The Gulf’s construction sector is rapidly moving beyond small-scale pilots, embracing 3D concrete printing (3DCP) for large, commercially viable projects. From world-record-breaking buildings in Qatar to record-height villas in Saudi Arabia, regional developers are using technology from Denmark’s COBOD International to build faster, more sustainably, and with greater architectural freedom.
Quick Facts
- Qatar is building a world-record 10,000 sqm school.
- Saudi Arabia’s Dar Al Arkan built 9.9-meter-tall villas.
- Kuwait printed water tanks using 25% less material.
Saudi Arabia Pushes the Boundaries
Saudi Arabia is a key market for 3DCP, aligning with Vision 2030’s goals to industrialize construction and increase housing supply. Local developer Dar Al Arkan is at the forefront, using two COBOD printers for several ambitious projects.
In 2023, the developer constructed two three-story villas in Riyadh that reached a height of 9.9 meters, setting a new global benchmark for the tallest 3D printed buildings at the time.
Dar Al Arkan has since completed multiple projects for Aramco, including a mosque printed in 2024, and has delivered various accommodation units for the NEOM giga-project. According to COBOD Founder Henrik Lund-Nielsen, another residential development featuring 15 housing units is also set to launch in the Kingdom.
Qatar Shatters World Records
In Doha, a project is underway that redefines the scale of additive construction. UrbaCon Trading & Contracting (UCC) is using two of COBOD’s largest printers, the BOD XL, to construct a school spanning over 10,000 square meters.
“This project beats the previous record more than 10 times and moves our industry forward by many years,” Lund-Nielsen stated. “No larger 3D-printed project exists anywhere on Earth.”
The twin printers, each measuring 50 meters in length and 15 meters in height, are working on the 100m x 100m building, signaling that 3DCP technology is now ready for macro-scale developments.
Innovation in Oman and Kuwait
Beyond housing, other GCC countries are using 3D printing for specialized and sustainable applications. In Oman, the German University of Technology (GU Tech) is exploring the technology’s design potential. In 2024, it printed an organically shaped café with fluid, curved walls that would be difficult and costly to achieve with traditional methods. More recently, GU Tech unveiled a 322-sq-m Hydrogen Center building, the H2 Lab, in Muscat.
Meanwhile, Kuwaiti firm Abyan made history in 2024 by printing the world’s first 3D-printed water tanks. The 4.5-meter-tall structures were built with variable wall thickness, a technique that matches concrete use to hydrostatic pressure. This approach reduced material consumption by 25% compared to conventional methods.
From Dubai’s First Villa to Regional Scale
COBOD’s journey in the Gulf began in 2019 with a 200-sq-m villa for Emaar in Dubai’s Arabian Ranches III. While the pandemic delayed its official unveiling until 2022, the project served as a critical learning experience.
“At the time, both the technology and our team were still relatively inexperienced, and the printing process took several weeks to complete,” Lund-Nielsen explained. “Today, the same villa could be printed in less than a week.”
The progress from that single villa to multi-unit developments and record-breaking structures across the GCC highlights the rapid maturation and commercial viability of 3D construction printing in the region.
About COBOD International
COBOD International is a Denmark-based company that is a global leader in 3D construction printing solutions. Its gantry-based printer systems are used worldwide to build residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects with real concrete, enabling faster, more cost-effective, and sustainable construction methods.
Source: Zawya
