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Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has issued a decree to regulate the use of 3D printing in Dubai’s construction sector.
The new legislation has been brought in to support the region’s target of ensuring that 25 percent of its buildings are constructed using 3D printing technology by 2030. The Decree also hopes to position Dubai as a regional and global hub for 3D printing technologies.
Construction 3D printing in Dubai
Established in 1954, the Dubai Municipality is involved in various planning, medical and environmental activities across the UEA. In line withits 2025 vision, the municipality is seeking to ramp up the implementation of 3D printing technologies within its construction sector, and as a result several firms have selected Dubai as a promising location for their 3D printing operations.
For instance, in 2019 London large-scale 3D printer providerAi Buildentered into a partnership with Dubai-based 3D printing service bureau3DVinci Creationstodistribute its Factory-as-a-Service subscriptionwithin the UAE. Shortly after, theAmerican University in Dubai(AUD) established ascientific research center for 3D printing concrete buildingsin Dubai, supplied with a 3D printer from 3DVinci Creations. The center aims to establish a consortium to drive the use of 3D printing concrete technology in construction within the Middle East and North Africa.
Also in 2019, concrete additive manufacturing start-upConcreativeestablished itsfirst 3D printing facility in Dubai, and Spanish conglomerateACCONIAinauguratedits own global 3D printing centerin the municipality, which at the time reportedly featured the world’s largest operational powder bed 3D printer. The center was founded to meet the growing demand for 3D printed infrastructure in Dubai, and meet the region’s 2025 3D printed buildings quota.
符合迪拜未来基金会的愿景to become the leading hub of additive manufacturing by 2030, the Dubai Municipality unveiled a 640 square meter 3D printed building project, which was recognized by theGuinness Book of World Recordsas theworld’s largest 3D printed two-story structure, in November 2019.
The ambition Dubai holds for promoting innovative technologies like 3D printing within its construction sector is often demonstrated during itsBig 5 International Building and Construction Show, where Dutch architectural 3D printing start-upTwente AMshowcased itslatest large-scale concrete 3D printerlast year.
Issuing Decree No. 24 of 2021
In his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed has now issued Decree No. 24 of 2021 to regulate the use of 3D printing in Dubai’s construction sector. The Decree is the latest effort by the municipality to support its strategic target to ensure a quarter of its buildings are constructed using 3D printing technologies by the end of the decade.
The Decree also aims to promote Dubai as a regional and global hub for the use of 3D printing technologies and forms part of a broader plan to spur economic growth and the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies in the emirate. The legislation will seek to enhance efficiencies in construction projects and improve the competitiveness of Dubai’s local industry, while also reducing waste in the sector and attract leading companies to Dubai’s construction industry.
Companies wishing to deploy 3D printing technologies for construction in Dubai must now register with the Dubai Municipality and obtain a license before seeking further approvals from other authorities. The Decree states that real estate developers must also ensure that projects utilizing 3D printing are only executed by contractors granted with a license by the Dubai Municipality.
Under the Decree’s framework, the municipality will promote the use of additive manufacturing in partnership with both government and non-government bodies in a bid to encourage the adoption of the technology in the region’s construction sector. The municipality will also draw up a list of incentives and facilities provided by these entities to support the technology’s growth.
Large-scale construction 3D printing
Aside from Dubai, 3D printing is being increasingly leveraged elsewhere within the construction sector for the fabrication of commercial and residential buildings.
In the US, Texas-based construction technologies companyICONis on a mission toreinvent the construction of affordable homeswith additive manufacturing, while 3D printing construction start-upMighty Buildingshas raised $30 million in funding to scale its production line at its Oakland factor, enabling it tofully-3D print 350 square foot units. Meanwhile, US-based concrete specialistsQUIKRETEandContour Crafting Corporation(CC Corp) have teamed to develop aproprietary concreteto be used in the building of low-income housing and disaster relief facilities in Los Angeles.
In Europe, Danish 3D printing construction firmCOBOD’s robotic construction 3D printers have been deployed for several high-profile additive manufacturing construction projects, including the building of thefirst 3D printed commercial apartment buildingin Wallenhausen, Germany, and erecting Germany’sfirst “market-ready” 3D printed residential building, a two-story house located in North Rhine-Westphalia.
COBOD’s large-format 3D printing technology has also been deployed within Africa’s construction sector to fabricate the“世界first” 3D printed schoolin Malawi. The school has now opened its doors to students and was conceived out of a project with14Trees, a joint venture company of building materials specialistLafargeHolcimandCDC Group, the UK’s publicly owned impact investor.
Nominations for the2021 3D Printing Industry Awardsare now open, have your say who is leading the industry now.
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Featured image showsSheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has issued Decree No. 24 of 2021 regulating the use of 3D printing in the construction sector in Dubai. Photo via Emirates News Agency (WAM).
