Construction Costs
Office Construction Cost Planning: Dubai International Financial Centre, United Arab Emirates
Dubai International Financial Centre office cost planning using the World Bank ICP 2021 national construction price-level index of 67.1, plus a GeoNames-based local comparable-search shortlist.
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Last updated September 15, 2026 · National screening observation from the [World Bank ICP 2021 API](https://api.worldbank.org/v2/sources/90/country/ARE/classification/PX.WL/series/1501200/time/YR2021/data?format=json) and [ICP data documentation](https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/icp/data); locality and population from the [GeoNames AE dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/AE.zip) (CC BY 4.0 snapshot 2026-08-26, GeoNames ID 8541977). The PLI is not a city cost/m² rate, current escalation series or tender estimate.
Direct answer
For early office construction cost planning in Dubai International Financial Centre, the World Bank ICP reports a 2021 United Arab Emirates construction price-level index of 67.1, with the world equal to 100. This is a national comparison—not a Dubai International Financial Centre AED/m² rate or tender estimate—so replace it with current local evidence before budgeting or procurement. The observation covers construction across United Arab Emirates in 2021; it does not measure a Dubai International Financial Centre market basket or current office tenders. GeoNames 8541977 records the locality at 25.2106, 55.2779, with snapshot population 36,000. That ranks Dubai International Financial Centre 43 of 50 listed places, while As Saţwah is the nearest listed peer at about 1 km. Use these facts only to plan the comparable search. Obtain current local rates on a consistent area basis, then reconcile scope, taxes, fees, contingency and escalation. Retain the source, base date and reviewer when local evidence replaces the screening ratio.
Content and cited inputs reviewed by Scott Barrington, Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-09-15.
What does the 67.1 construction index mean?
The World Bank ICP 2021 construction PLI for United Arab Emirates is 67.1, compared with a world benchmark of 100. It is a national spatial price comparison assembled for the 2021 reference year. It does not say that office work in Dubai International Financial Centre costs 0.671 times a current world rate.
Which Dubai International Financial Centre inputs are known?
The reproducible locality point is 25.2106, 55.2779 (GeoNames 8541977). Its snapshot population is 36,000, ranked 43 of 50 listed places; GeoNames classifies it as a section of a populated place in administrative area 03. These facts shape the local comparable search, not the price.
What must a project estimate add?
For a Dubai International Financial Centre office project, reconcile workplace fit-out grade, services density, floorplate efficiency and vertical transport. Use a consistent gross-floor-area basis and record the following before reliance.
| Estimate field | Screening record | Project requirement |
|---|---|---|
| National context | ICP 2021 PLI 67.1 | Retain only as dated cross-country context |
| Local AED/m² rate | Not supplied | Current comparable with named source and base date |
| Area and scope | Gross floor area; scope unresolved | Measurement standard, specification and procurement route |
| Additions | Not supplied | Taxes, fees, site work, contingency and escalation |
| Review | Automated source and arithmetic QA | Qualified local cost review |
Dubai International Financial Centre comparable-location search screen
This shortlist is computed from the checked GeoNames snapshot. Distance and population help prioritize where to request comparables; neither is used as a cost multiplier.
| Listed place | Great-circle km from Dubai International Financial Centre | Snapshot population | Admin area |
|---|---|---|---|
| As Saţwah | 1 | 40,997 | 03 |
| Jumayrā | 3 | 39,080 | 03 |
| Business Bay | 3 | 191,000 | 03 |
| Al Karama | 4 | 75,560 | 03 |
| Mankhūl | 4 | 41,244 | 03 |
| Kalbā | 110 | 37,545 | 06 |
| Ar Rāshidīyah | 11 | 38,425 | 03 |
| Khawr Fakkān | 108 | 40,677 | 06 |
Price-level normalization worksheet
For a validated reference rate R from a country with construction PLI P, the transparent screening calculation is R × (67.1 ÷ P). At P = 100 the dimensionless ratio is 0.671; no world cost rate is asserted. Keep the reference rate's currency, base date, area basis and scope attached.
| Input | Recorded value | Release condition |
|---|---|---|
| Target national PLI | 67.1 (World = 100, 2021) | Screening context only |
| Reference construction PLI P | User-supplied from the same ICP classification/year | Must match reference rate country |
| Validated reference rate R | User-supplied | Named source, currency, date, area and scope |
| Local Dubai International Financial Centre adjustment | Not asserted | Replace with current local comparable evidence |
| Result status | Screening normalization | Not a budget, quote or tender estimate |
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all construction costs guidance
- House Construction Cost Planning: Dubai International Financial Centre, United Arab Emirates
- School Construction Cost Planning: Dubai International Financial Centre, United Arab Emirates
- Retail Construction Cost Planning: Dubai International Financial Centre, United Arab Emirates
- Office Construction Cost Planning: As Saţwah, United Arab Emirates
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Sources and method
National screening observation from the World Bank ICP 2021 API and ICP data documentation; locality and population from the GeoNames AE dump (CC BY 4.0 snapshot 2026-08-26, GeoNames ID 8541977). The PLI is not a city cost/m² rate, current escalation series or tender estimate.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
Does the 67.1 index give a office cost per m² for Dubai International Financial Centre?
No. 67.1 is the World Bank ICP 2021 national construction price-level index for United Arab Emirates, with the world equal to 100. It is a cross-country screening statistic, not a Dubai International Financial Centre AED/m² rate, escalation index, quote or tender estimate.
How should a Dubai International Financial Centre office estimate replace this screening benchmark?
Collect current Dubai International Financial Centre comparables on a consistent gross-floor-area basis, reconcile workplace fit-out grade, services density, floorplate efficiency and vertical transport, and state base date, currency, taxes, fees, site work, contingency and escalation. A qualified local cost professional should review the resulting project estimate.
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