Dubai enters top ten of the world's most expensive office markets still led by London

The report tracks world markets with the highest as well as fastest-growing occupancy costs for the 12 months ended March 31, 2008.

Moscow climbed to second position whilst Tokyo's Inner Central Five Wards, Mumbai's Nariman Point and Tokyo's Outer Central Five Wards rounded out the top five most expensive markets.

"Office occupancy costs are continuing to defy sluggish economic conditions and the credit crunch, as they rise faster than global inflation," said Dr. Raymond Torto, CBRE's Global Chief Economist. "These cost increases are dominated by emerging markets, caused by both supply and demand imbalance and the depreciation of the dollar relative to local currencies. In some of these emerging markets, Class A office space is seriously lacking."

Ho Chi Minh City had the fastest-growing occupancy costs during this period, up 94%. Moscow was not far behind at 93%, followed by Singapore at 86%.

Overall, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) dominated the list of markets with the fastest growing occupancy costs, accounting for five of the top 10 and 19 of the top 50 markets.

Worldwide, 88% of the 173 office markets monitored posted higher occupancy costs.

Among the most expensive markets, Singapore and Dubai were newcomers to the top 10.

Singapore ranked ninth with an occupancy cost of $139.31 (occupancy cost in US$/sq. ft./annum used throughout this release), while Dubai debuted at number 10 with an occupancy cost of $128.49, ahead of Hong Kong, New York and Paris.

With a near-doubling of occupancy costs, Moscow rose four places to second at $232.37. Midtown Manhattan was still the priciest market in North America, at $103.43, and ranked number 13 worldwide.