RDK Commercial Investment — Dubai's Specialist in Commercial Real Estate Solutions

| Attribute | Detail | |---|---| | Developer / Operator | RDK Commercial Investment | | Headquarters | Dubai, UAE | | Specialisation | Commercial real estate — offices, retail, mixed-use commercial schemes | | Target Clients | SMEs, corporate occupiers, commercial investors, retail operators | | Market Position | Specialist commercial property developer and investment vehicle | | Key Value Proposition | Commercial-grade infrastructure in investor-accessible formats | | Geographic Focus | Dubai Commercial Free Zones & Mainland Commercial Corridors |

TL;DR Snapshot

| Question | Answer | |---|---| | Who is RDK Commercial Investment? | A Dubai specialist focused exclusively on commercial and retail property | | What do they develop/trade? | Office suites, retail units, commercial floors in mixed-use buildings | | Who buys from RDK? | SME owners, commercial investors, corporate anchor tenants | | Investment case | Commercial yields typically exceed residential in Dubai by 1.5–2.5% | | Best suited for | Business owners seeking freehold workspace, investors seeking superior yield |

The Commercial Investment Thesis — Why RDK's Focus Matters

Dubai's real estate narrative is dominated by residential towers — palm islands, canal-front apartments, branded hotel residences. But beneath this headline story lies a commercial market of extraordinary depth and dynamism, serving the 2.3 million active businesses registered in the UAE, the 175,000+ companies operating from Dubai's free zones, and the global corporations that have chosen Dubai as their regional headquarters.

RDK Commercial Investment was established specifically to serve this commercial market — to develop, acquire, and trade commercial property assets that align with the way Dubai's businesses actually operate. This is not a residential developer dabbling in commercial floors to sell off a mixed-use building. RDK is a commercial property specialist, bringing a fundamentally different lens to site selection, product design, tenant profiling, and exit strategy.

The commercial investment thesis for Dubai rests on four structural pillars:

1. Supply Deficit in Quality Commercial Stock Grade-A office space in Dubai's premier locations remains chronically undersupplied relative to the corporate demand generated by Dubai's status as a global business hub. Vacancy rates in prime commercial corridors regularly run below 8%, creating structural upward pressure on commercial rents.

2. Higher Yield Characteristics Commercial properties in Dubai consistently deliver gross yields of 7.5%–11% — well above the 5.5%–8% typical of residential assets. For investors focused purely on income return, commercial exposure is the superior allocation.

3. Longer Lease Structures Commercial tenants sign leases of 3–10 years, dramatically reducing the vacancy and re-letting costs that erode residential net yields. A commercial building with 5 corporate tenants on 5-year leases delivers predictable income with minimal management overhead.

4. Infrastructure Cost Transfer Commercial tenants frequently bear fit-out costs, service charges, and building improvement costs under their lease terms — transferring capex risk from the landlord to the occupier in a way that residential leasing structures cannot.

RDK's Commercial Product Suite

Grade-A Office Suites RDK develops and trades modern, column-free office suites in Dubai's commercial districts. Key specification standards:

| Specification | RDK Standard | |---|---| | Raised Access Flooring | 150mm plenum for flexible cable routing | | Ceiling Height | Minimum 2.8 m finished ceiling in open-plan areas | | Cooling System | VRF / VRV or central chilled water — independently zoned per suite | | Power Provision | Minimum 60 W/m² capacity, UPS provision for server rooms | | Telecommunications | Fibre-optic backbone, multi-operator connectivity | | Toilet Provision | Dedicated male/female facilities on each commercial floor | | Loading Bay Access | For commercial floors above GF — lift goods access specification | | Security | Card-access controlled lobby, CCTV coverage, 24/7 building security |

Retail Units & Commercial Podiums RDK develops and sells freehold retail shells in strategic ground-floor and podium positions — high-footfall locations serving the residential communities above and the wider catchment area:

| Specification | RDK Standard | |---|---| | Shop Front | Full-height glazed shopfront, projecting canopy provision | | Floor Specification | Polished concrete or tiled to shell — fit-out-ready | | Utility Connections | Electricity (heavy load), water, and drainage stubs provided | | Ventilation | Mechanical supply and extract to shell boundary | | Loading Access | Rear servicing lane or goods lift provision | | Heights | Minimum 4.5 m internal shell height for retail mezzanine potential |

Commercial Investment Floors RDK structures strata-titled commercial floor plates for fractional investment — allowing investors to acquire a defined area within a larger commercial building, registered as a distinct DLD title:

• Minimum purchase unit: typically 500–1,000 sq ft
• Full freehold ownership, 100% foreign ownership eligible
• Tenant in place at time of sale (income-producing from Day 1)
• Lease assignment and novation documented at transfer
• Managed by professional FM company post-acquisition

Dubai Commercial Market Context

Understanding where RDK operates requires understanding Dubai's commercial geography:

| Commercial District | Character | RDK Opportunity Zone | |---|---|---| | DIFC | Premium financial centre — regulated DFSA environment | Office acquisition / resale | | Business Bay | Mixed office and residential — high corporate density | Mid-market office development | | JLT (Jumeirah Lakes Towers) | Free zone status, cluster model, international tenants | Retail & office strata | | Dubai Internet City / Media City | Tech and media clusters — TECOM managed free zones | Commercial podium & retail | | Al Quoz | Industrial-creative-commercial hybrid — growing premium | Commercial warehouse conversion | | Deira / Bur Dubai | Traditional commercial core — SME and trading focus | Retail investment, office upgrades | | Downtown Dubai | Premium mixed-use — hotel, office, F&B | Retail shell sales, premium office |

The Investment Advantages of Dubai Commercial Property

Legal Framework Dubai's commercial freehold market is governed by a robust legal framework. Investors receive a DLD-registered title deed, with the same security of tenure and ownership protections that apply to residential freehold property. RERA-registered commercial developments are subject to the same escrow and regulatory requirements as residential off-plan sales.

100% Foreign Ownership All commercial freehold properties in Dubai's designated zones are available for 100% foreign ownership — no local sponsor requirement, no restriction on nationality.

No Corporate or Capital Gains Tax Commercial property income in Dubai is subject to no corporate income tax for non-trading entities, and capital gains on property disposals remain tax-free. This structurally enhances net yields compared to equivalent assets in mature markets.

Depreciation Strategy For investors in jurisdictions that permit overseas property depreciation allowances, Dubai commercial property's capital intensity (fit-out, MEP systems) can provide meaningful tax planning opportunities when held in appropriate structures.

Yield Comparison — Residential vs. Commercial in Dubai

| Asset Class | Typical Gross Yield | Typical Net Yield | Lease Length | Re-Letting Frequency | |---|---|---|---|---| | Residential Studio | 7.5%–9.0% | 5.5%–7.0% | 1 year | Annual | | Residential 1BR | 6.5%–8.0% | 4.5%–6.0% | 1 year | Annual | | Residential 2BR | 5.5%–7.0% | 4.0%–5.5% | 1 year | Annual | | Commercial Office (small suite) | 8.0%–10.5% | 6.5%–9.0% | 3–5 years | Every 3–5 years | | Retail Unit (high footfall) | 7.5%–11.0% | 6.0%–9.0% | 3–7 years | Every 3–7 years | | Commercial Floor (strata) | 8.5%–10.0% | 7.0%–8.5% | 5–10 years | Every 5–10 years |

These figures are indicative market benchmarks; individual properties will vary.

Drive-Time Access from Key RDK Commercial Locations

| Destination | Approx. Drive Time | |---|---| | Dubai International Airport (DXB) | 10–20 min | | DIFC | 5–15 min | | Business Bay | 5–12 min | | Downtown Dubai | 8–15 min | | JLT / DMCC Metro | 12–20 min | | Dubai Internet City | 15–22 min | | Al Maktoum Airport (DWC) | 25–40 min | | Sharjah Industrial Area | 30–45 min |

Tenant Profile — Who Occupies RDK Commercial Space

RDK's commercial assets attract a diverse, credit-worthy tenant mix:

• Corporate Regional Headquarters — multinational companies establishing Middle East bases
• Professional Services Firms — legal, accounting, consulting, PR agencies
• Technology Companies — software development, digital marketing, fintech
• Trading Companies — commodity trading, import/export operations requiring UAE presence
• Healthcare & Wellness — clinics, diagnostic centres, specialist medical practices
• F&B & Hospitality — restaurant operators, café chains, cloud kitchen operators
• Retail Flagships — fashion, electronics, lifestyle brands seeking prime frontage
• Government-Adjacent Entities — semi-government organisations, regulatory bodies

Risk-Adjusted Commercial Investment Analysis

Risk Factors — Commercial Property Commercial property does carry specific risks that investors should understand:

• Concentration Risk: Fewer tenants means loss of one tenant has larger income impact. RDK mitigates this through multi-tenanted floor plates and long-lease structures.
• Fit-Out Void Risk: New commercial space may require 2–4 months of rent-free incentive to attract first tenant. RDK factors this into its pricing and projections.
• Economic Cycle Sensitivity: Commercial demand contracts more sharply during recessions. Dubai's diversified economic base and tourism/trade/logistics resilience provide structural support.
• Specification Obsolescence: Office technology requirements evolve — raised flooring, power density, and cooling capacity must be future-proofed. RDK builds to 10-year technology standards, not current minimum.

Mitigating Factors

• Long lease structures reduce re-letting frequency
• Tenant fit-out investment creates switching costs — tenants who have spent AED 200–500 per sq ft fitting out space are highly unlikely to vacate without compelling reason
• Dubai's growing corporate population provides a deep tenant pool
• Grade-A commercial assets maintain relative value better than residential in downturns

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can non-UAE residents own commercial property in Dubai? A: Yes. Dubai's commercial freehold zones permit 100% foreign ownership with full DLD title deed registration. No visa or UAE residency is required.

Q: What is the minimum investment threshold for RDK commercial units? A: This varies by project and unit type. Small strata office suites start from AED 500,000–750,000. Larger commercial floors and retail units are typically AED 1.5 million and above.

Q: Does commercial property ownership qualify for UAE Golden Visa? A: Yes. Commercial property valued at AED 2 million or above qualifies for the UAE investor Golden Visa (10-year renewable residency). RDK's larger commercial units typically meet this threshold.

Q: Are tenants responsible for their own fit-out costs? A: In the majority of RDK commercial transactions, the shell-and-core specification is delivered by RDK and tenants install their own fit-out under a tenant fit-out agreement. This transfers the fit-out capital expenditure to the occupier.

Q: What professional management services are available? A: RDK works with a network of RERA-registered commercial property management firms who provide tenant management, lease administration, service charge management, and building maintenance services.

Q: How is commercial property income taxed in the UAE? A: The UAE levies a 9% corporate tax on business profits above AED 375,000. However, passive real estate income for holding entities is generally not classified as business income. Investors should obtain qualified UAE tax advice for their specific structure.

The RDK Advantage — Specialist Commercial Expertise in a Residential-Dominated Market

In a Dubai property market that often treats commercial real estate as an afterthought, RDK Commercial Investment brings focused, professional expertise to a sector that rewards specialist knowledge. The company's understanding of commercial tenant requirements, lease structures, building specification standards, and yield dynamics is built through dedicated commercial-market experience — not adapted from a residential playbook.

For investors who recognise that the highest-quality portfolios are diversified across asset classes, and who understand that Dubai's commercial sector offers yield characteristics that residential alone cannot match, RDK Commercial Investment is the specialist partner to engage.

Commercial property in Dubai is not a niche alternative — it is a $15+ billion annual transaction market serving the world's most dynamic business city. RDK is positioned at the centre of that opportunity.