Dubai, United Arab Emirates - October 23, 2019: The opening of the largest 3D printed two-story structure in the world. Wednesday the 23rd of October 2019. Warsan, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - October 23, 2019: The opening of the largest 3D printed two-story structure in the world. Wednesday the 23rd of October 2019. Warsan, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - October 23, 2019: The opening of the largest 3D printed two-story structure in the world. Wednesday the 23rd of October 2019. Warsan, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - October 23, 2019: The opening of the largest 3D printed two-story structure in the world. Wednesday the 23rd of October 2019. Warsan, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Dubai unveils world's largest 3D printed two-storey building


Nick Webster
  • English
  • Arabic

Dubai is laying down foundations for the future of its construction industry – after unveiling the largest 3D printed building on the planet.

After a year of testing to ensure the project in Warsan meets strict building standards, the emirate's latest hi-tech development went on public display on Wednesday.

Dubai Municipality said the building was now entered into the Guinness Book of World Records as the first two-storey printed building.

Dubai's 3D printing strategy aims to make it a global capital for this technology
Dawoud Al Hajri,
Dubai Municipality

Officials said 3D printing techniques would transform how the construction sector operates.

"This project is a major turning point in the construction sector," said Dawoud Al Hajri, Dubai Municipality director general. "3D printing technologies in construction will increase the speed of execution and [lead to the] completion of buildings in record time.

“This will reduce construction costs and contribute to the development of solutions to demographic challenges by reducing the number of construction workers.”

Standing 9.5 metres tall and with a total area of 640 square metres, it has been built using onsite 3D printing equipment with local components.

The process works by layering a fluid material along a predetermined route mapped out by computer, similar to an inkjet printer. Those mineral-infused fluids solidify into concrete ­almost instantly to convert the digital model into a three-dimensional object.

Although the case for replacing industrial manufacturing on a wider scale with 3D printing is unproven, ratings agency Moody's said the technology has great potential in many sectors.

Its recent report said the technology would be most useful in areas requiring rapid prototyping, production of unique and customised items and the manufacture of parts with structural complexity.

High production industries where scale is important were less likely to benefit from 3D printing technology, largely because of the high cost of printers and limited supply of specialist technicians.

Emaar Properties is planning Dubai’s first 3D printed home in Arabian Ranches Three, claiming the technique could accelerate the delivery of new homes and bring more design flexibility.

"This two-storey building has been designed and executed with a number of spaces that can be used as rooms or offices," said Mr Hajri at an opening event to discuss the project in Warsan.

“The walls are printed directly from the printer, unlike the traditional method of construction, which depends on the work of tightening wooden pieces with nuts and bolts, reinforcement and pouring of concrete and making bricks.”

Officials said construction costs for a building this size would be cut from about Dh2.5 million to less than Dh1m.

The process used about half the usual number of construction workers, only 15, and generated about 60 per cent less waste.

In July, a French family became the first to move into a single-storey four-bedroom 3D printed home spread across 165 square metres.

Its walls took just two days to build, while the rest of the house took a further four months.

The build was developed by the University of Nantes.

Dubai’s new printed building is not the emirate’s first.

It is three years since Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, opened a futuristic office for 3D printing technology outside Emirates Towers.

The office in the Dubai International Finance Centre was the first of its kind anywhere in the world.

Curves and different shapes were specifically used in the design of the Warsan construction to challenge the printer’s capabilities.

"The building has been designed with different shapes through which it was tested to show it can be possible for 3D printing to construc a variety of designs," Mr Al Hajri said.

“Dubai’s 3D printing strategy aims to make it a global capital for this technology.”

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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What it means to be a conservationist

Who is Enric Sala?

Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.

What is biodiversity?

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.

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Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

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Australia

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Saudi Arabia

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South Korea

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

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Price: From Dh149,900

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
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What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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The specs

Engine 60kwh FWD

Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry

Power 204hp Torque 360Nm

Price, base / as tested Dh174,500 

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

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Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

MATCH INFO

Watford 2 (Sarr 50', Deeney 54' pen)

Manchester United 0

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

How to help

Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:

2289 - Dh10

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