THE EXCHANGE DIFC

OVERVIEW

The Exchange, also designated Gate Village Building 11, is an eight-storey commercial development within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), developed by the DIFC Authority at a total project cost of AED 180 million and completed in March 2018. It delivers a total leasable area of approximately 147,000 square feet, comprising approximately 114,000 square feet of Grade A office accommodation and approximately 33,000 square feet of retail space, across five basement parking levels and eight above-grade floors. As the most recently completed building in the Gate Village cluster, The Exchange brings a newer specification to a precinct where the original buildings date from the late 2000s.

OFFICE STOCK AND TENANT PROFILE

The Exchange provides approximately 114,000 square feet of Grade A office NLA across eight floors. At completion 84% of the building was leased, with Nasdaq Dubai as the anchor tenant occupying the eighth floor — a high-profile financial market operator whose presence reinforces the building's credibility as a regulated financial services address. The specification includes raised access floors, centralised HVAC, passenger lifts, and five basement levels of dedicated parking. The Gate Village location connects occupiers directly to DIFC's most concentrated dining, retail, and gallery district, providing the full Gate Village environment from a newer-vintage building.

RENTAL MARKET

The Exchange occupies the lower-to-mid tier of DIFC's Grade A commercial market, consistent with its boutique scale, Gate Village location, and 2018 vintage relative to the height and floor plate efficiency of ICD Brookfield Place and DIFC Square. DIFC Authority ownership ensures regulatory compliance and management standards consistent with the broader precinct. Lease terms follow standard DIFC conventions of three to five years with structured escalation. The building's smaller scale means fewer floors and configurations are available simultaneously, which limits options for growing occupiers but provides a more defined community environment for boutique operators.

SALES MARKET

The Exchange is a DIFC Authority-owned asset with no strata sales market for individual office units. For institutional investors, the building represents a boutique addition to the Gate Village precinct portfolio, with DIFC Authority management standards and a diversified income stream from both Grade A office and retail tenancies. The Nasdaq Dubai anchor tenancy provides a notable financial sector credit reference that underpins building income stability. Capital value reflects the building's compact scale, 2018 vintage relative to the rest of Gate Village, and its positioning as the newest delivered building within the wider DIFC estate.

LOCATION AND ACCESS

The Exchange occupies the Gate Village precinct within DIFC, with direct pedestrian connections to Gate Village Buildings 1 through 10 and the central Gate structure through the internal walkway network. Financial Centre Metro Station (Red Line) is within a 5-minute walk of the Gate Village campus. Sheikh Zayed Road is accessible within minutes by vehicle via the DIFC road network. Five basement parking levels serve office occupiers and retail visitors. The Gate Village environment provides immediate access to DIFC's most concentrated cluster of dining, art gallery, and retail destinations, supporting the occupier amenity experience without leaving the precinct.

RISKS AND WATCHPOINTS

With only approximately 114,000 square feet of office NLA across eight floors, The Exchange is a small building by DIFC standards. Any occupier requiring more than one or two floors will exhaust available options and face a relocation decision at lease expiry rather than having the option to expand within the same building. The building's profile within Gate Village is partly anchored by the Nasdaq Dubai tenancy — any change in that occupier relationship would affect its positioning and perceived prestige within the cluster. The eight-floor above-grade structure limits the upper-floor views and pricing premium that taller DIFC towers command. Occupiers should verify parking availability and confirm lease terms with the DIFC Authority leasing team.

STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVE

The Exchange is a well-specified 2018-vintage building in a premium Gate Village location — a strong secondary choice for smaller DIFC operators who want the Gate Village environment and the DIFC regulatory framework without requiring the scale or specification of a tower address. The Nasdaq Dubai anchor adds financial market credibility, and its 2018 completion is the most recent in Gate Village, providing a genuine specification advantage within the cluster. Best suited to boutique operators and single-floor tenancies. Firms with significant growth ambitions requiring expansion within the same lease cycle should consider larger-inventory DIFC alternatives that can accommodate increasing space requirements over time without requiring a building change.