- Agree Cat A and Cat B inclusions in writing.
- Work backwards from occupation, including testing and move-in.
- Separate construction costs from furniture and technology.
Qatar Fit Out helps you find suitable local contractors for that brief. Submit the project once and receive a comparison of up to three checked options. You choose who visits. The contractor assesses the technical work, provides advice during the site survey and issues the construction quote.
What Cat A normally means
Cat A is commonly used for a basic office finish. Depending on the building, this can include ceilings, raised floors and a basic distribution of mechanical and electrical services. It does not reliably describe a ready-to-occupy workplace. Landlords and contractors may use the term differently.
Inspect the actual handover condition. Ask for drawings showing the services provided and confirm what has been tested. Existing equipment may be present without being suitable for your new layout. Record the landlord's responsibilities separately from the tenant's scope so the same work is neither missed nor paid for twice.
What Cat B adds for your team
Cat B adapts the office for a particular occupier. The scope can include meeting rooms, partitions, reception, storage, lighting changes, power and data outlets, finishes and furniture. Pantry works and audiovisual equipment need their own decisions. Acoustic privacy should be considered with the layout rather than added after installation.
List what you will supply yourself. Existing desks, meeting screens and network equipment may reduce purchases but still need coordination. Their dimensions, power needs and installation dates affect the contractor's work. Ask who will connect, test and support each item at handover.
Build a sequence with clear decisions
The first stage is a site survey and review of existing information. Design development then turns the brief into drawings and specifications. Cost review should happen while choices can still change. Agree the drawings used for pricing before accepting a construction offer.
The appointed team needs to identify relevant landlord and authority requirements for the actual scope. Procurement and access arrangements follow that sequence. During construction, keep a written record of decisions and changes. End the programme with testing, snagging, document delivery and a clear acceptance process.
How long an office fit-out takes
Area alone cannot establish a credible completion date. An open office using existing services differs from a layout with enclosed rooms, new cooling requirements and imported joinery. Work in an occupied building may need restricted hours and protected access routes. These conditions affect both duration and price.
Ask for a programme that separates design, approvals, purchasing, construction and handover. Identify which tasks depend on your decisions and which materials have uncertain lead times. For a fixed relocation date, include furniture installation, internet activation and your move after building work. A construction finish date is not automatically an occupation date.
The main office cost drivers
Partition density, acoustic requirements, changes to air conditioning and the existing electrical capacity all affect cost. So do the number of meeting rooms, custom joinery and furniture specification. Reusing an existing fit-out requires a survey because hidden conditions can create additional work.
Our office cost guide uses published Doha benchmarks for early planning. These are all-in figures and include categories beyond physical construction. Use the calculator to understand the basis, then ask the contractor to price your actual scope. A benchmark cannot replace measured quantities or confirm what your landlord already provides.
Prepare for the day your team arrives
Agree who signs off testing and which documents must be delivered. Request equipment information, operating instructions, warranties and the final drawing set relevant to the work. Make the snagging process and responsibility for outstanding items clear before the final payment stage.
If you are leaving another office, check the reinstatement obligations for that lease as a separate workstream. Your outgoing handover and incoming fit-out can compete for the same attention. Include both dates in your project brief so contractor availability can be assessed against the full move.
