Letswork, a UAE property technology start-up, aims to capitalise on growing demand for co-working spaces and expand its operations across the region.
This comes at a time when companies are adopting flexible working models in a post-pandemic world and looking to cut costs on renting office space amid high inflation.
The start-up was founded by Emirati Omar Almheiri and Pakistani Hamza Khan in 2018. The duo met as part of the E25 start-up initiative set up by Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar to support aspiring entrepreneurs under the age of 25.
They decided to start the company as they felt there is a gap in the market in the co-working sector.
“It was Omar’s idea and he was looking at working on a co-working concept … actually building on our own brand of co-working spaces because at that time there were very few that were around in the UAE and on top of that, the WeWorks of the world were taking the world by storm,” says Mr Khan, who is also chief executive of the company.
“So, we saw this potential … but then we realised that we can achieve more scale and achieve more impact if we leverage existing assets around us, instead of setting up our own co-working spaces.”
The demand for co-working spaces is increasing month on month and “it is very exciting”, Mr Khan says. buy a membership for a day, week or month to work from its network of spaces.
The demand for co-working space is increasing month on month and “it is very exciting”, Mr Khan says.
“This year, especially, we are doubling down on corporate users.
“Companies are now realising that they don’t need massive 10,000 square feet [of office space] on Sheikh Zayed Road, which is being utilised 40 per cent.
“Instead, we are seeing a lot of companies downsizing their offices and opting for something a lot smaller and leaner and reducing their overheads.”
The value of co-working spaces worldwide is predicted to grow to $24 billion by 2030, from about $7 billion in 2021, a report by Next Move Strategy Consulting says.
A growing number of start-ups is driving the growth as they opt for co-working spaces to save on rising private office rents, the consultancy says.
“Co-working spaces are not only helping to reduce the cost of rent but also [provide] additional utilities such as desk, high-speed Wi-Fi connection, coffee, meeting rooms, recreation zones and many others,” the report says.
Letswork deals with freelancers, students and individual users, as well as small and medium enterprises, start-ups and companies looking for productive or flexible workspace arrangements for their employees.
These are the companies that have a full-time remote working policy or a hybrid system, where people come to the office for couple of days each week and work remotely on other days.
“We have over 40,000 members and 300 spaces in the UAE, which are a mix of hotels, cafes and co-working spaces in business centres. On top of that, we have a presence in Portugal where we have about 50 spaces. We have three spaces in Bahrain and eight in Spain,” Mr Khan says.
It plans to start operations in Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s largest economy, in the first quarter of this year as it continues to expand and scale up its business amid growing demand.
“We have already signed a bunch of spaces and are hiring staff to launch operations in the kingdom,” he says.
The company raised $2.1 million in a seed round in December with the participation of investors such as US venture capital company 500 Global, Saudi Arabia’s The Space, the UAE’s DTEC Ventures and other angel investors.
“The purpose of this round was to help achieve milestones for the business … moving into Saudi [Arabia] and expanding there and building a sustainable business … just to scale up and achieve global growth and we do plan to raise more in future.”
Start-ups across the Middle East, Africa, Pakistan and Turkey raised $7.2 billion through 1,473 deals last year, despite macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, according to a report by data platform Magnitt.
Turkey captured 23 per cent of total funding, driven by three big deals. The UAE was second, accounting for 16 per cent of funding, and Saudi Arabia followed with a share of 14 per cent, the report says.
Funding for Mena start-ups crossed the $3 billion mark last year, an annual increase of 8.3 per cent, according to Magnitt.
On competition in the market, Mr Khan says the company has an edge over others as it offers services to a wide variety of customers — from entrepreneurs to individual users.
“We have competitors in the US, Europe, the UK and South-East Asia … they only focus on co-working spaces while we are both B2B [business to business] and B2C [business to consumer],” he says.
Mr Khan says Letswork has entered into partnerships with co-working spaces, cafes and hotels.
“This gives us that extra variety of spaces because certain neighbourhoods may not have co-working spaces and we want to give the users the most comprehensive supply network of spaces where people can work from. So we are not limited like our competitors are,” he says.
Policies by the government, such as a one-year residence permit for remote workers in the UAE, are also expected to create more demand for co-working spaces and help the company boost its business.
In 2021, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said overseas remote-working professionals could live in the Emirates while continuing to serve their employers in their home country.
“The UAE has always had an edge over the rest of the region because of just how much easier it is to do business here,” says Mr Khan.
“Because of the access to capital and the access to customers … the UAE is probably the most exciting place to be in.”
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Q&A with Omar Almheiri and Hamza Khan, co-founders of Letswork
What successful start-ups do you wish you had started?
Mr Khan: I was always interested in the electric vehicle space and felt like a global subscription service for EVs would disrupt many industries related to vehicles.
What is your mantra for success?
Mr Khan: My number one rule is always to remain calm, even if things don’t seem like they are working out. There’s a reason you are at this point, but if you are calm you will be able to work through it.
Who is your role model in the business world?
Mr Khan: I would say Larry Page (co-founder of Google). His focus and ability to have everyone work in the same direction is something that only a few can do.
What new skills have you learnt while setting up your start-up?
Mr Khan: Everything from finance, legal, marketing. However, I think the one skill that I have picked up and I am still refining is how to manage a team. At the end of the day, without the Letswork team, we wouldn’t be here today.
What is your vision for the company?
Mr Khan and Mr Almheiri: Our vision is simple — become the first Emirati technology unicorn. We have built a product that is extremely scalable and have only just begun our expansion plans.
Are you a risk-taker or a cautious entrepreneur?
Mr Khan and Mr Almheiri: Start-ups are extremely risky and the people running them need to be risk-takers otherwise you won’t grow. We have got to a point where we make decisions based on data that we have collected.
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
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The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
T20 World Cup Qualifier
October 18 – November 2
Opening fixtures
Friday, October 18
ICC Academy: 10am, Scotland v Singapore, 2.10pm, Netherlands v Kenya
Zayed Cricket Stadium: 2.10pm, Hong Kong v Ireland, 7.30pm, Oman v UAE
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Darius D’Silva, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Junaid Siddique, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Waheed Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Zahoor Khan
Players out: Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar, Qadeer Ahmed
Players in: Junaid Siddique, Darius D’Silva, Waheed Ahmed
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Fifa Club World Cup:
When: December 6-16
Where: Games to take place at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain
Defending champions: Real Madrid
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
LOS ANGELES GALAXY 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 5
Galaxy: Dos Santos (79', 88')
United: Rashford (2', 20'), Fellaini (26'), Mkhitaryan (67'), Martial (72')
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Results
Stage three:
1. Stefan Bissegger (SUI) EF Education-EasyPost, in 9-43
2. Filippo Ganna (ITA) Ineos Grenadiers, at 7s
3. Tom Dumoulin (NED) Jumbo-Visma, at 14s
4. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE-Team Emirates, at 18s
5. Joao Almeida (POR) UAE-Team Emirates, at 22s
6. Mikkel Bjerg (DEN) UAE-Team Emirates, at 24s
General Classification:
1. Stefan Bissegger (SUI) EF Education-EasyPost, in 9-13-02
2. Filippo Ganna (ITA) Ineos Grenadiers, at 7s
3. Jasper Philipsen (BEL) Alpecin Fenix, at 12s
4. Tom Dumoulin (NED) Jumbo-Visma, at 14s
5. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE-Team Emirates, at 18s
6. Joao Almeida (POR) UAE-Team Emirates, at 22s
Cherry
Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo
Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo
1/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
MATCH INFO
Tottenham 4 (Alli 51', Kane 50', 77'. Aurier 73')
Olympiakos 2 (El-Arabi 06', Semedo')
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APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
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White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
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