Future Beat
Hello there. Those who are eagle-eyed - or have been in the Middle East for some time - may have noticed how quickly buildings are constructed.
I always considered it a painstaking project which progressed brick by brick (or concrete pour by concrete pour) and, depending on where you lived, could be halted for long periods by outbreaks of rain (especially in the UK).
But, at least during my time in the UAE, it is apparent that new storeys at the many towers being built are appearing very swiftly as more efficient techniques are utilised.
However, what if there was a faster method still? And how about one that is more cost-efficient, sustainable and safer?
This of course is where 3D printing comes in.
While it's not widespread just yet, it does very much exist in the region, with the first 3D construction printed (3DCP) villa in Saudi Arabia having just been produced.
The UAE has already been down this path, with a villa in Sharjah being built last year in only two weeks. Some Lego houses probably take longer than that to construct.
Dubai, meanwhile, is home to the largest 3D-printed building in the world.
Such a technique with its many benefits will open up plenty of possibilities, especially in countries where affordability and manpower can be an issue.
Elsewhere, the UAE Moon mission has a launch date, facial recognition is going to be used at Abu Dhabi's new airport terminal, and Neom has invested further in electric air taxis.
Have a good week.
Ian Oxborrow , Business Audience Growth Editor
The Big Story
In brief?| Dar Al Arkan's 9.9 metre-tall building is in the Shams Al Riyadh residential development. The developer is building a second villa, which will typically take a month to complete, but it has finished the first floor in only eight days.
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Quoted?| “This 3D-printed villa has additional insulation layers and features that ensure energy conservation, saving up to 30 per cent in energy consumption.”
— Wael Al Hagan , project manager 3DCP, at Dar Al Arkan
Why it matters?| 3D construction printing requires only three workers to build one house. Less manpower and concrete and more sustainability ensure lower costs for the end user. Also, this villa was printed on-site without any cooling equipment, showing that the technology can cope with the desert climate.
Mobility solutions?| Neom has announced a?$175 million investment in Volocopter, as the futuristic city looks to operate electric air taxis as part of its sustainability mission.
Facing up?| The way we travel is set to be transformed, according to Abu Dhabi Airports, which is?introducing biometric technology?to speed up check-in and boarding and eliminate the need to keep showing passports and boarding cards.
Mark the calendar?| The UAE's mission to the Moon is now set to?happen on November 22. The Emirati-built?Rashid rover?will spend 14 Earth days studying lunar properties.
Predicting the future?|?Signal or noise??Consumers in the UAE are significantly outpacing companies when it comes to interest in using augmented reality experiences,?a new study has shown.
This is a signal?| We're moving into an era where shoppers want to try before they buy but without being physically present. Amazon has a service called AR View, which lets customers view products in 3D and even position certain products, such as furniture, in their homes before purchase. The need for hardware such as headsets and wireless controllers could be what holds it back.
In case you missed it
What next for Twitter? It's looking increasingly probable that the social media platform?is going to be much changed?under Elon Musk's stewardship. He has already set about making alterations, which have received mixed responses from users.
Saudi Arabia has launched its first electric vehicle brand?Ceer, which aims to contribute to the kingdom’s car manufacturing sector. Ceer will create up to 30,000 direct and indirect jobs, the Public Investment Fund said.
What is 6G and when will it be available? We have the next generation of wireless technology?explained here.