Asia Pacific (APAC) is rapidly establishing itself as the world’s most dynamic office market, supported by a younger, ESG aligned asset base and sustained demand that continues to outperform the U.S. and Europe. While Western markets focus on reinvention and retrofits, APAC’s momentum represents a structural shift in how multinational companies plan and position their global real estate portfolios.
Industry analyses indicate that APAC’s rise as a global centre of office demand is rooted in the powerful combination of modern stock, deep talent pools and large scale innovation capabilities—especially in markets such as India. As global occupiers rebalance their real estate strategies, APAC’s ability to simultaneously support capability expansion and workplace modernisation is shaping a new strategic blueprint for corporations worldwide.
Modern Office Stock Drives APAC’s Structural Advantage
APAC’s prime office stock is significantly younger than that of the West, with most Grade A space built within the last 10 to 15 years. These buildings offer hybrid ready, sustainable and technology enabled workplaces that closely match evolving tenant expectations.
Cushman & Wakefield’s APAC Office Outlook 2026 highlights that the region has recorded steady absorption and delivered a robust pipeline of high quality supply over the past five years. Between 2020 and 2025, APAC absorbed nearly 334 million sq ft of office space – outpacing Western markets, where absorption has remained subdued or negative.
Across 40 APAC cities, Grade A office stock has almost doubled in the last decade, expanding from 1.2 billion sq ft in 2015 to 2.43 billion sq ft in 2025.
In contrast, nearly 70% of office buildings in the U.S. were built before 1990, creating a widening gap between APAC’s modern supply and the aging Western inventory. As U.S. and European markets focus on upgrades and reinvention, this divergence continues to support APAC’s leasing activity, particularly in established urban centres and fast‑growing capability hubs.
India Anchors APAC’s Talent Led Growth
India remains central to APAC’s structural growth story. The country accounts for:
- 34% of APAC’s office demand (64.2 million sq ft)
- 39% of stock (809.5 million sq ft)
- 51% of new supply (37.4 million sq ft)
These combined volumes underscore India’s pivotal role as the region’s talent led growth engine.
APAC’s broader momentum is fuelled by one of the world’s largest STEM talent ecosystems, home to deep pools of engineering, digital and technology professionals. This concentration of talent is now a core driver of corporate location strategy, attracting multinational firms seeking not just operational efficiency but innovation‑led growth.
This talent strength has accelerated the evolution of GCCs across India and Southeast Asia - especially the Philippines. Once focused on back office support, GCCs now deliver high value functions including AI and analytics, cybersecurity, product engineering and global platform operations. This shift is directly influencing workplace requirements, fuelling demand for modern, tech‑enabled and collaborative office environments across APAC.
India recorded 61.4 million sq ft of net absorption in 2025, further reinforcing its position as APAC’s structural powerhouse. Meanwhile, the region’s talent pipeline continues to strengthen beyond India. Across Southeast Asia, office‑using employment is projected to grow over 21% between 2025 and 2030 with Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam contributing more than 90% of that growth.
The Dual Core Reset: A New Framework for Global Corporates
A new model - the Dual Core Reset is increasingly shaping global portfolio strategies. Under this approach, corporates structure their real estate footprint around two complementary hubs:
Anchor Markets: Mature financial centres offering governance, regulatory proximity and corporate identity.
Sail Markets: High growth APAC hubs offering talent scale, digital capability and operational resilience.
One example is JP Morgan, which opened a 2.5 million sq ft headquarters at 270 Park Avenue in New York in late 2025 while simultaneously expanding a 2 million sq ft GCC in Mumbai designed to support 30,000 employees. The arrangement reflects a broader global trend: Western hubs anchor identity and governance, while APAC hubs deliver innovation, scale and execution speed.
As hybrid work stabilises and organisations accelerate digital transformation, the Dual Core model is reshaping occupier strategies. With its younger office stock, deep talent pools and strong growth capacity, APAC is positioned to remain the global benchmark for high performing workplaces and capability driven expansion.
