Riyadh has cemented its place at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s thriving commercial property market, with prime office rents soaring by 23% over the past year, according to fresh research from a leading property consultancy. By the end of March, rents for high-end office spaces in the capital had climbed to SAR 2,700 per square metre — the highest rate recorded to date — fuelled by government initiatives such as the regional headquarters programme.