Executive Heights

DAMAC Executive Heights, Barsha Heights: Dubai's Premier Freehold Office Investment in TECOM's Most Connected Business Hub

TL;DR — Quick Reference Summary

Project: DAMAC Executive Heights Developer: DAMAC Properties Location: Barsha Heights (formerly TECOM), Dubai Status: Completed & Operating (Delivered Q4 2008) Structure: 24-storey Grade A freehold commercial office tower Total Space: Over 300,000 sq ft of premium freehold office space Type: DAMAC's first freehold office tower in Barsha Heights Starting Investment: From AED 2,600,000 Annual Office Rental Range: AED 90,000 – 120,000 per year (office suites) Metro Access: Dubai Internet City Metro Station — 3–4 minutes walk Key Amenities: Coffee bar & restaurant, large entrance lobby, high-speed elevators, gymnasium, sauna & steam room, outdoor swimming pool, health club, jogging track, recreational room, 24-hour security, CCTV, ample basement parking Freehold: Yes — available to international investors and end-users

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1. Introduction: DAMAC's Landmark Statement in Barsha Heights' Business Ecosystem

DAMAC Executive Heights stands as one of the defining commercial landmarks of Barsha Heights (formerly TECOM) — a 24-storey, Grade A freehold office tower that represents DAMAC Properties' first foray into the Barsha Heights commercial freehold market. Delivered in Q4 2008, this tower has been a fixture of the Barsha Heights skyline for over 16 years, providing premium corporate accommodation to hundreds of businesses across a range of sizes and sectors.

The tower's distinction begins with its freehold status in a market where leasehold office towers dominate: purchasing a unit in Executive Heights provides outright ownership of a premium office asset in one of Dubai's most commercially active and strategically positioned districts, with the attendant benefits of capital appreciation, rental income, and Dubai's zero corporate tax environment.

At over 300,000 sq ft of total office space distributed across 24 storeys, Executive Heights offers a diverse range of office configurations — from smaller, immediately occupiable fitted suites to larger shell-and-core floors that allow corporations to implement bespoke, branded office environments. This flexibility, combined with the tower's exceptional Metro connectivity and the vibrant business ecosystem of Barsha Heights, has maintained high occupancy and strong rental performance across multiple market cycles since delivery.

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2. Location & Connectivity: Barsha Heights — Dubai's Most Connected Business Hub

Barsha Heights (formerly TECOM — the Technology, Electronic Commerce, and Media Free Zone) is one of Dubai's most strategically located and commercially vibrant business districts, sitting at the intersection of Sheikh Zayed Road (E11), Al Khail Road (E44), and Hessa Street (D61).

The Barsha Heights Ecosystem

Barsha Heights and its adjacent free zones form a powerhouse concentration of media, technology, and knowledge industry companies:

• Dubai Internet City (DIC): Home to the regional offices of Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Amazon, Cisco, HP, Oracle, and hundreds of tech companies
• Dubai Media City (DMC): Housing BBC, CNN, Reuters, MBC Group, Condé Nast, and virtually every major global and regional media organisation
• Knowledge Village: UAE's premier hub for education and training organisations
• Dubai Studio City: A dedicated media production and creative industry hub

These adjacent free zones collectively employ tens of thousands of white-collar professionals — creating a vibrant, symbiotic business ecosystem in which Executive Heights participates directly. Companies based in Executive Heights benefit from proximity to this extraordinary concentration of potential clients, partners, and service providers.

Metro Connectivity — Game-Changing Accessibility

Executive Heights' most powerful locational advantage is its proximity to the Dubai Internet City Metro Station (Red Line) — just 3–4 minutes' walk from the building's entrance. This Metro access:

• Provides employees with seamless, traffic-free transit across the entire Dubai Metro network during peak commute hours
• Connects directly to Dubai Marina, JLT, Business Bay, Downtown Dubai, and Dubai International Airport
• Eliminates reliance on private vehicles for many employees, reducing parking pressure
• Significantly expands the company's potential employee catchment area to include all Metro-accessible Dubai communities

Road Network

• Sheikh Zayed Road (E11): Immediate access — Dubai's primary arterial highway connecting Jebel Ali to Abu Dhabi
• Al Khail Road (E44): Rapid connection to Downtown Dubai, Dubai Hills, and the Al Ain Road corridor
• Hessa Street (D61): Internal Barsha Heights/JVC connector

Key Distances:

• Dubai Marina & JBR: 10 minutes
• Downtown Dubai / Burj Khalifa: 20 minutes
• DIFC: 15–18 minutes
• Dubai International Airport (DXB): 20–25 minutes
• Mall of the Emirates: 10 minutes

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3. Building Design & Grade A Specifications

Architecture

Executive Heights' 24-storey tower features a sleek, contemporary glass-curtain-wall facade that commands a prominent presence in the Barsha Heights commercial skyline. The building's design priorities:

• Natural Light Maximisation: Full-height glazing across all office floors, providing excellent natural light to all workplace areas
• Corporate Identity: A professional, commanding exterior that projects the gravitas appropriate for multinational corporate occupiers
• Views: Upper-floor offices enjoy panoramic views over the Barsha Heights community, adjacent golf courses and parks, and toward the Sheikh Zayed Road corridor

Building Specifications

• Total Office Space: Over 300,000 sq ft of gross leasable area
• Floor Plate: Generous, efficient floor plates suitable for open-plan and mixed office configurations
• Ceiling Heights: Commercial-grade floor-to-ceiling heights providing a spacious, professional working environment
• MEP Standards: Grade A mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure including centralised cooling, building management systems, and fire suppression

Office Types Available

Fitted Offices: Ready-for-immediate-occupation units with existing partitioning, flooring, lighting, and basic furniture provisions. Ideal for SMEs, branch offices, and businesses requiring fast operational setup without significant upfront fit-out capital expenditure.

Shell & Core Offices: Larger unfitted floor areas providing a blank canvas for corporations requiring bespoke, branded office environments. Suited to regional headquarters, large professional service firms, and technology companies with specific spatial planning requirements.

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4. Amenities & Building Services

One of Executive Heights' defining advantages over pure-play commercial towers is its remarkable suite of lifestyle and wellness amenities — facilities that support employee wellbeing and reduce the need for staff to leave the building during the workday:

F&B & Hospitality

• Coffee Bar & Restaurant: On-site food and beverage provision for residents, tenants, and visitors — supporting informal business meetings, team lunches, and daily coffee rituals without leaving the building
• Large Entrance Lobby & Reception: A grand, professionally managed reception creates a powerful first impression for visiting clients and guests

Health, Wellness & Recreation

• Gymnasium: A fully equipped fitness facility for tenant employee use — an increasingly critical wellbeing provision for corporate occupiers competing for talent
• Sauna & Steam Room: Dedicated recovery and relaxation facilities adjacent to the gym
• Outdoor Swimming Pool: A temperature-maintained pool providing a genuine recreational amenity — rare in commercial towers — that supports employee wellbeing and serves as a recruitment and retention differentiator for corporate tenants
• Health Club: A dedicated health club facility complementing the gym for holistic employee wellness
• Outdoor Jogging Track: A dedicated running track for employees seeking outdoor exercise during the working day or after hours
• Recreational Room: A multipurpose indoor space for employee leisure, informal gatherings, or organised social activities

Security & Practical

• 24-Hour Security: Manned building security with access control and CCTV surveillance across all levels
• High-Speed Elevators: Multiple high-speed elevator banks ensuring minimal wait times for a 24-storey building with high peak-hour traffic
• Ample Basement Parking: A major advantage in the busy Barsha Heights district — multiple levels of secure basement parking for tenants and visitors, provided as part of the building's comprehensive facilities

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5. Investment Analysis: Commercial Freehold in Dubai's Knowledge Corridor

Commercial Office Market Context (Barsha Heights, 2025)

The Barsha Heights commercial market is characterised by consistently strong occupancy driven by the stable, diversified demand base of TECOM's technology and media free zones:

• Average Office Rental Rate: AED 90,000 – 120,000 per year for quality office suites in Barsha Heights
• Occupancy Performance: Grade A commercial towers in Barsha Heights consistently maintain 85–95%+ occupancy, outperforming Dubai's broader commercial market
• Tenant Profile: International corporations, regional headquarters, and established SMEs provide long-term lease stability and low credit risk

The Freehold Advantage

Commercial freehold in Dubai delivers a uniquely attractive investment proposition:

1. Capital Ownership: Full freehold title to a commercial asset in one of the UAE's most active commercial districts — an asset class with historically strong capital retention
2. Rental Income: Stable, predictable rental income from corporate tenants on typically 1–3 year lease terms
3. Zero Capital Gains Tax: No tax on property sale proceeds in Dubai
4. Zero Rental Income Tax: No tax on rental income received from commercial tenants
5. Metro Premium: Metro-adjacent commercial properties in Dubai consistently command and sustain occupancy premiums over comparable non-Metro buildings
6. UAE Golden Investor Visa: Property investments above AED 2M qualify for the 10-year UAE Golden Investor Visa

DAMAC Properties Developer Track Record

DAMAC Properties is one of the Middle East's most prolific and recognisable luxury real estate developers, listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM). With a portfolio spanning luxury residential, commercial, and hospitality developments across Dubai, the UAE, and internationally, DAMAC provides institutional-grade developer backing and brand recognition that underpins asset value.

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6. The Barsha Heights Advantage for Corporate Occupiers

For companies evaluating their Dubai office location, Barsha Heights and Executive Heights specifically offer a compelling proposition against competing commercial districts:

vs. DIFC: Barsha Heights offers significantly lower rents at 40–60% of DIFC Grade A rates, with comparable Metro connectivity (DIC Metro vs. DIFC/Financial Centre Metro) and equal access to the city's major road networks.

vs. Business Bay: Barsha Heights provides direct access to the technology and media free zone ecosystem (DIC, DMC, Knowledge Village) that Business Bay lacks, while offering comparable connectivity and lower rental rates.

vs. Downtown Dubai: Barsha Heights provides the same Sheikh Zayed Road access at substantially lower commercial rents, with the specific advantage of free zone adjacency for technology, media, and knowledge industry companies.

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7. Conclusion: 300,000 sq ft of Freehold Corporate Opportunity

DAMAC Executive Heights is a mature, proven, operationally established Grade A commercial tower in one of Dubai's most consistently in-demand business districts. Its combination of freehold title, Metro-adjacent location (3–4 min walk to Dubai Internet City Metro), 300,000+ sq ft of flexible office space, and an extraordinary suite of wellness and lifestyle amenities make it one of Barsha Heights' most complete commercial investment and owner-occupier propositions.

For commercial investors seeking a yielding freehold asset in a location with structural demand from Dubai's technology and media ecosystem — DAMAC Executive Heights offers proven performance across 16+ years of operation, Metro connectivity, and the enduring advantages of Barsha Heights' position at the heart of Dubai's knowledge economy corridor.