text: Created exclusively to give businesses an optimum working environment within a distinctive outdoor gated community, the Business Quarter (BQ) is strategically located in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, offering quick and simple access to major cities, financial centers, and industrial areas. Saudi Projects spoke to Property Manager, Tariq Al Qahtani, about the many benefits offered and why some of the world’s biggest names are now flocking to BQ.
  Saudi Projects: Serviced offices are fast becoming an option for many types of businesses due to the numerous benefits they provide. But BQ has also positioned itself in the premium sector of the market – can you explain what this means for potential clients?
  Tariq Al Qahtani: We are leading the way in creating modern business parks, something that is now a global trend, giving clients the ability to work in a secure, gated business community with easy access. Phase 1 has over 50,000m2 of landscaped, green spaces, including individual gardens and other outdoor experiences where people can walk to a fully serviced lounge, gym, healthy food canteen and leading cafés. The whole project is being built to the highest quality and specifications and allows tenants and companies to create their own branded office and workspace.
  Phase 1 has over 50,000m2 of landscaped, green spaces, including individual gardens
  SP: What kind of companies and organizations have you attracted so far?
  TA: Many international and government organizations, along with newly established mega-project offices, are now choosing BQ as their ultimate workspace of choice, due largely to the collaborative nature of the BQ’s management team. We enable and empower organizations to move into offices at short notice and allow companies to build, design and construct bespoke offices in record time, supported by our project management teams and in-house design teams.
  SP: Tell me about the location of the offices – why are your clients attracted to this and what are the advantages?
  TA: The location has easy access from two major highways, King Fahad Road and King Faisal Road, along with a number of sub roads all around the BQ campus. This allows super easy access to BQ from all parts of the Eastern Region, including the Airport, Jubail, Riyadh and the Sea Port.
  “It is a location that has proven to be very attractive for our clients. Khulood Alseflan, Founder of ‘The Kids Castle Stay & Play Learning Centre’ said: “We chose the Business Quarter for so many reasons, not least its strategic location, which provides easy access for our customers. There is no doubt that it is a unique business park that provides the ideal working environment. There is nothing similar to it in the region.”
  We enable and empower organizations to move into offices at short notice
  SP: What kind of licensing agreements do you offer in terms of payment plans and lengths of stay?
  TA: We offer flexible terms and every deal is looked at individually to suit individual companies’ specific needs. We can cover short term from three months up to ten years, with pay-as-you-go options available too.
  SP: What facilities and amenities do you have on-site, such as meeting rooms, office equipment, kitchens, admin support, etc?
  TA: We have a state-of-the-art health club, 24/7 security, private parking, day-care for six months to five-year-old old children, a carwash, restaurants, cafes, walkable pathways, high-speed internet options, data center options, and maintenance teams, all of which have been warmly welcomed by our clients. Emad Alzahrani, Vice President of Shared Services from ‘Sharqia Development Authority’ commented: “The services and facilities generally are wonderful added-value, while the units themselves are amazing – high ceilings and large windows, which a lot of the office parks lack. Moreover, there is good parking at the landscaping in breathtaking. We have built up a strong working relationship with the Business Quarter and we are happy with our decision to locate there.”
  SP: Is there an easy route for expansion or downsizing for your clients to cope with the frequent ups and downs of the economy?
  TA: We are scalable with phase 2 for this very reason. Designs for extra parking and different types of offices are being studied, with current tenants getting priority.
  We offer flexible terms and every deal is looked at individually to suit individual companies’ specific needs
  SP: Do you allow clients to decorate or customize their spaces?
  TA: Full bespoke design options are available.
  SP: Do clients have access 24/7?
  TA: Yes, there is full access to all facilities and workspaces.
  SP: How quickly can a potential client move in?
  TA: We have readymade spaces, which are under increasing demand, and we can also have new spaces ready within three months.
  It’s really important to get a health/work/lifestyle balance, and this is our vision and mission
  SP: What additional services are available, such as facilities for training?
  TA: We have training rooms and conference facilities available at short notice which can be booked with our team
  SP: What are you most proud of concerning BQ?
  TA: I am most proud of its unique nature, environment, and outdoor green spaces, along with state-of-the-art wellbeing and health. It’s really important to get a health/work/lifestyle balance, and this is our vision and mission – to create an environment and arrival experience that is tangible as soon as clients and visitors enter.
  SP: Do you think this is a concept you will continue to expand into other locations?
  TA: It already is and will only increase as people look for alternative work office space away from the main congested cities.