Cat A vs Cat B Fit-Out: What's the Difference?

If you are leasing an office in Riyadh, the terms "Cat A" and "Cat B" will appear in your lease, your landlord's handover documents and every contractor quote you collect. Knowing exactly where one ends and the other begins is the easiest way to avoid paying twice for the same work, or discovering half-way through a project that a ceiling or HVAC system you assumed was included is actually your responsibility.

What is a Cat A fit-out?

Cat A (Category A) is a functional but empty floor. It is usually delivered by the landlord or developer so the space can be leased. A typical Cat A handover includes:

• Suspended ceilings and raised access floors
• Basic lighting to an open-plan layout
• HVAC distribution (ducting and diffusers) on a general grid
• Fire detection, alarm and sprinkler systems to code
• Core washrooms, lift lobbies and finished common areas
• Electrical distribution boards with capacity for tenant connections

In Saudi Arabia many commercial buildings are actually handed over as shell and core: bare slab, exposed services and no ceilings. If that is your situation, the "Cat A" items above become part of your scope and your budget, and your contractor has to coordinate them with Civil Defense requirements from day one.

What is a Cat B fit-out?

Cat B (Category B) is the tenant fit-out: everything that makes the space work for your team and your brand. It typically covers:

• Glass and gypsum partitions for private offices and meeting rooms
• Floor finishes (carpet, vinyl, timber, tiles) and wall finishes
• Reception, pantry and breakout areas
• Re-routed HVAC and lighting to suit the new layout
• Data cabling, server room, CCTV and access control
• AV for meeting rooms, furniture, signage and brand graphics

Cat A vs Cat B at a glance

Think of it this way: Cat A makes a floor leasable; Cat B makes it usable for one specific company. Cat A is generic and paid for by the landlord. Cat B is tailored and paid for by the tenant, sometimes with a landlord contribution or rent-free period negotiated into the lease.

How much does Cat B cost in Riyadh?

For most Riyadh offices, Cat B is where the budget goes. As covered in our office fit-out cost guide, a standard fit-out typically runs SAR 900–1,600/m², with premium executive fit-outs reaching SAR 1,900–2,800/m² and above. If your floor is handed over as shell and core, add the cost of ceilings, HVAC and fire systems on top.

Why the Cat A layout affects your Cat B budget

Landlords design Cat A for an open-plan floor. As soon as you add enclosed offices and meeting rooms, ceiling grids, light fittings, diffusers, sprinkler heads and fire detectors often have to move, and that rework is a Cat B cost. Some landlords will let you skip parts of their Cat A in exchange for a contribution, which saves you paying to install something only to rip it out. Ask before handover, not after.

Five things to check before you sign the lease

1. Get the landlord's handover specification in writing: shell and core, Cat A, or something in between.
2. Confirm HVAC capacity and electrical load for your headcount and IT equipment.
3. Ask whether the landlord will contribute to Cat B or offer a rent-free fit-out period.
4. Check which approvals the landlord holds and which you must obtain for your fit-out.
5. Bring your fit-out contractor to the site visit; a 30-minute walk-through can prevent a six-figure surprise.

One contractor for both

When Cat A gaps and Cat B design are handled by the same team, the layout, MEP and finishes are designed together and nothing gets built twice. Nikken Moller delivers office fit-out in Riyadh with 17 trades in-house, from MEP to joinery, under one contract. See how the stages fit together in our fit-out process and timeline guide.