Demand for AI‑ready flexible offices surges in India

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a fresh growth catalyst for India’s flexible office market. According to Cushman & Wakefield, the market will cross 100 million square feet in 2026 and climb to around 160 million square feet by 2030.

The first half of 2026 saw flexible office inventory expand to 88.7 million square feet, accounting for 10.5% of total office space. The sector earned a perfect score on the Flexible Office Market Maturity Index, highlighting its strategic role in corporate real‑estate planning.

India’s contribution to global flexible‑office bookings rose sharply, from 2.2% in H1 2025 to 10.2% in H1 2026, making it the second most active market after the United States. Operators leased a record 8.5 million square feet in eight major cities during H1 2026, lifting the share of flexible workspaces in total office leasing to roughly 20%.

Between 2023 and 2025, 44.1 million square feet were leased, including over 720,000 flexible seats. Managed office spaces typically attract 350‑500 seats per venue. Seat demand, fueled by AI‑driven firms and global capability centers, is projected to rise from about 38,000 in 2020 to an estimated 300,000 seats by 2026, a seven‑fold increase.