How to furnish an office in Dubai: checklist and timeline to move-in
For managers, office administrators, designers and fit-out contractors: what to decide first, when to order and how to keep the move-in date.
To furnish an office in Dubai on time, start with the headcount and the way the team works, then fix the furniture layout before the power and data points are installed. Make an FF&E schedule for every zone (workstations, meeting rooms, focus areas, reception, breakout, storage), approve models and finishes, and order made-to-order items 12–14 weeks before move-in: office furniture made to order takes about 45–60 days of production plus about 2 weeks of delivery to Dubai. In-stock models can be ordered last. Deliver after the fit-out clean, 1–2 weeks before the team moves in.
Eight steps from floor plan to move-in
- Headcount and ways of working. Count people today and in two years, and decide how many work in the office every day. With hybrid work, some companies plan fewer desks than people and add lockers for shared desks.
- Zones. Split the floor into workstations, meeting rooms, focus rooms and phone booths, reception, breakout and pantry, executive offices and storage.
- Furniture layout. Place the desks before the electrical drawings are final. Floor boxes and power points follow the desks, not the other way round.
- FF&E schedule. One line per item: zone, model, size, finish, fabric, quantity. It is the document every supplier prices.
- Budget and options. An itemised quotation per zone, with alternatives where the budget is tight.
- Samples and approvals. Sit on the chairs, check desk finishes and fabrics in real light. Approve everything before production starts.
- Order sequence. Made-to-order items first, in-stock models last.
- Delivery and installation. Book the service lift and loading bay with building management, install after the fit-out clean, and leave time for snagging.
Timeline: working back from move-in
| Before move-in | What happens |
|---|---|
| 18–16 weeks | Headcount and zones agreed with the management team; designer or fit-out contractor appointed. |
| 16–14 weeks | Furniture layout fixed; FF&E schedule and quotation ready; power and data drawn to the desk layout. |
| 14–12 weeks | Models, finishes and fabrics approved. Made-to-order furniture ordered: Nurus about 45–60 days of production, Koleksiyon about 60 days, plus about 2 weeks of delivery to Dubai. |
| 8–6 weeks | Glass partitions, smart glass, lighting and acoustic pods confirmed with the fit-out programme. |
| 4–3 weeks | In-stock models confirmed and shipped. Delivery slots booked with building management. |
| 2–1 weeks | Delivery, assembly and installation after the fit-out clean. Snagging and adjustments. |
| Move-in week | Chairs adjusted for each person, spare items stored, packaging removed. |
If the date is close, use in-stock models for the open-plan area and keep made-to-order items for the reception and executive offices, where the design matters most.
What each zone needs
| Zone | Furniture | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Workstations | Desk systems or single desks, task chairs, pedestals, divider screens | Most full-day desks are 140–160 cm wide and 70–80 cm deep. Leave about 1 m behind each chair. |
| Meeting rooms | Meeting table, chairs, media unit | About 60–70 cm of table edge per person and about 1 m between the table and the wall. |
| Focus and calls | Acoustic pods and phone booths, small rooms | Power for each pod. Ask the fit-out contractor whether enclosed pods need fire detection or approval in your building. |
| Reception | Reception desk, lounge seating, coffee tables | Contract upholstery that survives daily use; the first thing visitors see. |
| Breakout and pantry | Tables, stools, soft seating | Surfaces that stand daily cleaning; stools matched to the counter height. |
| Executive offices | Executive desk, meeting table, storage | Choose a series designed as one suite, so finishes match. |
| Storage | Storage units, lockers, built-in cupboards | Lockers when desks are shared; built-in storage where walls allow. |
Coordinate the furniture with the fit-out
- Power and data. Floor boxes and cable trays follow the desk layout. Changing the layout after the floor is closed is expensive.
- Glass. Glass partitions keep daylight in the core of the floor. Smart glass turns a meeting-room wall opaque at the switch.
- Lighting. For desk and screen work, EN 12464-1 recommends about 500 lux on the desk and low glare (UGR 19 or less). A lighting calculation checks this before anything is ordered.
- Sun and glare. Large glass facades in Dubai bring strong sun onto screens. Plan blinds or solar film with the desk orientation.
- Acoustics. Open plans get loud. Rugs, upholstered seating, acoustic panels and pods absorb sound.
- Approvals. Office fit-outs in Dubai buildings are approved by building management and the relevant authority (Dubai Municipality, Dubai Civil Defence or a free zone authority, depending on the location). Loose furniture is usually outside the approval, but fixed items such as partitions and built-in joinery are part of the fit-out drawings.
Where the budget matters most
- Task chairs. Used eight hours a day by every person. This is the last place to save. See how to choose an office chair.
- Reception and meeting rooms. What clients see.
- Desks. A good desk system lasts through several layout changes.
- Where to save: visitor chairs, pantry furniture and back-office storage, where in-stock models do the job well.
Common mistakes
- Ordering chairs last, after the budget has gone on desks and finishes.
- Fixing the electrical layout before the furniture layout.
- Too few small meeting rooms and phone booths, so calls happen at the desks.
- No delivery plan for the building: service lift sizes, loading bay slots and working hours.
- Forgetting the sun: screens facing west-facing glass.
- No spare chairs or desks for new joiners in the first months.
One supplier for the whole office
DOMA supplies office furniture from Nurus and Koleksiyon, many models in stock, together with glass partitions, smart glass, architectural lighting, acoustic pods and bespoke rugs. We quote every item, confirm the lead times and deliver and install to your move-in date.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to furnish an office in Dubai?
Plan about 4 months from the first brief to move-in when some furniture is made to order: office furniture takes about 45–60 days of production plus about 2 weeks of delivery to Dubai. With in-stock models, it can be much faster.
What furniture does an office need?
Workstations and task chairs, meeting tables and chairs, focus rooms or acoustic pods, reception and lounge seating, breakout and pantry furniture, executive furniture and storage.
How big should an office desk be?
Most desks for full-day work are 140–160 cm wide and 70–80 cm deep, with about 1 m of space behind the chair.
Does office furniture need approval in Dubai?
Loose furniture is usually outside the fit-out approval. Fixed items such as partitions, built-in joinery and some enclosed pods are part of the fit-out drawings approved by building management and the relevant authority.
Which office furniture brands does DOMA supply?
DOMA supplies Nurus and Koleksiyon, two Turkish office furniture manufacturers, with many models in stock, plus custom furniture made to drawings.
Does DOMA deliver and install office furniture?
Yes. DOMA delivers, assembles and installs the furniture, and plans the delivery around the fit-out programme and the move-in date.
How to choose an ergonomic office chair: eight checks before you order for a team
A chair is the piece of office furniture people use the most. What to check, which chair goes where, and how to test before ordering for the whole team.
4 min read
Smart glass for offices: how switchable glass works, where to use it and what drives the cost
Glass walls keep an office bright. Smart glass adds privacy at the press of a switch. How it works, what to plan with the fit-out and how to compare it with blinds and frosted film.
4 min read
Lighting calculation: what it is, what to send and why to do it before ordering
A guide for designers, developers and owners in the UAE: how a lighting study turns a ceiling plan into the right fixtures, in the right places, at the right budget.
4 min readPlanning an office move?
Send the floor plan, headcount and move-in date. We come back with furniture options, prices and lead times.
+971 58 535 2102
mz@doma.ae · main@doma.ae
The H Office Tower, office 2903-2
1 Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai
Showroom visits by appointment
