Art & Sculpture

3D Printed Buildings are Coming to Dubai

In an unsurprising turn of events, Dubai has once again made a significant step towards the future, paving the way for innovative technologies and unprecedented creations across industries.

Already home to the world’s first 3D printed office, which is the product of a 20-foot tall 3D printer with a 120-foot long robotic arm, Dubai is making impressive plans to 3D print a quarter of the city’s buildings by 2030. In preparation for this futuristic feat, the Dubai Municipality is currently in the process of drawing up legislation and codes for the use of 3D printing in the construction of future buildings.

dubai_3dp office
The world’s first 3D printed office, housing the Dubai Future Foundation

When successful, 3D printed buildings have the potential to significantly reduce and/or eliminate a number of aspects of the construction process including costs, time, labour, and waste. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai is responsible for launching Dubai’s initial 3D Printing Strategy back in April of this year, which will focus on technological advancements in construction, medical products and consumer products, hopefully positioning the UAE and Dubai as a global hub of 3D printing technology by 2030. “The future will depend on 3D printing technologies in all aspects of our life, starting from houses we live in, the streets we use, the cars we drive, the clothes we wear and the food we eat,” Sheikh Mohammed predicted, explaining the city’s dedicated adoption of new, sustainable construction technologies.

An undeniably ambitious step in right direction, Dubai’s latest announcement will no doubt leave audiences heavy with anticipation. It will be exciting to see the final processes and designs on this project, and eventually, construction. Stay tuned via the 3D Printing Industry newsletter for more updates on the project.