Dubai Municipality has launched a global challenge to develop the world’s first residential villa constructed entirely through robotic systems as part of efforts to modernise the emirate’s construction sector.
The project is being delivered through an international consortium of more than 25 technology firms and academic institutions, in partnership with Zacua Ventures and the Würth Group. The initiative has been designed to advance automated construction from experimental applications to scalable, commercially viable solutions for the global housing market.
The announcement was made during the activation of the Construction Innovation and Research Centre, known as 04 ConTech Valley, at Expo City Dubai. The hub has been established as a dedicated environment for testing advanced materials, construction technologies, and future-ready urban infrastructure.
According to Dubai Municipality’s Global ConTech Report, global investment in construction technology is projected to exceed $30 billion by 2033, driven by labour shortages and increasing adoption of additive manufacturing. In response, a ConTech Working Group has been formed in collaboration with Dubai Chambers to support regulatory alignment and investment coordination.
In parallel, the 70-70 Strategy has been introduced by Dubai Municipality and Sobha Realty, under which 70 per cent of construction activities are targeted to be shifted to off-site manufacturing, with 70 per cent automation in those facilities to be achieved by 2030.
