Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has opened the first 3D-printed office in the world.

The unique building on the Emirates Towers premises will house the temporary office of the Dubai Future Foundation, news agency WAM reported.

“We implement what we plan, and we pursue actions not theories. The rapidly changing world requires us to accelerate our pace of development, for history does not recognize our plans but our achievements,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

“We announce today the opening of the first 3D-printed office in the world, after less than a month of launching Dubai 3D printing strategy which showcases a modern model of construction. This is an experience we present to the world on implementing future technology in our lives, and it represents a new milestone for the UAE as a global leader in strategic achievements.”

He added: “We see this project as a case study that will benefit regulators as well as research and development centres at the regional and international levels on real application of 3-D printing technology.”

The office space covers up to 250 square metres and was constructed using a special mixture of cement and a set of building material designed and made in the UAE and the United States. These materials have undergone a range of tests in both China and the United Kingdom to ensure their reliability.

A 3D-printer measuring 20 feet high, 120 feet long and 40 feet wide was used to print the building. The printer features an automated robotic arm to implement printing process.

The labour involved in the printing process included one staff to monitor the function of the printer, in addition to a group of seven people to install the building components on site as well as a team of 10 electricians and specialists to take care of the mechanical and electrical engineering.

As a result, the labour cost was cut by more than 50 percent compared to conventional buildings of similar size.

The full model took only 17 days to print after which the internal and external designs were adopted. The office was installed on site within two days, which is significantly faster than traditional construction methods.

The initiative comes as part of Dubai 3-D Printing Strategy, which aims to make Dubai a leading global centre of 3-D printing by 2030 with the technology responsible for 25 percent of all new buildings.