buildingSMART ME: Bringing BIM to the Middle East

The vast Middle East and North Africa region is home to one of the most vibrant construction markets in the world today. In recent years, it has expanded at a remarkable rate. The landscape of Dubai has been transformed by unprecedented construction activity. During the boom years, there was little incentive to address the massive waste that is endemic in construction across the region. However, the years of rapidly rising property values have come to an end. With supply now exceeding demand, basic principles of economics can explain much of the impact on the market. Prices are, at best, leveling out and the trend is downwards. The bottom line is that construction in the Middle East needs to eliminate waste and inefficiency, improve productivity and quality, while taking on the requirements of new legislation for eco-friendly construction. This is a tall order, but one that astute players in construction acknowledge may be solved by the adoption of collaborative and integrated processes.