Dubai Work From Park initiative opens at Al Barsha Pond Park

What is the Work From Park initiative?

The idea is to turn a neighbourhood park into a place where people can work without giving up time outdoors. Parents who want to keep an eye on children playing nearby, freelancers who want a break from a home office, and office workers looking for a change of scene are the people the project has in mind. One mother who visited recently told the operators she liked being able to work while her child played outdoors nearby, and that kind of community feel is part of what they want to build.

The facility sits within an established public park, and the organisers describe it as a meeting point for work, community and wellness. Dubai Municipality sees it as part of a wider effort to develop public parks as multifunctional community destinations rather than spaces used only for recreation and physical activity.

Officials say the initiative supports the goals of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and the Dubai Afforestation and Parks Strategy 2040. Al Barsha Pond Park was named the first flagship destination for the project when it was announced earlier this year.

How much does it cost and what is included?

The open co-working area is the entry point. Day access starts at Dh50 and includes workspace, power sockets, high-speed internet and a complimentary coffee from the facility's coffee partner. Visitors who only want to sit outside can use the outdoor seating areas for free, and Wi-Fi is available outside too.

Meeting rooms can be reserved by the hour or for a full day, with prices starting at Dh200. Each of the two meeting rooms takes up to nine people, and they can be booked online, subject to availability. Private office suites and dedicated desks are for longer-term members. Dedicated desks cost Dh1,200 a month, while the price for private offices has not been confirmed yet.

What are the three zones?

The facility is split into three areas, each built for a different kind of work. The first is the open co-working zone for day users. The second is two meeting rooms, which suit small groups and can be booked by the hour or the day. The third is a set of private office suites and fixed desks for members who want a regular base.

Members get into their workspaces with entry cards and can leave their belongings overnight, which makes a fixed desk more practical than a day pass for people who come back every week. Across the two buildings, the facility can hold more than 45 people indoors. Rooftop and outdoor seating let visitors work or hold informal talks while looking over the pond and its lake.

When is it open and how do I get in?

The facility currently operates from 8am to 8pm. The operators said these hours could change depending on demand. Indoor workspaces are booked through the Letswork website or app, and the open area does not need advance reservations, so you can simply turn up if there is space. Because places are limited, the operator has also built up a lengthy waiting list, so residents who plan to use the facility regularly may want to sign up early.

What does it mean for residents, visitors and businesses?

For residents, the biggest change is choice. Someone who would normally spend a day at a home desk, or in a crowded café, now has a third option with fresh air and greenery. Fatima Al Marzooqi, an Emirati woman who has already started using the facility, said the environment and atmosphere feel different from a traditional office and that she expects to be more productive there. Sireen AbuSharib, a government employee, went to the park after booking a medical appointment at a nearby clinic in Al Barsha, so she could finish her work first. She said it saves time and effort, especially with the traffic in the city.

For businesses and remote workers, the appeal is flexibility. The concept suits people who do not need a full office but want somewhere to meet clients or hold a discussion. The screens around the facility can announce activities, and the people working alongside you may be a useful source of contacts.

Visitors who are only passing through can still enjoy the park. The outdoor seating is free, and Wi-Fi reaches those areas too, so a short break by the pond costs nothing.

What about wellness and community?

The organisers want the park to be more than a workspace. Letswork's Omar Almheiri said the team hopes to use Dubai Municipality's tennis courts and football facilities to run wellness sessions. Screens around the facility can announce activities, such as a running club at 6pm or a morning yoga session. The aim, he said, is to fit wellness into the working day rather than treat it as something people must make separate time for.

Ahmed Mohammed Almarzooqi of Dubai Public Parks said the concept took six months to develop, and the municipality will watch how visitors use the space before adding more. The workspace was also built with modular units assembled largely off-site by Group AMANA, through DuBox and DuPod. Mohannad Al-Omari, Business Development Manager at Group AMANA, said this reduced construction activity inside the park and minimised disruption to visitors.

What happens next?

Officials say the initiative could expand to other parks and possibly beaches, depending on demand at Al Barsha Pond Park. Discussions are also under way about using communal spaces such as majlis as potential workspaces, although no decision has been announced. The municipality has not yet said which parks would come next, so the Al Barsha site is the place to test the idea for now. Residents who want to try it can start with a day pass at Dh50 and decide from there whether a fixed desk is worth it.

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