India Defies Regional Slowdown; Office Leasing on Track for Record High in 2025
Real Estate

India Defies Regional Slowdown; Office Leasing on Track for Record High in 2025

India’s office market continues to outperform the broader Asia-Pacific region, emerging as a key growth driver amid regional headwinds, according to Knight Frank’s Asia-Pacific Office Highlights Q3 2025 report. With 8.8 million sq. ft. transacted in the third quarter alone, leasing momentum remains robust. Full-year volumes across Bengaluru, NCR, and Mumbai are projected to reach 50 million sq. ft., surpassing the previous record of 41 million sq. ft. set in 2024.
The surge has been fuelled by sustained leasing from Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and renewed activity from third-party IT service providers, reaffirming India’s status as a global business hub.
Despite the addition of nearly 9 million sq. ft. of new supply during the quarter, prime office rents across India’s top three markets rose by an average of 4.3% year-on-year (YoY), underscoring the market’s resilience. In contrast, several Asia-Pacific markets reported subdued rental growth as landlords prioritised occupancy amid elevated vacancy levels.
Market-wise performance:

Bengaluru remained the standout performer, recording 2% QoQ and 8.8% YoY rent growth, driven by strong take-up in emerging hubs such as Outer Ring Road and Whitefield.
Delhi-NCR saw 2% QoQ and 3% YoY growth, supported by stable occupier demand.
Mumbai recorded 2% QoQ and 3.9% YoY growth, led by sustained activity in the BFSI and flex-space segments.

Vacancy rates remained manageable despite fresh completions — 11.5% in Bengaluru, 12.5% in Delhi-NCR, and 17.3% in Mumbai — as developers focused on quality, sustainable, and future-ready supply aligned with occupier preferences.
Regionally, while several Asia-Pacific markets grappled with rising vacancies and muted rents, India’s diversified occupier base, stable economy, and strong demand for premium spaces helped maintain momentum.
Knight Frank anticipates steady rental growth through 2026, supported by India’s digital economy initiatives, GCC expansion across Tier-I and Tier-II cities, and favourable macroeconomic fundamentals.
Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India, said:

“India’s office market continues to stand out as a beacon of stability and long-term potential amid regional uncertainty. The strong leasing activity underscores India’s central role in global business strategies. Continued GCC expansion and a revival in IT demand highlight the country’s deep talent pool, evolving infrastructure, and investor confidence. As occupiers embrace hybrid and flexible work models, India’s office ecosystem is transforming into a more dynamic, technology-led environment that will define the next phase of growth.”

India’s office market continues to outperform the broader Asia-Pacific region, emerging as a key growth driver amid regional headwinds, according to Knight Frank’s Asia-Pacific Office Highlights Q3 2025 report. With 8.8 million sq. ft. transacted in the third quarter alone, leasing momentum remains robust. Full-year volumes across Bengaluru, NCR, and Mumbai are projected to reach 50 million sq. ft., surpassing the previous record of 41 million sq. ft. set in 2024.The surge has been fuelled by sustained leasing from Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and renewed activity from third-party IT service providers, reaffirming India’s status as a global business hub.Despite the addition of nearly 9 million sq. ft. of new supply during the quarter, prime office rents across India’s top three markets rose by an average of 4.3% year-on-year (YoY), underscoring the market’s resilience. In contrast, several Asia-Pacific markets reported subdued rental growth as landlords prioritised occupancy amid elevated vacancy levels.Market-wise performance: Bengaluru remained the standout performer, recording 2% QoQ and 8.8% YoY rent growth, driven by strong take-up in emerging hubs such as Outer Ring Road and Whitefield. Delhi-NCR saw 2% QoQ and 3% YoY growth, supported by stable occupier demand. Mumbai recorded 2% QoQ and 3.9% YoY growth, led by sustained activity in the BFSI and flex-space segments.Vacancy rates remained manageable despite fresh completions — 11.5% in Bengaluru, 12.5% in Delhi-NCR, and 17.3% in Mumbai — as developers focused on quality, sustainable, and future-ready supply aligned with occupier preferences.Regionally, while several Asia-Pacific markets grappled with rising vacancies and muted rents, India’s diversified occupier base, stable economy, and strong demand for premium spaces helped maintain momentum.Knight Frank anticipates steady rental growth through 2026, supported by India’s digital economy initiatives, GCC expansion across Tier-I and Tier-II cities, and favourable macroeconomic fundamentals.Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India, said:“India’s office market continues to stand out as a beacon of stability and long-term potential amid regional uncertainty. The strong leasing activity underscores India’s central role in global business strategies. Continued GCC expansion and a revival in IT demand highlight the country’s deep talent pool, evolving infrastructure, and investor confidence. As occupiers embrace hybrid and flexible work models, India’s office ecosystem is transforming into a more dynamic, technology-led environment that will define the next phase of growth.”

Next Story
Technology

Building Faster, Smarter, and Greener!

Backed by ULCCS’s century-old legacy, U-Sphere combines technology, modular design and sustainable practices to deliver faster and more efficient projects. In an interaction with CW, Rohit Prabhakar, Director - Business Development, shares how the company’s integrated model of ‘Speed-Build’, ‘Smart-Build’ and ‘Sustain-Build’ is redefining construction efficiency, quality and environmental responsibility in India.U-Sphere positions itself at the intersection of speed, sustainability and smart design. How does this translate into measurable efficiency on the ground?At U..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Smart Roads, Smarter India

India’s infrastructure boom is not only about laying more kilometres of highways – it’s about building them smarter, safer and more sustainably. From drones mapping fragile Himalayan slopes to 3D machine-controlled graders reducing human error, technology is steadily reshaping the way projects are planned and executed. Yet, the journey towards digitisation remains complex, demanding not just capital but also coordination, training and vision.Until recently, engineers largely depended on Survey of India toposheets and traditional survey methods like total stations or DGPS to prepare detai..

Next Story
Real Estate

What Does DCPR 2034 Mean?

The Maharashtra government has eased approval norms for high-rise buildings under DCPR 2034, enabling the municipal commissioner to sanction projects up to 180 m on large plots. This change is expected to streamline approvals, reduce procedural delays and accelerate redevelopment, drawing reactions from developers, planners and industry experts about its implications for Mumbai’s vertical growth.Under the revised DCPR 2034 rules, buildings on plots of 2,000 sq m or more can now be approved up to 180 m by the municipal commissioner, provided structural and geotechnical reports are certified b..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?