Siemens has launched its new Open Office Landscape concept in the Middle East, which aims to increase productivity through increased employee interaction, a more attractive and spacious working environment, and the promotion of work-life integration.

The new concept coincides with the completion of the move of Siemens Dubai operations, formerly based in Dubai Internet City, to a larger facility in The Galleries at Downtown Jebel Ali, Dubai, a statement from the company said.

“The Siemens building has been a landmark in Dubai Internet City since we set-up there in 2003, but due to increased growth in the region we needed more space to expand in Dubai,” said Joachim Kundt, CEO of Siemens. “The Galleries ticked all the boxes, with green, open spaces; good facilities and most importantly for Siemens, a good basis for us to implement our own energy-efficient building technologies that demonstrates our commitment to sustainability.”

The new office concept will limit the number of partitioned walls and avoid single / small rooms to boost light and space, and provide employees with ergonomic office furniture, as well as ensuring sustainability through Leed certification, evaluation of carbon footprint and intelligent choice of materials.

The move follows the earlier announcement by Siemens to relocate its regional headquarters to its own Siemens building in Masdar City, which is set to be completed in 2013, the statement said.

“Whilst we remain committed to Masdar City as seat of our regional headquarters we will also keep a solid presence in Dubai. Both Emirates are key to our strategy to establish Siemens as a market leader in the Middle East and to be closer to the customer,” Joachim Kundt said. “The Middle East is an extremely important and promising market for Siemens and the expansion into The Galleries is very much part of our commitment to the region and future expansion plans,” Kundt said.

Located in zone one of Downtown Jebel Ali and served by the Dubai Metro, The Galleries is an eight building mix of offices, apartments, retail and leisure facilities set in 20,000 sq m of shaded, landscaped grounds.

Siemens has been present in the UAE since 1999 and currently has more than 8,000 employees from 77 nationalities working in the Middle East. – TradeArabia News Service