World’s first 3D-printed office opens its doors in Dubai

Photo courtesy: Dubai Media Office Twitter

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the UAE, inaugurated the world’s first 3D-printed office in the glitzy city of Dubai, according to an official government statement. The initiative is to firmly ensconce the UAE as a “major incubator of innovation and future technology in the world”, and to build a “global model that can be emulated in all sectors”.

Photo courtesy: Dubai Media Office Twitter

The office space covers an area of 250 square metres and was printed by a 3D printer 20 feet high, 140 feet long, and 40 feet wide. Despite its gargantuan size, the printer only required one person to operate it at all times. A team of 17 additional people were needed for installing building components on site and monitoring engineering requirements.

Photo courtesy: Dubai Media Office Twitter

The entire office structure was printed in 17 days with an additional installation time of two days. According to Reuters, the entire cost of the project was only US$140,000 and the technique cut both building and labor costs by 50 percent.

Photo courtesy: Dubai Media Office Twitter

Quite appropriately, the structure will be the temporary headquarters of the Dubai Future Foundation.

Photo courtesy: Dubai Media Office Twitter

Dubai’s strategy is to have 25 percent of all buildings in the emirate 3D printed by 2030.