Cat A vs Cat B Fit-out: What Each Includes for Dubai Offices
Cat A vs Cat B office fit-out in Dubai explained: shell and core, what each category includes, who usually pays, permits and a checklist before design starts.
The difference between shell and core, Cat A and Cat B office fit-out in Dubai: what each includes, who usually pays, and what to check before design.
Short answer: Cat A is the landlord's basic fit-out of an office, a usable but empty floor with ceilings, raised floors, lighting, air-conditioning and fire systems. Cat B is the tenant's fit-out on top of it: partitions, meeting rooms, reception, pantry, finishes, furniture, branding and the changes to services that the layout needs.
Shell and core, Cat A and Cat B
Shell and core is the building structure, facade, lifts, stairs, main risers and common areas. Inside the office there is little or nothing.
Cat A turns the shell into a basic, open office:
- Suspended ceilings and raised access floors
- Basic lighting and power distribution
- Air-conditioning distribution
- Fire detection, alarm and sprinkler systems
- Finished toilets and core areas
Cat B fits the space to a particular tenant:
- Partitions, offices and meeting rooms
- Reception, pantry and breakout areas
- Floor, wall and ceiling finishes
- Joinery: reception desk, storage, pantry units, wall panelling
- Furniture, branding and signage
- Moving or adding lights, sockets, AC and sprinkler heads to suit the layout
- Data cabling and AV
Who pays for what
Usually the landlord delivers Cat A and the tenant pays for Cat B, but every lease is different. Some Dubai offices are handed over as shell and core, some as Cat A, and some come with an existing fit-out from a previous tenant. Check the lease and the landlord's handover drawings before you budget.
Why Cat A work is often changed
A Cat A layout is designed for an open floor. As soon as you add rooms, the lighting, AC grilles, sprinkler heads and fire alarm devices often need to move. These changes need coordination and, for fire and life safety systems, approval from the authorities. Ask early which Cat A elements will need changing.
Permits
Cat B works normally need the landlord's approval and a fit-out permit from the authority for the area (Dubai Municipality or the free zone authority), with Civil Defence involved for fire and life safety changes. See fit-out approvals in Dubai.
Checklist before Cat B design starts
- Handover condition in the lease (shell and core, Cat A or existing fit-out)
- Landlord's fit-out guide and building rules
- As-built drawings of the Cat A services
- Power and AC capacity available for your floor
- Reinstatement obligations at the end of the lease
How Prastara helps
We deliver Cat B office fit-outs and the joinery inside them, from drawings and permits to site works and handover. See office fit-out or send drawings.