Good office Wi-Fi and cabling in Dubai is decided long before anyone switches on a laptop. IT should be involved before the fit-out drawings are signed off, so cable routes, the comms room, ceiling access and Wi-Fi access point positions are planned alongside partitions, lighting and air conditioning. Leave it until the ceilings are closed and you pay for it in disruption, compromises and rework.
This guide is for office managers, project managers and managing directors who have signed a lease in Dubai and have a fit-out contractor starting soon. It walks through each stage, the main technical choices and the checklist to hand your contractor.
Key takeaways
- Bring your IT partner in at drawing stage, not after the ceilings close.
- For new cabling, Cat6A supports 10 Gb/s over a full 100-metre channel; Cat6 supports it only over shorter distances.
- Plan access point positions from a predictive design, then verify on site before handover.
- Split staff, guest, AV, device and voice traffic onto separate networks from day one.
- Insist on a handover pack: test results, labelling, port schedule, as-built drawings and admin credentials held by you.
When should IT be involved in a fit-out?
At drawing stage. By the time partitions go up and ceilings close, the decisions that shape your network have already been made, whether anyone meant to make them or not.
Early involvement lets you plan:
- containment: the trays, conduits and routes cables will follow;
- the comms room: where it sits, its power, cooling, ventilation and security;
- ceiling access: so access points can be mounted and maintained;
- access point positions: based on the layout and usage, not on whatever spot was left;
- power: including Power over Ethernet (PoE) for access points, cameras, phones and meeting-room kit.
What happens at each stage?
Before drawings are signed off
- Agree the number and location of data points for desks, printers, screens, cameras, access control and meeting rooms, with spare capacity.
- Mark access point positions, informed by a predictive Wi-Fi design.
- Fix the comms room location and confirm power, cooling, ventilation and lockable access.
- Decide how internet lines enter the building and reach the comms room, and ask the landlord about riser access for a second provider.
During fit-out
- Containment goes in before ceilings and partitions close.
- Cabling is installed, terminated and labelled.
- Every link is tested and certified with a cable certifier, not just a continuity tester.
- Your IT partner and the fit-out contractor coordinate on access, sequencing and layout changes.
Before move-in
- Switches, access points and the firewall are installed, configured and tested.
- Internet lines are live, and failover is tested if you have a second line.
- Networks are split into staff, guest, AV, device and voice segments.
- Printers, meeting rooms and phones are tested on the real network.
At handover
Ask for, and check you have received:
- certification test results for every cable link;
- labelling at both ends of every cable;
- a port schedule showing what is connected where;
- as-built drawings;
- configuration backups and admin credentials for switches, Wi-Fi and the firewall, held by you, not only the installer.
Do you need a Wi-Fi survey?
For most offices, yes. Dubai fit-outs often combine glass partitions, concrete cores, metal-framed ceilings and dense open-plan seating, all of which affect coverage and capacity.
There are two complementary approaches:
- Predictive design: modelling coverage and capacity from floor plans and wall materials before anything is installed. Useful at drawing stage to place access points.
- On-site validation survey: measuring real signal and performance in the finished space to confirm and fine-tune.
Design for capacity, not just coverage. A meeting room with ten people on video calls needs more than “full bars”. Our meeting room AV checklist covers what those rooms need.
Is Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 worth it?
Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 can use the 6 GHz band, which is less congested than 2.4 and 5 GHz. In the UAE, TDRA allows indoor Wi-Fi in the lower part of the 6 GHz band under its short range device rules, so check that the access points you buy are TDRA type-approved for the UAE. Newer standards only help devices that support them, so look at the laptops and phones your staff will use over the next few years. The access points you choose also affect cabling and switch power, which is why this decision belongs at drawing stage.
Cat6 or Cat6A?
Both are common copper network cables. The practical difference is how far they can carry 10 Gb/s Ethernet (10GBASE-T):
| Cat6 | Cat6A | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Gb/s range | Up to 55 m, depending on the installation (guaranteed to 37 m) | Full 100 m channel |
| Typical use | Desk points with modest needs; short runs | New fit-outs, access points, longer runs |
| Cable size | Thinner, easier to install | Thicker; containment must allow for it |
| Expected life | Shorter headroom for future equipment | More headroom for faster access points |
Many installers recommend Cat6A for new fit-outs, especially for access point runs, because cabling usually outlives several generations of switches and Wi-Fi. Cat6 can still be enough for some desk runs. Ask your installer to explain their recommendation, and make sure the containment is sized for the cable you choose. Larger offices may also use a fibre backbone between floors or comms rooms.
Power over Ethernet
Access points, cameras and phones are often powered over the network cable. The IEEE 802.3bt standard allows up to 60 W (Type 3) or 90 W (Type 4) per port at the switch. Newer access points can need more than older PoE+ switches provide, so size switch power budgets for the access points you actually plan to buy.
How should the network be split?
Separating traffic onto different virtual networks (VLANs), with firewall rules between them, limits what each part can reach. A visitor on guest Wi-Fi shouldn’t be able to see your file server.
A typical starting point:
| Segment | Who or what | Can reach |
|---|---|---|
| Staff | Laptops and desktops | Internal systems and internet |
| Guest | Visitors | Internet only |
| AV | Meeting-room systems and displays | Required cloud services |
| Devices | Printers, cameras, access control | Only the systems that manage them |
| Voice | Desk phones, if used | Phone platform, with priority |
Our first 10 cyber controls explain why segmentation matters for security.
Checklist to give your fit-out contractor
- [ ] IT partner named and involved before drawings are signed off
- [ ] Data point schedule agreed, with spare capacity
- [ ] Access point positions marked on drawings from a predictive design
- [ ] Comms room location, power, cooling, ventilation and security agreed
- [ ] Containment routes, sizes and ceiling access agreed
- [ ] Internet line entry routes agreed, including a second provider
- [ ] Cable type agreed (Cat6 or Cat6A, plus any fibre)
- [ ] Switch PoE budget sized for planned access points and cameras
- [ ] Labelling scheme agreed
- [ ] Testing and certification of every link included
- [ ] Network segments (VLANs) planned
- [ ] Wi-Fi validated on site before handover
- [ ] Handover pack: test results, labels, port schedule, as-built drawings, credentials
What drives the cost?
The main drivers are the number of data points and access points, cable category and run lengths, containment work, the comms room build, switch and access point models and their licences, and how the work is sequenced with the main contractor. Out-of-hours work in occupied buildings adds cost. Changes after ceilings close are the most expensive of all.
Common mistakes
- Treating Wi-Fi as an afterthought and mounting access points wherever the ceiling grid allows.
- Undersized comms rooms with no cooling.
- Accepting cabling without certification results.
- Letting the installer keep the only admin passwords.
- One flat network for staff, guests and devices.
How Softworx Services helps
Softworx Services is a systems integrator and network services provider with a vendor-agnostic approach. Our Networks team has dedicated pre-sales, project delivery, engineering and ongoing support capabilities, working with vendors including Cisco, HP Aruba and Fortinet. We can work with your fit-out contractor from drawing stage to handover. Our Dubai office is at Saaha Offices, Downtown Dubai. If you are still choosing kit, see our guide to Cisco vs Aruba vs Fortinet.
Frequently asked questions
When should I involve IT in an office fit-out?
Before the drawings are signed off, so cable routes, the comms room and access point positions are designed in rather than squeezed in.
Should I choose Cat6 or Cat6A for a new office?
Cat6A supports 10 Gb/s over a full 100 m channel and gives more headroom for future access points. Cat6 can be enough for shorter desk runs.
Do I need a Wi-Fi survey for a new office?
For most offices, yes: a predictive design at drawing stage and an on-site validation before handover.
Is Wi-Fi 6E allowed in the UAE?
TDRA allows indoor Wi-Fi in the lower 6 GHz band under its short range device rules. Use access points that are type-approved for the UAE.
Do I need a comms room?
Most offices need a secure space for the network rack with reliable power and cooling. Its size depends on your equipment.
Talk to Softworx Services in Dubai
Moving office or starting a fit-out? Talk to the Softworx Services team early, while the drawings can still change.
Sources
- TDRA, Ultra-Wide Band and Short Range Devices regulations (6 GHz Wi-Fi): https://tdra.gov.ae/-/media/About/regulations-and-ruling/EN/UWB-and-SRD-Regulations-50.ashx
- Wi-Fi Alliance, regulations enabling 6 GHz Wi-Fi: https://www.wi-fi.org/regulations-enabling-6-ghz-wi-fi
- Fluke Networks, twisted pair cabling and 10 Gigabit (Cat6 and Cat6A distances): https://www.flukenetworks.com/expertise/learn-about/twisted-pair-cabling-and-10-gigabit-cabling
- CommScope, Cat 6A fact file: https://www.commscope.com/insights/the-enterprise-source/cat6a-the-fact-file/
- Ethernet Alliance, IEEE 802.3bt PoE technical brief: https://ethernetalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/EthernetAlliance_Gen2PoECertProgram_techbrief-FINAL-19DEC19.pdf