Indiaās commercial real estate market is entering a phase where demand is spreading beyond traditional office centres. The first half of 2026 saw office absorption reach a record 45.5 million sq ft, the highest for any half-year, with 24.6 million sq ft taken up in the second quarter alone, according to CBRE. New supply also reached a record 32 million sq ft in H1, pointing to the scale at which developers and occupiers are now operating.
GCC expansion and technology hubs
Global Capability Centres (GCCs) remain one of the strongest demand drivers. They accounted for 46 per cent of Grade A office leasing in H1 2026, with 16.6 million sq ft leased, according to Colliers.
According to Abhishek Trehan, Executive Director, Trehan IRIS, the expansion of data centres is adding another layer to the transformation of Noida, Greater Noida and the Yamuna Expressway region.Ā
“Companies such as Microsoft, HCL and Tech Mahindra have already strengthened the regionās technology and corporate profile, while investments by leading data-centre players are adding a new dimension to its digital infrastructure. This is supporting the emergence of integrated business districts and providing a significant fillip to commercial, retail and luxury residential development by established developers across the region,ā he said.Ā
The NCR numbers show how this landscape is changing. Delhi-NCR recorded 2.8 million sq ft of gross leasing in Q1 2026, with Gurugram accounting for 60 per cent and Noida 37 per cent. Noida Expressway was the largest micro-market, while Udyog Vihar and NH-8 Prime also recorded significant activity. GCC leasing in NCR stood at 0.9 million sq ft during the quarter.
NCR corridors reshaping regional real estate
Retail is increasingly following where people work, live and spend time, which is why high streets and mixed-use locations are becoming important alongside established malls. In H1 2026, Delhi-NCR was among the leading retail markets, while domestic brands accounted for more than 70 per cent of leasing nationally. The rise of D2C brands is also notable, as many now use physical stores as part of their expansion strategy rather than treating them as a separate channel.
Retail leasing reached 3.9 million sq ft in H1 2026, up 20 per cent year-on-year, according to CBRE. Delhi-NCR led the major markets, while fashion and apparel accounted for around 40 per cent of leasing. D2C retailers accounted for about 28 per cent, giving high streets and organised retail destinations another source of occupier demand.
āOccupiers are becoming more selective about what makes a commercial location work over the long term. Demand will increasingly be driven by factors such as connectivity, accessibility, quality of infrastructure, surrounding development and the availability of well-planned commercial spaces. As emerging NCR corridors improve their connectivity and infrastructure, they will become more attractive for businesses seeking efficient and future-ready locations. The growing availability of quality office and retail spaces in these corridors will further strengthen demand for commercial real estate.ā said Dr Amish Bhutani, Managing Director, Group 108.Ā
Institutional investmentĀ
Investor interest is providing another indication of the depth of the cycle. Institutional real estate investment reached USD 4.5 billion in H1 2026, up 50 per cent year-on-year, with office assets accounting for more than 40 per cent of the inflows, according to Colliers.
āThe expansion of data centres is also opening up a longer development landscape for NCR. Noida and Greater Noida have the existing ecosystem, while the Yamuna Expressway region offers larger parcels and the potential to accommodate infrastructure at scale. The upcoming data centre parks across Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway show that this is becoming a wider regional strategy rather than a single-location story. Real estate will increasingly follow the infrastructure that enables the digital economy,ā Karan Malik, Regional Director, Realistic Realtors, concluded.
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