TikTok looks at Dublin office space for 5,000 workers

TikTok is weighing plans to take on up to 500,000sq ft of office space in Dublin to facilitate a major expansion of its Irish-based operations. The Chinese-headquartered social media company issued a request for proposal (RFP) to several commercial real estate advisers last week, with a view to securing office space in the capital capable of accommodating up to 5,000 workers. While news of the move will be welcomed by the property sector and wider business community, coming as it does in the midst of the uncertainty being caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, a source familiar with the matter cautioned that should it proceed, any expansion by TikTok of its operations here would likely take place over several years.

Global tech

Such a growth pattern would however be in keeping with the pace set by the mainly US-headquartered global tech companies that dominate Dublin’s so-called Silicon Docks currently. In the case of Google for example, its arrival here in 2003 involved just five employees and the use of serviced offices on Harcourt Street. While the search engine giant made the headlines last week when it abandoned plans to rent a further 202,000sq ft of space at the Sorting Office, its footprint in the capital extends today to a massive 1.1 million sq ft.

Total area When taken together, the collective presence which is in the process of being established by Google, Amazon, LinkedIn, Facebook and Salesforce at their respective campuses across the city will cover a total area of 3.4 million sq ft (31.6 hectares) – or enough space for 34,000 workers. Although it would take some time for TikTok to grow its operations in the capital to a scale equivalent to its American competitors, the Chinese-owned social media app gave a clear indication of the importance it attaches to Dublin last January when it announced the establishment of its EMEA trust and safety hub here, creating 100 jobs. More recently, the company, which is owned by Chinese group, Bytedance, signalled its intention to add a data privacy division to its Dublin team, and to locate a $500 million (¤420 million) data centre in Ireland.TikTok’s search in Dublin for what could become its European headquarters comes just two months after it pulled back from talks with the UK government on a new London headquarters.

Source: The Irish Times – Ronald Quinlan.

If you are thinking of investing in property as a source of alternative income, ​ why not contact us today to discuss your requirements in more detail?​ ​ Phone: +353 86 325 0048 I Email: info@ccih.ie

Link: www.irishtimes.ie