The grand unveiling of the world’s first mosque constructed with 3D print technology, named in honor of late Saudia-businessman Abdulaziz Abdullah Sharbatly opened this month.
The novel approach to mosque construction was spearheaded by Saudi businesswoman Wajnat Abdulwahed, who dedicated the build in memory of her late husband.
Under her leadership at Forsan Real Estate, the mosque, sprawling over 5,600 square metres, was brought to completion in just six months using four advanced printers from Guanli, the Chinese company renowned globally for its 3D printing technology.
Commenting on the decision to use 3-D print technology, Abdulwahed says that she wanted to honour the Kingdom as well as her husband, to be one of the first places in the world to do it.
“This marks a significant milestone in the fields of technology and contemporary construction, signaling a move towards architectural innovation and global sustainable building practices. This development is supported by the private sector stimulation plan. It champions the shift from traditional construction methods to modern techniques, fostering the adoption of advanced technologies and supporting the pace of industrial evolution,” says Abdulwahed.
Adulwahed says that she also has a deep gratitude towards the Leadership and its Saudi Vision 2030, thanks to Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
“[He] has empowered us, the Saudi citizens, to fulfill our aspirations by promoting a culture of work, innovation, and sustainability. My thanks also go to the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing for their diligent oversight and management of the project from its inception to its fruition,” says Abdulwahed.
According to Abdulwahed, this project contributes positively to diversifying the economy and enhancing the non-oil local content, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
Abdulwahed’s work has not only succeeded in creating building prototypes using this groundbreaking technology but also rigorously tested the printer’s outputs to ensure they meet the stringent municipal and regulatory standards of the Saudi environment, marking a significant milestone in the field.
3D printing technology stands out for its ability to transform a three-dimensional digital model into a tangible object. This object can be crafted using a 3D scanner or designed with specialized Computer Aided Design (CAD) software. The creation process, known as Additive Manufacturing, methodically prints successive layers one atop the other to form the final shape. This innovative approach contrasts sharply with traditional molding and sculpting, which typically squander over 90% of the raw materials used in their manufacturing processes.
