Co-working Spaces – What Purpose Do They Serve?
The nature and culture of work is changing over the years, and a new platform is now arising for new ways of working. That’s what fluidmeet is all about. Once you walk into a co-working space in Dubai and see open-air desks, you can immediately notice and feel the difference in the energy and excitement you get. You’ll see a mix of those in deep focus at private desks and others striking up engaging conversations at large shared tables. This is the future of working lifestyles and the new culture of the co-working spaces in Dubai – that Fluidmeet loves to share with entrepreneurs and startups alike.
Co-working spaces in Dubai have essentially shared workspaces, offering affordable office space for those looking to escape the isolation of a home office or a local coffee shop where they may not be able to focus. These shared workspaces offer a suite of office-like amenities such as Hot Desks, open-air work desks, cubicles, private meeting rooms, kitchens, coffee, and a working community.
So Who uses co-working spaces in Dubai and Abu Dhabi? Typically, a coworking space is used by freelancers, entrepreneurs, start-ups, digital nomads, and small teams who want to take advantage of flexible space. Moreover, the freelance economy is growing worldwide, and younger members of the workforce find themselves doing freelance work. Currently, there are 53 million freelancers around the world, and by 2020, it is estimated that 50% of the workforce will consist of freelancers, and the demand for co-working spaces is on the rise. So it is no surprise that these co-working spaces have become more and more popular in the last couple of years. You can definitely expect to hear about these types of coworking spaces launching near you. In Amsterdam alone, there are almost 60 co-working spaces, making Amsterdam a hybrid place, reflecting what a work-life balance of the future could look like.
Who Benefits from a Co-Working Space in Dubai?
Freelancers
A co-working space creates the best of both worlds for freelancers, as it gives them total flexibility to choose their own hours and schedule without isolation. At the same time, freelancers get the sense of community that they would not get if forced to work alone at home, or in a remote café. It encourages creativity and networking opportunities that would have not existed.
Start-ups
Start-ups appreciate the flexibility of co-working spaces, offering them the opportunity to interact with small teams. These co-working spaces may even help entrepreneurs find a co-founder for their start-up by connecting the right people at the right time.
Some interesting Facts in the Illustration below:
SMEs and Larger Organisations
Surprisingly, with coworking spaces working so well for smaller groups of people, forward-thinking companies are already adopting the concept to utilize co-working spaces whenever required. Firms such as WeWork (which recently received a $16 billion valuation) are looking to attract larger organizations to their coworking spaces. As Bloomberg reports, General Electric, KPMG, and Merck all use this co-working space. KPMG rents out 75 desks, providing a strategic advantage. How is that? KPMG employees at WeWork are involved with business advice to start-ups for tech innovation research. Also, Talabat employees are using co-working spaces, allowing them to collaborate, work and learn from each other.
Business Travellers
As the global workforce is becoming increasingly mobile, people are getting work done outside of the traditional office environment. A prime example is if you’re a business traveler, attending an exhibition in another country, speaking at a seminar, attending a sales pitch, or a training course, you would know that working out of hotels, the car, or from a remote coffee shop is a real challenge. That’s why co-working is a much more convenient option for business travelers. There are places where you can rent a desk, an office, or a conference room on a short-term basis.
Another benefit of coworking spaces for business travelers is they offer a variety of layouts and room or desk options. With some, you will be renting an open seat in a shared office common area. With others, you may be in a room with other people; maybe at the very same table or couch. Travelers can easily hop into private meetings with clients and book a conference room through Fluidmeet. With Fluidmeet, you can check in by the hour at over 300 spaces. Depending on how many hours you need a month, pricing plans range from AED 500 per month to AED 1,500 per month depending on licensing requirements.
Entrepreneurs & Mompreneurs
For mompreneurs who try hard to create the opportunity to work from home, the idea of paying to work in a physical space outside the home might seem far-fetched. However, co-working spaces in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are springing up around the country offering a diverse range of services and membership benefits for mompreneurs. It is also believed that shared workspaces offer working women an easy way to network efficiently.
Co-working spaces minimize distractions for mompreneurs and entrepreneurs and help them be more productive because a co-working space plays a role in providing a flexible structure that allows many remote workers to buckle down and get things done. When someone else is responsible for brewing the coffee, changing the printer toner, and emptying the wastebaskets, you can focus on your work during business hours—and then go home and have a work-life balance lifestyle.
Why Get a Co-Working Space in Dubai?
A Sense of Community and Networking
A team of researchers at Harvard found that people who use co-working spaces have different attitudes as a result of their space. Correlated with co-working spaces were feelings of more meaningful work, more job control, and a sense of community. It’s easy to meet others when using a co-working space. People purely pursue whatever they want to get done – people crave flexibility, creativity, an inspirational atmosphere, and cost saving. This is exactly what Fluidmeet offers its’ clientele; the right co-working space in Dubai. You can work independently but not alone. Working alone can get very lonely and boring, and this often leads to demotivation and a feeling of isolation.
“When it comes to trying a shared working space, where you are exposed to professionals from diverse industries, you can make great connections and grow your network”, stated Jareer Oweimrin, Executive Director of Fluidmeet.
Cost-Saving Aspect of Renting a Co-Working Space
One of the advantages of these coworking spaces is the ability to rent out only what you need, rather than hire an entire private office space, which can be quite costly for a start-up. Through various membership-based models, costs vary and allow for flexibility. These include options for daily fees or monthly fees. Membership costs also differ based on whether you use a shared desk or want a dedicated one.
With co-working spaces becoming more in demand worldwide, Fluidmeet has quickly gained market share to be one of the UAE’s biggest co-working platform providers, allowing people to work together on projects and create innovation in the world. Join the co-working revolution today and become a Fluidmeet member!
Flexibility of a Co-Working Space
A variety of spaces enhances employee productivity. When you have spare time between meetings, it is much more time-effective to drop into a co-working space. With a range of different workspaces, users can choose the best place to get each task done. Additionally, with regard to commutes, employees can spend more time working rather than driving to and from the office.
Executive Director of Fluidmeet, Mr. Suleiman Salloum states: ‘A Co-Working Space can certainly create a stimulating environment where users can work but also relax and create a network’.
Amenities Provided by a Co-Working Space
What’s great about workspaces is they come complete with conference rooms, mail service, free parking, video projectors, high-speed internet, scanners, double-sided printing, restaurants, coffee, and healthy snacks, giving the image of an established, successful company. These amenities bring a level of legitimacy to your business and have a place for client meetings. It can make all the difference.
In some co-working spaces, there is even a dedicated workout room like a gym or a yoga room, a game room and a pool room, and a podcast recording room, serving those techy entrepreneurs and the healthy ones. Co-working spaces are also the prime hubs for networking and building social connections that make small businesses thrive. Most co-working spaces host social events for their members which are great opportunities to build your community and have fun with your team.
How to Find a Co-working Space in Dubai:
Co-working space seekers can go onto fluidmeet and browse through and compare different co-working space options available to them in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Choose to book a space on a daily basis or, if required for longer. You may contact fluidmeet directly for longer-term rentals (weeks/months) and the rates are even discounted if you book co-working spaces for longer periods. Fluidmeet partners with quality co-working space providers (hosts) and helps connect “seekers” to these “hosts”.
Are you a freelancer, corporate, entrepreneur, or start-up? Do you find yourself working from home or in tight coffee shops with bad Wi-Fi? A Co-working space in Dubai or Abu Dhabi is the ideal solution for you!
About Fluidmeet
Established in 2015, Fluidmeet is a leading online marketplace and an emerging booking and venue management platform that “connects” individuals and corporates seeking rental of serviced offices, co-working spaces, meeting rooms, and banquet halls with venues and their hosts in a timely, cost-effective and efficient manner.
Our Vision:
To be a premier online marketplace for workspace discovery and bookings of venues that can host professional experiences.
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Author: Maha Ahmad