RAKEZ’s new facility is a flexible space that has table tennis, foosball and a coffee shop alongside open and private workspaces, an events area, recording studio and relaxed outdoor roof terrace. Designed for Digital Nomads, SMEs, Entrepreneurs and others, Compass Coworking Centre is centrally located near Al Hamra Village and the 311 highway.

Agility, anticipating changes, forecasting the future, and making calculated decisions are the key traits of a successful economic system. Together, they form the foundation of a work environment capable of attracting investments, ideas, young creative minds, and entrepreneurs who are looking for platforms that allow them to move towards new levels of success.

And today, tremendous developments are emerging onto the global economic and business scenes, where we are witnessing a great rise of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Furthermore, Millennials are attaining decision-making status and assuming greater responsibilities; this generation approaches the concept of work from a very different point of view, relying more and more on technology and advanced digital solutions. With all of this in mind, it is essential that economic decision makers keep pace with these developments to ensure that companies, in turn, are on par with these developments.

As the world looks ahead to a post-Covid-19 future, when the virus is hopefully reduced to nothing more than a seasonal flu, we cannot help but acknowledge the lasting impact it has had on our daily lives, whether personal or professional.

Wearing a mask in public places has become the norm while social distancing, PCR tests and requiring a vaccination to enter certain events are all new procedures we have had to get used to.

Professionally, much of the world switched to remote working in 2020 and while many companies have returned to their places of work, many more have not, as they are reaping the benefits of not having a fixed location.

The era of the digital nomad, the gig economy and coworking is upon us.

This is, in part, why the opening of Compass Coworking Centre is such a timely move by Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone – RAKEZ – a powerhouse business and industrial hub that currently hosts over 15,000 companies from more than 100 countries and working over 50 industries.

It is also a shining example of how, through the vision of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, to make the Emirate a prime destination for business and investment, RAKEZ has taken a challenge and found an opportunity.

But what is coworking?  

It is thought that the origins of modern coworking trace to Europe in the 1990s, when young computer experts would get together in basements and share tips about coding. Some cool Californians in San Francisco then took it a step further and started renting out shared office space to whoever needed it. The concept caught on, as it provided office space for networking and the sharing of ideas when, for example, a start-up could not yet afford their own.

Fast-forward to today and the concept continues to grow in popularity, as the nature of our working environment changes. These days, coworking represents a valuable alternative to working at coffee shops, at home, or in an industrial area that doesn’t have the amenities of a modern office.

That is why RAKEZ’s Compass Coworking Centre is a revelation for not only Ras Al Khaimah but digital nomads, freelancers and others from across the UAE and beyond – it’s one of the coolest coworking centres in the country.

The centre features open workspaces, for individuals who want to collaborate with peers; private workspaces, for those who want to be more focused; modern meeting rooms where teams can brainstorm or pitch ideas to their clients; an events area for conferences and other social activities; and a recording studio, for high-quality audio production.

And, of course, there’s also the fun, collaborative elements that make the centre unique, such as table tennis, foosball, relaxation spaces, a coffee shop and an outdoor roof terrace that wouldn’t look out of place at a high-end restaurant.

“The concept of work has evolved drastically over recent years and Compass Coworking Centre has been unveiled just in time for everyone to embrace a new style of working,” says Ramy Jallad, Group CEO of RAKEZ.

“We are offering a strong alternative to the conventional office, with its core value being flexibility and cost-friendliness. You do not have to look elsewhere – we have equipped the centre with all the amenities and tools for a productive day. We have also designed the centre to inspire two important factors: creativity – with trendy interiors that excites you to seize the day; and collaboration – with plenty of open spaces to encourage individuals to network and create wonders together.”

Mr Jallad says that although planning for the centre began pre-Covid, the impact of the pandemic has been such that its launching now has boosted interest even further.

“There are a lot of people who want to get back to how things were, and we are doing that but with safety in mind,” he says. “Even though we have witnessed the rise of online conferencing, people still want to network in person, so this space has come at the right time for us and for those who will benefit from using it.”

RAKEZ Group CEO also pointed out that the centre is designed with clients at its core, so the cost of using it is not prohibitive.

“We know that a lot of companies are on a shoe-string budget, so they may not require the use of a whole office and they may not need it 24/7 – that’s why this coworking space was created – to deliver a more cost-effective solution for entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, freelancers and even students,” Mr Jallad says.

Joining Compass Coworking Centre is easy. Digital nomads, students and the wider Ras Al Khaimah community can opt for daily, weekly or monthly memberships. Meanwhile, professionals ready to enter the business landscape are offered coworking company set-up packages, which include business licence, access to the centre and UAE visa eligibility.

You can find out more about Compass Coworking Centre by clicking here.