Dubai Municipality and Expo City Dubai Real Estate Developments FZCO have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a construction technology innovation hub at Expo City Dubai.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Chief Executive Officer of Expo City Dubai Authority, and Marwan bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality.
The hub will support the development, testing, and deployment of solutions in construction and urban systems. The partnership aims to position Dubai as a platform for innovation in city development and the built environment.
Expo City Dubai to host ConTech Valley as part of green innovation district initiative
The facility will use Expo City Dubai as a testing ground for pilot projects and technology demonstrators that advance development.
Both parties have committed to the development of Expo City’s Green Innovation District, an initiative of the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism described as a hub for growth, technology innovation, and business ecosystems.
The hub will work to strengthen Dubai’s position in the building and construction sector and establish it as a platform for launching innovations in construction systems, materials, and technologies, as well as in urban development and smart cities.
The initiative aims to support the development of standards and certifications, and the testing and deployment of technologies, including materials, robotics, modular construction, 3D concrete printing, light-gauge steel framing, digital twins, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, Building Information Modelling, and net-zero solutions.
New ConTech Hub at Expo City Dubai to test 3D printing and AI in construction
The partnership will support sandboxes to accelerate market adoption of these technologies.
A component of the partnership is the development of pathways for certification of materials and construction systems, helping ensure integration into Dubai’s built environment while encouraging innovation.
Both parties will work to strengthen ecosystem growth through engagement with start-ups, SMEs, corporates, investors, and institutions. The MoU provides for joint training programmes, capacity-building initiatives, knowledge-exchange activities, and research, all aimed at nurturing talent and supporting an innovation economy.
The agreement includes cooperation to host summits, forums, and partnerships that highlight Dubai’s position in urban development.
Dubai launches construction technology hub to strengthen building sector innovation
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Maryam Obaid Al Mheiri, Chief Executive Officer of the Buildings Regulation and Permits Agency at Dubai Municipality, and Ahmed Al Khatib, Chief Development and Delivery Officer at Expo City Dubai.
“This partnership reinforces Dubai Municipality’s efforts to develop a smart, sustainable, and globally advanced construction sector. Establishing the centre at Expo City Dubai will support the municipality’s focus on the adoption of modern and innovative building materials and systems with the ultimate aim of enhancing building quality, reducing construction time and cost, minimising reliance on unskilled labour, and lowering emissions and construction waste,” Al Mheiri said in a statement.
“It will also support digitalisation in the construction sector through use of data and digital systems across the building lifecycle, including Building Information Modelling, Digital Twins, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence. The centre will support the municipality and other regulatory entities with information and analytics that aid in regulatory decision-making within the construction sector. It will also offer services related to certification and conformity testing for building materials and construction systems,” she added.
“Establishing the ‘04 ConTech Valley’ at Expo City will drive innovation in the construction sector, ensuring that, as our city and our nation continue to grow, they do so innovatively and responsibly. As an integral part of the Green Innovation District, the ConTech hub will attract pioneers in innovative urban thinking, nurturing new sustainable solutions that will benefit the wider industry, and creating a powerful ecosystem where growth and environmental stewardship go hand in hand,” Al Khatib further explained.
