Dubai to soon unveil first 3D-printed villa

Dubai will see its first 3D-printed villa in two months, Engineer Hussain Nasser Lootah, director-general of the Dubai Municipality, told the Emarat Al Youm daily.

The technology would be used to build villas in a government housing programme.

3D printing will reduce construction costs and shorten delivery timeframes. The technology is expected to disrupt the construction industry.

According to Dubai's 3D Printing Strategy, 25 per cent of all buildings in Dubai will be 3D printed by 2030.

The Dubai Municipality has brought all the necessary tools and equipment to build the villa, said Lootah.

"3D printing is a disruptive technology, one that promises to upend the entire real estate industry. Currently, the process is still more expensive than conventional building methods; moreover it is in its embryonic stages, being able to accommodate only rudimentary designs. However, within a 10 to 15-year time frame, it appears likely that this form of 'printing' will start to replace existing methods of construction," said Sameer Lakhani, managing director of Global Capital Partners.

A Dubai-based startup, Cazza, had announced in February last year that it would build the world's first 3D-printed skyscraper.

- deepthi@khaleejtimes.com

Deepthi Nair

I cover all things related to real estate in the UAE. Working as a print journalist in Dubai since 2008, I have reported on all the flashy new projects in town. Dubai's passion for setting new records continues to amaze me. I love to do stories that strike a chord with the average expatriate in the UAE. If you have any news related to your community or rents, you know who to get in touch with at Khaleej Times. When I am not working, I travel, catch up with friends, mall trawl, catch up on movies, explore new places in town or just unwind in a spa. Originally from India, I have been a journalist for more than 11 years. Language has been my forte right from school. That's me in a nutshell