The 3D Printed Office of the Future, Dubai, UAE

Dubai prides itself on being a world leader for developing new technologies and techniques for all industries. The construction industry in the UAE employs approximately 34% of the population and by 2030 the Dubai Future Agenda aims to have 25% of Dubai’s construction made by 3D printed technology.

Located in a prominent position in the heart of Dubai, the Office of the Future is the world’s first 3D printed office building. 3D printing is an innovative method that has been adapted for construction, and used here for the first time in a commercial project. The Office of the Future was created on behalf of the Dubai Government, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and the Ruler of Dubai.

The Office of the Future project consists of 300sqm fully useable commercial office space, printed layer by layer using a 20-foot-tall 3D printer, located in Shanghai, China. Each structural component was built using innovative 3D printing technology, combining a mixture of Special Reinforced Concrete (SRC) and recycled construction material.

Now complete, the building serves as the management office for the ‘Museum of the Future’ project and provides a headquarters for the Dubai Future Foundation, an organisation that will help to deliver smart technologies to the Emirates.