Dubai is planning to build the world's first fully functional 3D printed building, an ambitious move that will establish the UAE's position as the global centre of technology in architecture construction and design, UAE National Innovation Committee revealed.

The office will be approximately 2,000 square feet in size and will be printed layer-by-layer using a 20-foot tall 3D printer. It will then be assembled on site in Dubai in just a few weeks. All interior furniture, detailing, and structural components will also be built using 3D printing technology, combining a mixture of Special Reinforced Concrete (SRC), Glass Fiber Reinforced Gypsum (GRG) and Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP). This combination will make it the most advanced 3D printed structure ever built at this scale and the first to be put into actual use.

Experts estimate that 3D printing technology can reduce the production time of buildings by 50 to 70 per cent, reduce labour costs by 50 to 80 per cent, and can save between 30 and 60 per cent of construction waste. These savings translate to enhanced productivity, higher economic return, and increased sustainability.