• | 2:00 pm

World’s first 3D-printed mosque built in Jeddah

The mosque holds potential for the kingdom's future of architecture and design

[Source photo: Anvita Gupta/Fast Company Middle East]

In recent years, 3D printing has been used to build everything — from housing for refugees in Jordan homes to bridges. Now, Saudi Arabia has constructed the world’s first 3D-printed mosque in Jeddah. The mosque, which blends tradition and innovation, took six months to construct, spanning an area of 5,600 square meters. 

The mosque, which integrates natural light, also features distinctive minarets and holds potential for the kingdom’s future of architecture and design. It’s the next phase in 3D-printed architectural design.

Nestled in the Al-Jawhara suburb, the mosque is a tribute to the late equestrian Abdulaziz Abdullah Sharbatly. The project by Forsan Real Estate utilizes 3D printing technology from Guanli and was led by Wajnat Abdulwahed, the spouse of Sharbatly.

In an interview with Arab News, Abdulwahed talked about “not losing the essence that mosques must embody, while also adhering to general conditions such as emphasizing the values of the King Salman Urban charter, the architectural details in the cultural heritage of Hejazi architecture and presenting them in a contemporary format.”

Constructing buildings using 3D printing requires large printing machines that are programmed with the design information. They squeeze the construction material from a nozzle, building the structure in layers. Most 3D-printed structures are made from concrete, but printing using other materials, such as clay, is possible.

Last May, Dubai announced an initiative to construct the world’s first 3D-printed mosque. The city holds the world record for the largest 3D-printed structure – the Dubai Municipality building (standing 9.5 meters tall with an area of 640 square meters) – as well as being home to the world’s first 3D-printed office and a 3D-printed drone research laboratory.

The Innovation By Design Summit is in Doha on April 24. Attendance at the summit is by invitation only. Delegates can register here to receive their exclusive invite.