DIFC occupier base. The dual-tower configuration allows single occupiers to lease within one tower while the other remains independently tenanted, providing structural separation useful for operational independence or confidentiality purposes. Floor plates extend to approximately 14,763 square feet, with unit configurations ranging from sub-1,000 square foot suites to multi-floor occupancies. Both towers carry Grade A classification with raised access flooring, centrally controlled HVAC, high-specification lobbies, basement and podium parking, and ground-floor retail units serving the DIFC pedestrian population.

RENTAL MARKET

Al Fattan Currency House competes in the lower-to-mid tier of DIFC Grade A stock, with achievable rents generally below those commanded by ICD Brookfield Place and Burj Daman. The building is attractive to cost-conscious DIFC-licensed firms that require a regulated address without paying a top-of-market premium for the most current workspace generation. The mid-2000s vintage means occupiers gain a DIFC address and associated regulatory benefits at a price point that newer buildings cannot replicate. Lease terms run three to five years with annual or biannual rent cheques consistent with standard DIFC conventions, and the building management provides institutional reliability of a DIFC-framework asset.

SALES MARKET

Al Fattan Currency House is a single-ownership asset with no active strata sales market for individual office units. For institutional investors, the building represents a core DIFC office asset with a diversified multi-tenant income profile and the regulatory stability of the DIFC licensing framework. Investment considerations centre on occupancy profile, weighted average lease expiry, the quality of tenant covenants, and the building's competitive positioning against newer Grade A supply within the precinct. At mid-2000s vintage, a capital expenditure plan addressing building systems and common area upgrades would be a key diligence area for any potential acquisition.

LOCATION AND ACCESS

Al Fattan Currency House is situated within the core DIFC precinct, with direct pedestrian connectivity to The Gate and Gate Village through the internal DIFC walkway network. Financial Centre Metro Station (Red Line) is approximately a 5-minute walk from the building. Sheikh Zayed Road is accessible within 2 minutes by vehicle via the DIFC interchange. Basement and podium parking is provided across both towers, supporting occupiers who commute by private vehicle. The central DIFC positioning gives occupiers direct access to the full range of precinct retail, F&B, and business infrastructure accessible on foot throughout the working day.

RISKS AND WATCHPOINTS

The mid-2000s completion vintage means mechanical and electrical systems are approaching the horizon for planned capital investment relative to newer DIFC completions. The floor plate of approximately 14,763 square feet limits appeal to large open-plan occupiers and trading floor users who require the efficiency delivered by Burj Daman or ICD Brookfield Place. Competition from newer and larger DIFC towers with more current workspace specifications — particularly DIFC Square completed in 2026 — applies ongoing pressure on the building's relative positioning within the precinct. Occupiers should confirm the building owner's capital expenditure programme before committing to long leases.

STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVE

Al Fattan Currency House is a functional and well-located DIFC address for smaller and mid-size financial and professional services operators who require the DIFC regulatory framework but are not paying a premium for the latest workspace generation. The dual-tower structure provides genuine flexibility for occupiers whose space requirements may shift over a lease cycle — expanding or contracting within the same address reduces relocation risk. Its principal limitation is vintage and floor plate size relative to newer stock, which will remain a structural constraint as DIFC Square and future new delivery raise baseline specification expectations within the precinct. For cost-sensitive DIFC-licensed firms, it remains a practical and credible choice.