GCC expansion is set to reshape India’s office market after CBRE South Asia reported on December 17 that Global Capability Centres will account for 35–40% of total office demand in 2025, driven by sustained leasing activity across key cities.
What changed in GCC-led office demand
Global Capability Centres dominated large office transactions in 2025. More than 55% of deals exceeding one lakh square feet involved GCC occupiers during the first nine months of the year.
CBRE South Asia Private Limited said gross office leasing is likely to cross 80 million square feet by year-end. Leasing between January and September already reached nearly 60 million square feet, the highest-ever nine-month total.
How GCC activity is reshaping leasing patterns
The report linked GCC growth to steady demand fundamentals across the office market. Companies expanded portfolios while reconfiguring workplaces to support collaboration and hybrid operations.
Occupiers continued to move toward premium and future-ready assets. This shift helped maintain leasing momentum despite evolving work models.
Impact of GCC expansion on sectors and cities
Technology firms led office leasing during the period. Flex operators, BFSI firms, and engineering and manufacturing companies supported demand. Large transactions accounted for 38% of total absorption in 9M 2025, up from 27% last year.
Industrial and logistics leasing also recorded steady growth. Third-party logistics and e-commerce firms drove demand. Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad together captured nearly 60% of total space take-up.
Sustainability and Investment Trends in Commercial Real Estate
CBRE noted that sustainability remained a priority for occupiers. About 84% of new office supply delivered during the period was green-certified. Nearly 77% of leasing occurred in such projects.
Retail leasing reached 4.6 million square feet, led by fashion and apparel brands. Residential sales crossed 2.1 lakh units in 9M 2025. Equity inflows into real estate rose 14% year-on-year to $10.2 billion, with full-year investments projected at $12–14 billion.
