1. Client Background

• Local UAE furniture suppliers could only deliver basic workstations (no climate-resistant features) in 12 weeks, which missed the firm’s investor pitch timeline.
• Imported workstations from Europe lacked ventilation (a must for Dubai’s 35–45°C summer temperatures) and were 30% over budget.

2. Customer Requirements & Project Objectives

1. Regulatory Compliance: Meet UAE’s Dubai Municipality E1-grade standards (formaldehyde emissions ≤0.124mg/m³) and fire safety regulations (low-flame-spread materials).
2. Climate & Functional Adaptation:
   • 4-person modular workstations (to support cross-departmental collaboration for product/engineering teams) with 60”x30” work surfaces.
   • Ventilated metal dividers (to improve air circulation in Dubai’s hot climate, preventing workstation overheating).
   • Lockable under-desk storage (for employee laptops/confidential fintech documents, critical for data security).
3. Aesthetic Alignment: Light oak worktops + white cabinetry (matching the co-working hub’s “bright, professional” decor, selected via investor feedback).
4. Timeline & Scale: Deliver 30 workstations within 9 weeks, in time for a key investor demo day.

3. Customization & Design Process

• Climate & Layout Validation: The team proposed ventilated metal dividers (instead of solid fabric) to address Dubai’s heat—this was approved after a 3-day test of air flow in a mock workstation. The 4-person modular layout was selected to fit 120 employees in the 300 sq. m. space (plus walkways for investor tours).
• Finish & Prototype Testing: A full 4-person workstation (light oak + white, with ventilated dividers) was built and shipped to Dubai for a 7-day trial. An engineering team member noted: “The ventilated dividers keep my workspace cool even when the AC is on low—way better than my old solid-divider desk. The lockable storage lets me leave my laptop safely when I work remotely.”
• 3D Rendering Alignment: MEI YI provided 3D renderings of the workstations arranged to highlight the startup’s product demo area (a key spot for investor visits), confirming the layout balanced collaboration and walkway space.

4. Production & Quality Assurance

• Production Schedule:
  • Weeks 1–2: Material sourcing (FSC-certified E1-grade light oak, fire-resistant ventilated metal dividers, white low-flame-spread cabinetry).
  • Weeks 3–8: Mass production (1 line, 4 workstations per week—with 2 inspectors assigned to test ventilation and lock security).
  • Week 9: Final inspection, heat-resistant packaging, and freight preparation.
• Rigorous Quality Checks:
  1. Compliance Testing: 10% of workstations were tested for E1-grade emissions and UAE fire safety standards (all passed).
  2. Climate/Functional Testing: Each divider’s ventilation flow was measured (confirmed 20% better air circulation than solid dividers); locks were tested for tamper resistance.
  3. Finish Inspection: Every workstation was verified for uniform light oak coloring and scratch-resistant worktops (critical for investor-facing spaces).

5. Logistics & Delivery

• Packaging: Each workstation was wrapped in heat-resistant film (to protect against 40°C+ transit temperatures) + reinforced cardboard, with corner protectors for the light oak worktops.
• Customs Clearance: Pre-submitted ISO/E1/UAE fire safety documents were shared with Dubai Customs 2 weeks in advance—clearing Jebel Ali Port in 1 day (vs. the typical 5-day delay for uncertified goods).
• Final Delivery: The 30 workstations arrived at the DIFC co-working hub 2 days early (8.5 weeks total). MEI YI included an English-Arabic bilingual assembly guide and a 6-month warranty for dividers/storage.

6. Customer Feedback & Project Results

• Investor & Team Reception: 100% of demo-day investors commented on the “modern, well-adapted” workspaces; one Saudi investor noted: “The ventilated dividers show you understand the region’s needs—impressive attention to detail.” 95% of employees reported “cooler, more organized workspaces” (a 35% improvement vs. old desks).
• Data Security & Collaboration: The lockable storage reduced laptop theft risk to zero; the 4-person layout cut cross-departmental meeting time by 20% (teams collaborated directly at workstations).
• Cost & Timeline Wins: MEI YI’s pricing was 25% lower than European imports, and the early delivery let the startup finalize the demo area 3 days ahead of schedule.
• Repeat Partnership: The startup placed a follow-up order for 10 more workstations 6 weeks post-delivery, to support its growing customer success team.