The two largest of the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria and Tenerife, are at the top of the rankings for the most desirable and attractive places for relocation of companies and remote workers in the world. Let’s see what makes them so popular.

The moderate, tropical climate guarantees summer and spring throughout the year. Both enthusiasts of year-round heat and slightly changeable weather will be delighted. 

The Canary Islands have a very diverse landscape in a relatively small area. Within an hour, you can move from hot beach, through sub-tropical forest, to cool mountains or hot volcanic-desert areas. Swimming in the ocean is possible all year round! 

No need to bother with winter clothes but sometimes a sweatshirt, longer trousers or a light rain jacket may come in handy.

The location between Africa and Europe makes the Canary Islands an enclave of peace and safety. It is part of Europe, separated from it by a “safety moat”, which in the aftermath of COVID is an additional asset.

The Canary Islands are accessible relatively easily, quickly and cheaply, both by air and sea. Modern airports and harbours offer efficient service at reasonable prices. Transport of belongings or animals does not present a problem. European standards and safety norms are maintained here.

Moving between islands is also relatively easy and affordable. An hour-long flight or up to a 4-hour cruise will move you between the islands.

Transport around the islands is well organised. Buses or car rentals provide comfortable travel over longer distances. Within cities, the best solution is renting a bicycle, moped or scooter.

Regardless of the length of your stay, the Canary Islands offer good quality housing and accommodation. Villas, apartments, houses or ex-hotels converted into apartment buildings offer a high standard of living at a reasonable price.

Of course, the cost of renting or buying a property is mainly influenced by location, proximity to beaches and the ocean, and the number of sunny months per year. However, it is safe to say that prices are certainly not higher than the European average and often much lower.

When looking for a place to live, I suggest you rely on local companies and forget the “great offers” from social media. It is common to be offered properties that do not exist or have several unlicensed brokers, often with no direct contact with the owner. Real estate agencies or certified companies are guaranteed to save time, money and eliminate unpleasant surprises. The cost of service is 3-5% of the value of purchased property or the monthly rental cost.

The main cities of Gran Canaria and Tenerife offer good quality office spaces that provide a full range of facilities. In cities such as Las Palmas, Santa Cruz or Adeje you will often find ready-to-use offices. Facilities for training, business meetings and events are also available at very attractive prices.

Adapting interiors to the needs of the company or employees is not a problem here. The islands have good quality interior designers who will plan company space, take care of selection, purchase and transport of equipment. Keep in mind that immediate availability may be slightly limited, but suppliers such as IKEA, OBI, Leroy Merlin do have branches here.

Coworking centres, especially recently, have gained momentum and significantly improved their offer and services. So far Las Palmas was the clear leader in remote work facilities, but lately there have been more and more attractive offers from Tenerife.

It’s just fun in the Canary Islands. It’s warm, the air is clean, no one is in a hurry, prices are reasonable and people are friendly. Life flows so peacefully that it is easy to lose track of time. For those looking for a quiet and civilised place to live and work, the Canaries are definitely an attractive destination worth considering.

Despite the small area, the islands are so diverse that both those who want to live in the city, near beaches and those looking for secluded nooks in direct contact with nature will find something for themselves. Most of the islands have no problems with access, internet or proximity to schools and shops.

The cost of living certainly does not exceed the average cost of living in Central or Western European countries. If you choose a location away from big cities, beaches or tourist centres, you can live and work comfortably at relatively low, fixed monthly costs.

The Canaries are islands of immigrants. It is a cultural melting pot of people who value peace, fun and living in the moment. The local community is open to newcomers. All initiatives from outside are appreciated and well-received.

If you start learning Spanish, cultivate local customs, take part in events important to the community, the so-called locals will accept you quickly. The desire to learn about the local culture, art, customs, cuisine and language are truly appreciated by the islands’ residents.

In the face of the blockade of mass tourism, which generated most of the islands’ income, a new strategy for the development of the Canaries has been established and implemented. In the next 10 years, the Canary Islands will become the European equivalent of Silicon Valley.

The Spanish government, in agreement with the presidents of the Canary Islands, introduced a development programme and a number of tax incentives for companies wishing to move their business or carry out long-term projects on the islands.

The Canary Islands will be an attractive place for business, especially companies from the broadly understood area of IT, research and development, new technologies and the film industry. They are expected to meet the high demands of business, offer comfortable facilities for work, life, relaxation, regeneration and pursuit of employees’ passion. In addition, they are to attract remote workers and generate new jobs for the local community and newcomers.

Strategic location for business

A stable political situation, advanced infrastructure and high standards of service make the Canary Islands a business-friendly region. The offer of facilities for the operation of companies, various forms of transport, quality of life, attractive tax and subsidy systems are some of the main reasons for the increased interest in relocating business or working from the Canary Islands.

Growing demand for employees with experience in remote work

As the number of companies moving their offices or projects to islands increases, so does the demand for skilled workers. Specialists with experience in remote work within dispersed production teams are highly sought after.  Currently, the fastest and most dynamically developing industries are:

• IT – software houses, media houses, SEO agencies, mainly looking for programmers and project managers
• content marketing – creating content for social media and SEO activities
• film – post-production, editing, sound and special effects
• animations – 3D animation and model developers, producers and managers of production groups

The sun, summer-spring temperatures all year round, picturesque mountains, beaches, forests and volcanic areas and clean air are some of the main reasons to relocate to the islands or visit them for longer.

Here you are limited only by your imagination, physical condition and budget. No matter which island you choose, the Canary Islands offer a huge number of attractions. The most popular of them are:

• surfing, windsurfing, kite, skimboard and flipboard 
• water activities – cruises, dolphin watching in the wild, diving, snorkelling, jet skiing, swimming and freediving 
• amusement parks – including Siam Park the largest water park in the world 
• trekking, mountain climbing and caving
• running, triathlon, mountain and road biking
• motocross, car racing, quads
• tours, concerts, cultural events
• yoga, meditation and regeneration centres
• team sports – football, beach volleyball, baseball, basketball
• paragliding, skydiving, base jump

and many, many others… 

If you would like to relocate your company or employees to the Canary Islands, feel free to contact Canary Islands Space. We help with relocation, organisation of work and life in Gran Canaria and Tenerife.

We support companies and employees comprehensively by creating workspaces for them in the Canary Islands. We open company offices, arrange interiors and create work bases. We organise business meetings, other events, support training, provide attractions and show you the beauty of the Canaries.