In line with Dubai’s 3D Printing Strategy, Dubai Municipality (DM) has launched several technical activities centred around 3D printing technology – including building engineering consultancy, building contracting and ready-mix concrete casting.
The organisation said that in accordance with Decree No. 24 of 2021, it is undertaking the development and implementation of an integrated system to plan, design, and implement construction works using the 3D printing technology as per the approved engineering standards and specifications. This is an important step towards strengthening Dubai’s leading position as the first city in the world to adopt a 3D printing strategy and regulate the usage of this advanced technology in the construction sector, the statement added.
Dawoud Al-Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said: “Dubai Municipality aims to regulate the use of the 3D printing technology by organising and promoting it and providing support and consultation to start-ups in the field. This will be in addition to inviting international companies to enter this field in Dubai, as part of our directives to make Dubai an international hub for 3D printing activities. 3D printing is an advanced technology which has been advancing rapidly in many sectors around the world, which is supposed to contribute to reducing cost and time. We aim to enhance the use of this technology through the new activities launched by Dubai Municipality for contractors and consultants.”
The new activities by Dubai Municipality are aimed at fostering consultancy firms, contractors, and factories to construct all types of buildings, from the start to the end, using 3D printing and AI technology. These activities are available to new companies and can also be added to the current activities of consulting firms, contracting companies and factories. They will directly contribute to the job market and help with the implementation of this technology, resulting in an increase in the number of buildings constructed using 3D printing in Dubai, it said.
In August 2021, a new law was introduced concerning the use of 3D printing in the UAE construction sector.
Registration Steps
Interested company owners or license holders can apply for these new activities by registering for practicing engineering professions in the Dubai Engineering Qualification System, through Dubai Municipality website, by choosing the activity name and then linking the required engineers to it. The Municipality also provides the names of approved consulting firms, contractors, and factories specialising in construction using the 3D printing technology through its smart apps in addition to its official website.
Furthermore, the municipality has set requirements to qualify and classify the issuance of practice permits for licensed companies.
The Municipality’s Responsibilities
In accordance with the Decree No. 24 of 2021 pertinent to regulating the use of 3D printing in construction works in the emirate, Dubai Municipality is responsible for regulating this technology, issuing licenses, and monitoring construction works. This will be done by developing and implementing an integrated system to plan, design, and execution of construction and structural works using 3D printing technology and ensuring its use in accordance with approved engineering standards and specifications, as well as qualifying, registering, and classifying engineers and contractors who use 3D printing technology in their work.
Its responsibilities also include determining the tests to be conducted on the raw materials, the synthetic additives, the mixtures used in construction works and any other tests to be conducted on the structural components of buildings constructed using the 3D printing technology. The Municipality will supervise the creation of a database of the construction works implemented in the Emirate using the 3D printing technology, with a view to facilitating access to the data and information required for establishing the technical specifications and standards.
The Municipality will also conduct technical studies and experiments and cooperate with research, scientific, and engineering entities specialised in this field to develop this technology. It will also prepare templates for the contracts related to the 3D printing technology and enter partnerships with international establishments and specialised consultancies to promote the use of this technology and derive the maximum benefit from it.
In 2019, the Dubai Municipality entered the Guinness Book of World Records for constructing the world’s largest 3D printed building, which is a two-story building with a height of 9.5m at a total area of 640sqm.
In November 2021, the Guinness World Record recognised the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) for setting up the world’s first 3D-printing laboratory. In the same month, it was revealed that the MoEI is building the UAE’s first 3D printed government facility.