Dubai Holding on Monday launched the International Centre for 3D Printing as the first step in bringing plans to put the emirates at the centre of the global 3D printing technology by 2030.
The conglomerate said in a statement that the project is in line with last week’s directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai an international destination for 3D printing.
The project, located at Dubai Industrial City, will create a suitable atmosphere and provide the appropriate infrastructure to bring under one roof a network of design and technology suppliers as well as factories.
It will include research centres and laboratories for testing materials used in 3D printed products within an integrated environment dedicated to serve construction, medicine, and consumer products sectors.
It will also involve the academic sector, which will add innovation and educational value to this initiative through research and development.
The new project aims to build a network of distinguished companies in the 3D printing sector by attracting entrepreneurs and innovators as well as targeting international enterprises locally and globally by offering special laboratories for 3D printing. It will also offer services, professional training, facilities, storage solution, and other logistical support to strengthen this sector.
Dr Amina Al Rustamani, Group CEO of TECOM Investments, said: “The launch of the Dubai 3D Printing Strategy by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum comes in line with the vision and strategic directions of the emirate of Dubai to support innovation and future industry. The world is experiencing significant demand for 3D printing technologies which are set to play an important role in developing basic industries such as real estate.”
She added: “We will work on providing a suitable environment for specialised companies and attracting innovative minds by offering the required infrastructure that match the aspirations of the wise leadership. We believe that the new strategy will be a vital element in creating support for Dubai’s key role in the area of 3D printing.”
Saif Al Aleeli, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, added: “The establishment of the International Centre for 3D Printing by Dubai Holding will enable us take the first steps towards achieving the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to make Dubai a global centre of 3D printing technology.”
“The centre focuses on providing all the components in an integrated system to take this technology from the ideas and innovation stage to the design phase, and provide the materials to a promising market within the, construction, medical and consumer product sectors.”
The Dubai 3D Printing Strategy is particularly relevant to the construction sector with a target to 3D print 25 percent of buildings in Dubai by 2030.
The Dubai 3D Printing Strategy will focus on three major sectors – Construction, Medical Products, Consumer Products – and has five main pillars of Infrastructure, Legislative Structure, Funding, Talent and Market Demand.
The value of 3D printing technology based construction sector in Dubai is expected to be about AED3 billion by 2025 while in the medical products sector, the focus will be on developing 3D printed teeth, bones, artificial organs and medical and surgical devices and hearing aids.
The value of 3D printed medical products in Dubai is expected to be reach AED1.7 billion by 2025.
The consumer products sector will focus on household items, optics, fashion jewellery, children’s games and fast food. The volume of consumer products printed by 3D technology in Dubai is expected to be about AED2.8 billion by 2025.
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