
Dubai Municipality has been at the forefront of promoting Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology since 2013. In a significant move to advance the construction sector, the Municipality mandated the submission of BIM models for major construction projects in 2023 as a prerequisite for obtaining building permits.
This strategic decision aims to elevate building design quality, enhance permitting services, and enable automated compliance checks with building codes. The transition from manual review of 2D CAD drawings to 3D BIM-based design review and automated code compliance checking represents a paradigm shift in the construction and permitting landscape. Through the successful development and execution of the Dubai BIM Roadmap (2020–2023), Dubai Municipality has played a pioneering role in transforming BIM adoption from a vision in 2013 to a tangible reality in 2024.
Key achievements include the development of robust BIM standards and BIM checking services, as well as the provision of comprehensive training and support for consultants. These efforts have fostered a culture of innovation, enhancing collaboration among consultants and contractors.
The integration of BIM has revolutionised building permitting and inspection services and contributed to the development of Dubai’s digital twin — positioning Dubai as a global leader in smart, sustainable urban development.
AtkinsRéalis stands at the forefront of digital innovation in construction, revolutionising how we approach design and project delivery. Our seamlessly integrated technology stack enables global teams to collaborate effectively across boundaries, while our data-driven approach powers informed decision-making through advanced analytics and visualisation tools.
At the core of our digital excellence is the Advanced Analytics Control Centre (AACC), our proprietary data orchestration platform that integrates data across all vendors and sources. This solution maximises productivity and leverages data across stakeholders, incorporating ML and AI engines for predictive insights.
Our commitment to innovation extends to standardisation and automation, with robust component libraries enabling seamless design reuse. We've embraced cutting-edge technologies like VR/AR for enhanced client engagement, while our ISO 19650-compliant Global Design Framework ensures consistent excellence across projects.
The impact of our digital transformation is evident in our achievements, including significant automation savings and widespread industry recognition. Our MIDP tool's adoption by a major global client over their internal solution demonstrates our technological leadership. Through continuous improvement and knowledge sharing, we're not just adapting to the digital future – we're actively shaping it.
Majid Al Futtaim’s ‘Dare Today, Change Tomorrow’ strategy aims to positively contribute to climate resiliency and inclusive economic development.
Our strategy comprises three focus areas: Rethinking Resources to make a net positive impact, Transforming Lives in the communities we serve, and Empowering Our People to reach their full potential.
These focus areas encompass our 21 material ESG risks and opportunities, which are organised into 11 Sustainable Business Commitments and guided by ambitious targets to be achieved by 2028. In 2023, 92% of company-wide sustainability targets were achieved.
This holistic approach has led to notable advancements in sustainable finance, securing green building certifications, eliminating single-use plastics, and promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Majid Al Futtaim’s adoption of sustainable finance within its capital structure has been a key strategy in enabling the success of its ESG initiatives. To date, the company has raised a total of US$4.95bn through various sustainable instruments, including three Green Sukuk, one green hybrid bond, and two sustainability-linked loans.
These funding actions have improved the company’s sustainability disclosures to the broader market, aligning it with best practices while linking its ESG performance to how it finances its operational and capital expenditure.
PNC Architects is revolutionising real estate design and execution through digital transformation, aligning with Sobha Realty’s vision for exceptional quality at unmatched speed. As its design arm, PNC Architects integrates state-of-the-art technology to enhance efficiency, collaboration, and innovation.
The firm has established a robust digital ecosystem, incorporating BIM, a CDE, AI-driven workflows, and automation. These advancements streamline project management, ensuring real-time collaboration and optimised delivery.
The impact of this transformation is evident in PNC Architects’ exponential growth, supporting 49 active projects in 2024 with an expanded workforce. The firm has also demonstrated an unmatched scaling of its digital operations, delivering over 100,000 IFC drawings and securing nine prestigious industry awards last year.
Additionally, PNC Architects has successfully obtained approvals for 10+ Sobha BIM Models from Dubai Municipality, reinforcing compliance and standardisation across its projects. By leveraging AI, algorithmic design, and data-driven methodologies, the firm enhances accuracy, efficiency, and sustainability across all project phases.
Through its commitment to digital excellence, PNC Architects is shaping the future of real estate development. By prioritising innovation and technology-driven solutions, it optimises operations, improves project outcomes, and sets new benchmarks for smart, sustainable design.
Digital transformation is more than a trend - it's a cornerstone of future-ready construction. Trojan Construction Group has embarked on this transformative journey with a well-defined roadmap aimed at three core objectives:
This transformation is powered by two synergistic roadmaps:
Trojan Construction Group is redefining industry standards by harnessing digital innovation to optimise performance, mitigate risks, and drive sustainable growth on a global scale.
Dubai Holding Real Estate (DHRE) is the largest developer in the UAE. It is known to the market through its four brands: Meraas, Nakheel, Dubai Properties, and Meydan. DHRE’s portfolio of 75 active projects per year are multi billion dollars in value. DHRE has successfully executed a comprehensive digital transformation, leveraging BIM, Digital Twin, advanced analytics, and deep analysis risk management to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and financial performance.
Key achievements include:
Innovation, sustainability, and people are central to Innovo’s mission. The organisation consistently explores, adopts, and embraces cutting-edge technological solutions to enhance sustainability, improve efficiency, and boost profitability.
The Digital & Technology department at Innovo orchestrates all digital transformation and innovation initiatives within the group, as well as in collaboration with clients and joint venture partners.
Recognising the scale and diversity of its operations, Innovo embarked on a digitisation journey centred on four core business pillars: Finance, Procurement & Supply Chain, People, and Operations. After rigorous market analysis, solution workshops, and proofs of concept, Innovo selected Oracle Fusion for Finance, Procurement, and Supply Chain Management (SCM) processes, SAP SuccessFactors for people management, and Autodesk Construction Cloud for project operations.
To further enhance its operations, Innovo has implemented several digital innovations, including 3D AI Reality Capture, Digital Twin technology, the Karbonwise carbon accounting solution, and iEnergy for energy monitoring and optimisation. These technologies collectively align with Innovo’s business objectives, promote sustainability, and reduce its carbon footprint.
Through this comprehensive digitisation strategy, Innovo is reshaping the way it operates, ensuring alignment with its mission and setting a benchmark for innovation and operational excellence in the built environment.
Khatib & Alami (K&A) has revolutionised digital transformation within the AEC industry, placing technology at the core of its strategy. Over the past 24 months, K&A has integrated cutting-edge solutions such as BIM, GIS, AI, ML, and IoT to enhance design accuracy, operational efficiency, and project outcomes.
Through our Digital Services Division and BIM Unit, we have unified expertise across domains, integrating technology into architecture and engineering. This has driven the creation of Digital Twins, improving efficiency and reducing costs across projects.
Our Digital Delivery Platform, built on City Information Modelling and BIM frameworks, fosters seamless collaboration, streamlining data integration, submissions, and project communication. Additionally, our customised applications, project management dashboards and automated design systems, enhance productivity and innovation.
To ensure operational excellence, K&A integrated SAP’s ERP and CRM within the "One K&A" framework, reinforcing standardised processes and data-driven decision-making. Our Pricing and Resource Planning Tool automates workforce management, optimising efficiency across projects. Furthermore, we have cultivated a Learning Organisation through a BIM Management Portal for centralised training and knowledge sharing.
With reductions in material waste, energy consumption, and design errors, our digital transformation delivers tangible benefits, driving sustainability and client satisfaction.
Dubai-based MYCRANE is the first global platform for online crane rental, saving users time and money every day by simplifying the crane rental procurement process.
Customers can simply and quickly request a crawler, mobile or tower crane without having to rely on manual processes, such as calling crane rental companies or making multiple offline requests.
After submitting details of their lifting requirements, clients will receive personalised quotes from a range of registered equipment owners. Drawing on the management team’s experience in the industry, MYCRANE has been carefully designed to ensure ease of use, and that the quotes generated are directly comparable.
Registration is free for both users and crane rental companies. The platform serves a diverse range of industry sectors including renewable energy, petrochemical, construction and civil engineering. Technical development, sales and marketing are all performed in-house. Our platform is changing the way our users do business, as referenced by our many letters of customer satisfaction, and delivering the benefits of digitisation to the cranes and construction industry.
In addition to the rental platform, MYCRANE operates an online Marketplace to facilitate the international sale and purchase of lifting equipment.
A.R.M. Holding has redefined real estate digitalisation through a visionary transformation strategy, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge enterprise solutions across all operations. At the heart of this transformation is the full-scale implementation of Oracle Fusion ERP, covering Finance, SCM, HCM, and Enterprise Contracts Management, ensuring streamlined workflows and financial precision.
Pioneering the UAE real estate sector, A.R.M. Holding deployed Salesforce CRM for an end-to-end build-to-lease journey and Field Service Lightning (FSL) for Facilities Management - the first in the region.
Our tenant-centric mobile application offers seamless rent payments, contract renewals, maintenance requests, and smart access control, enabling automated facility entry - the first regional implementation of its kind.
A robust API Gateway unifies data across systems, securing Boomi's EMEA Customer Innovation Award, while Power BI analytics provide real-time insights. Our Omnichannel Contact Center implementation with Salesforce digital engagement and self-service portals enhances customer experience.
With ISO 9001 & 27001 certifications and cloud migration complete, this transformation has positioned A.R.M. Holding as a leader in digital-first real estate management, delivering innovation, efficiency, and unparalleled customer experience.
The Smart Waste Management (SWM) system improves waste classification and disposal within ROSHN communities using AI and machine learning. Its primary goal is to assist homeowners in accurately classifying waste, optimising management practices, and promoting sustainability. Through a mobile app, users capture images of waste, and image classification technology identifies the type of waste, suggesting the correct bin (Blue for plastic/paper/metal/glass, Brown for hygienic, Green for organic).
The system employs a single-label dataset linking each image to a category label. Data is categorised into nine types: Organic, Hygienic, Paper, Plastic, Glass, Metal, Bulky, Cloth, and Hazardous. Automated machine learning model training adapts to new data via retraining, with deployment through cloud-based APIs.
Additionally, the Smart Waste Management Project emphasises optimised waste collection through IoT sensors, a resident application, and data-driven solutions. This initiative delivered innovative solutions, enhancing operational efficiency, sustainability, and resident engagement while positioning the company for future growth.
Ammar Al Jamal is a distinguished expert in construction technology and digital innovation, with over a decade of experience driving excellence in Building Information Modeling (BIM). His contributions have been instrumental in delivering some of the world’s most iconic and complex projects, including the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Museum, UAE Pavilion, and Zayed National Museum—each a testament to architectural and engineering mastery.
Beyond these cultural landmarks, Ammar has played a key role in more than 20 high-profile developments, spanning luxury hotels, high-rise towers, upscale residences, and bespoke high-end villas. His expertise in BIM workflows, model coordination, and digital project delivery has significantly enhanced project accuracy, efficiency, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Committed to pushing the boundaries of digital construction, Ammar integrates emerging technologies such as digital twins, reality capture, and prefabrication, ensuring seamless data flow from design to execution. His work in achieving LOD 500 compliance, optimising workflows, and implementing data-driven decision-making has consistently led to projects that exceed client expectations while advancing sustainability and innovation.
Through a visionary approach to BIM and digital transformation, Ammar continues to shape the future of construction, demonstrating the power of technology-driven solutions in redefining industry standards.
PNC ARCHITECTS
Amarnath Patnam is Head of Design Technology for Sobha Realty. He has been an integral part of Sobha Realty since its inception in developing innovative solutions that have helped build the organisation’s digital capabilities.
Amarnath has spearheaded an ecosystem of technologies, processes, and policies that revolutionise project lifecycle management through innovative design technology. Leading the implementation of BIM across multiple divisions including Architecture, Structural Engineering, MEP, Interior Design, Urban Design, Landscape, Façade, Pod, and Urban Design he has enhanced collaboration, improved communication, and streamlined information exchange across teams.
Amarnath's efforts have accelerated project schedules, improved risk assessment, and fostered cost efficiency by enabling early involvement of specialist design teams and leveraging fabrication-level drawings earlier in the project lifecycle. His efforts led to BIM being perceived as a technology stream, and the resulting innovation was recognised as an independent value and used in marketing efforts.
His role in digitisation and technology adoption has not only transformed Sobha Realty's operations but has also set a new benchmark in the real estate industry for utilising digital technology in construction.
Abuzar Shaikh, BIM Manager at Red Sea Global (RSG), brings a strong foundation in Civil Engineering and Construction Management to his role. With extensive experience in project information management, he has successfully implemented digital delivery systems, BIM processes, and information management platforms across RSG's ambitious tourism developments.
As a skilled leader and a team player, Abuzar possesses in-depth knowledge of information standards and technology platforms. He has effectively guided RSG's project teams in enhancing their digital engineering capabilities.
A key achievement is the successful BIM implementation for Shura Island, adhering to ISO 19650 standards and resulting in BSI Kitemark certification. Abuzar has championed the development of BIM skills and demonstrated the significant business value of BIM throughout the project lifecycle, from inception to handover.
Youssry has more than 28 years’ experience in engineering and construction in building structures, and significant experience in BIM, from pre-tendering through to the handover stage.
I have been involved in a wide range of construction projects, including large-scale high-rise and mega projects, such as the Holy Mosque Extension, King Abdulaziz Airport (30 MPPA), and King Fahd Sport City. I undertake BIM for projects coordination and cost control on numerous buildings for prominent clients, including Saudi Binladin Group and Zuhair Fayez Partnership.
In addition, I thrive in challenging the norm, with the aim to improve projects and increase value while optimising BIM work processes, high-end BIM solutions including AR/VR, laser scanning, and drone mapping, injecting new technologies together with stakeholders tom ensure rapid construction and efficient building.
I have recently been contributing through BIM technology to the King Abdullah Mataf Extension project with LOD 400 and SEVEN P3 with LOD 500.
I also engaged with the prestigious Kingdom Tower Jeddah project at the bidding stage and in construction. In addition, I was extensively engaged with mega landmarks in the GCC, including the SABIC Headquarters, Ministry of Interior Regional Emirates' Palaces, and High Tech Park with excellent performance and implementation of BIM.
Huzaifa Electricwala, as the Digital Design and BIM Manager for Parsons’ Design and Planning Studio, has been a trailblazer in embedding BIM principles into the traditionally niche disciplines of landscape, master planning and sustainability.
Recognising the unique challenges these disciplines face in the digital transformation journey, Huzaifa has played a pivotal role in driving their integration into BIM workflows, significantly enhancing their impact across project delivery.
Huzaifa implemented a targeted upskilling program, training team members in advanced BIM, while leading leadership workshops to showcase BIM’s role in improving efficiency, reducing errors, and achieving sustainability objectives. His efforts have not only equipped teams with technical expertise but also instilled a mindset that views BIM as a cornerstone of innovation.
Externally, Huzaifa has been a staunch advocate for integrating these disciplines into BIM processes, representing Parsons at industry forums and sharing insights into the transformative potential of BIM. Internally, he has collaborated closely with stakeholders to implement these practices in key projects.
Through his strategic vision and leadership, Huzaifa has reshaped Parsons’ EMEA BIM strategy, ensuring that such niche disciplines are not only integrated into BIM workflows but are also recognised as integral to driving innovation and excellence in project delivery.
Since 2016, Nazly Asadollahpour, Vice President of Sustainability at Majid Al Futtaim, has embedded sustainability into every facet of the company’s operations, starting with Majid Al Futtaim’s real estate business.
Nazly drove the Sustainable Building Policy which mandates minimum LEED Gold, Estidama 3 Pearl, or BREEAM Very Good certifications and 25% on-site renewable energy for new projects. Under her guidance, the region’s first net positive mosque opened at Tilal Al Ghaf, generating 115% of its energy needs. She also championed embodied carbon assessments, targeting a 20% reduction against baselines.
Her inclusive leadership style empowers cross-functional teams to adopt innovations like modular, reusable buildings while achieving high construction waste diversion rates (up to 96%). Her strategic foresight secured US$4.95bn in green financing, cementing sustainability as an ethical imperative and a proven business advantage.
Nazly drove embedding ESG targets into executives’ annual KPIs, ensuring executive accountability by tying ESG outcomes to performance metrics.
In 2024, Majid Al Futtaim achieved 95% of its sustainability targets under her stewardship and reached 27% women in leadership as part of its Sustainability-Linked Loan. Nazly’s focus on resource efficiency, robust policies, and holistic stakeholder engagement makes her a formidable candidate for the Sustainability Leader of the Year Award.
Ismail Azam is a leader in AI-driven construction technology, driving automation and data intelligence across NEOM’s giga-projects. As the Acting Director of Construction Technology and Applications, he oversees all NEOM-wide PMIS systems, including Aconex, Primavera P6, Unifier, and GIS platforms, while leading the development of Adassa, NEOM’s largest AI-powered platform for progress tracking, geospatial intelligence, and automated decision-making.
Under his leadership, Adassa has introduced AI-driven construction progress tracking, generative AI decision support, and computer vision models for earthworks, schedule and commercial management, and municipality operations. He's also helped NEOM become a centre of excellence for drone scanning, 2D/3D/4D modelling, and satellite-based analytics.
Ismail has replaced manual, time-intensive workflows, generating over nine figures in annual savings and enabling real-time construction monitoring across 70+ locations.
Before NEOM, Ismail held pivotal product management leadership roles at Microsoft and New Relic, led a Stanford-backed startup, and taught credited courses at UC Berkeley. He holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and a Master’s in Data Science from Harvard University.
His expertise in AI, geospatial intelligence, and product innovation is redefining how automation, data, and construction technology converge to build smarter, more efficient, and scalable infrastructure solutions for NEOM and the global built environment.
The Amaala Staff Village Zone-5 Residential Asset, located 32km from Al-Wajh Airport within the larger AMAALA development, encompasses 27 residential buildings. The project features a modular off-site prefabricated approach, encompassing design, procurement, installation, testing, and commissioning. Key works included enabling works, concrete sub-structure, DuBOX superstructure, DuPOD washrooms, MEP systems, interior finishing, facade, and coordination across all stages.
BIM and GIS deliverables were integral to the project, with outputs including RVT, NWC, NWD, IFC models, 4D/5D planning, COBie asset data, and DWG/PDF drawings.
The project faced several challenges, such as stringent deadlines, high client expectations, and the complexity of integrating prefabricated elements. Despite these obstacles, major milestones were achieved ahead of schedule, including a 60-day early completion for the first phase and a fast-paced assembly of 175 modular units per month.
Innovative use of BIM played a critical role in overcoming challenges, including 4D/5D integration for time and cost management, open BIM for seamless coordination, and the use of digital twins for facility management. Industry 4.0 technologies like robotics and IoT-enabled factory controls enhanced precision and efficiency, while BIM-driven workflows supported sustainability goals by reducing waste and energy consumption. The project exemplifies cutting-edge technology in modern construction practices.
Adassa is the first Saudi-made real-time situational awareness construction progress monitoring platform backed by a marketplace of computer vision and generative AI. Think Google Earth, on steroids, with a brain.
We achieve this by combining geospatial intelligence, drone scans, indoor 360 images, satellite images, IoT sensors, smart construction site hardware, cameras, and data across PMIS's and raw excel input into Adassa's AI Engine and then analyse the data using computer vision and large language models (LLM's).
As a result, Adassa has brought radical efficiency across NEOM Giga and Mega projects including the LINE, Oxagon, and Trojena. Adassa is a multi-tenacity enterprise-grade platform that is 100% owned by NEOM, designed for NEOM, built by NEOM.
At BEC Arabia, we take pride in our proven expertise in modular and offsite construction, which has become a cornerstone of our ability to deliver efficient, high-quality, and sustainable projects.
In Sindalah Island project, we leveraged offsite construction methods to boost efficiency, reduce on-site labour, and minimise delays. Prefabricated components like steel structures and cladding facilitated rapid installation, while offsite joinery production ensured precision and sustainability. Just-in-time logistics minimised site congestion and storage needs. Sustainability was prioritised through waste reduction and improved resource use, with controlled environments enhancing quality control and reducing errors.
Despite challenges such as transportation constraints and minor on-site adjustments, mitigation strategies ensured smooth execution. Overall, offsite construction methods led to faster completion, improved quality, and maintained cost and sustainability control, resulting in a successful delivery.
EMAAR THE ECONOMIC CITY (KAEC)
King Abdullah Economic City’s (KAEC) City Operations are transforming urban safety and well-being by embedding safety, risk management, and environmental sustainability into its Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) system. Through a fully integrated, data-driven framework, KAEC leverages the EAM system, real-time mobility solutions, and AI-driven analytics to create a proactive, predictive safety ecosystem.
The Nerve Center seamlessly connects all operations, integrating asset life cycle management with Safety Operations, permits, Environmental Aspect Impact, Near Miss & Incident Reporting, emergency dispatch, map-based tracking, and Safety Training, ensuring safety, compliance, and well-being are embedded into every operational workflow.
By incorporating safety into the EAM system, KAEC facilitates real-time risk assessments, hazard controls, and predictive maintenance for life safety systems across infrastructure and verticals. Permits prevent hazardous overlaps, and Near Miss & Incident Reporting streamline investigations, driving continuous safety improvements.
This comprehensive safety framework aligns with ISO 4500, ISO 55001, ISO 14001, and ISO 37120, ensuring compliance with global best practices while fostering a culture of continuous improvement. This approach enhances urban well-being and environmental stewardship, leaving a lasting legacy for other global urban environments to follow and positioning itself as the hub for the King Salman Automotive Cluster and a key destination for the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
The new Waste-to-Energy Centre in Warsan marks a major milestone in Dubai’s journey towards becoming the world’s most sustainable ecosystem. Developed under a public-private partnership framework, the Centre is the largest and most efficient waste-to-energy conversion facility in the world. With the capacity to treat approximately two million tonnes of solid waste annually — the equivalent of waste generated by around three million people — the Centre produces enough energy to meet the electricity needs of 135,000 homes. Co-located with the Warsan Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), the Centre supplies additional power to the STP beyond what it generates from biogas. This makes the Warsan STP the largest of its kind in the region to be powered by a sustainable energy source. The Centre forms an integral part of Dubai’s broader waste management strategy, which prioritises reducing, reusing, and recycling solid waste before final disposal.
It significantly reduces the demand for landfill space, which is critical for a rapidly growing city like Dubai. This landmark project reflects Dubai’s strong commitment to the Dubai Master Waste Management Plan 2021–2041 and to building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.
The Editor’s Choice Award – Digital Project honours a company that has consistently undertaken groundbreaking initiatives that have set new standards in digital innovation for the built environment. This company has demonstrated exceptional execution, measurable impact, and visionary leadership, delivering transformative benefits in efficiency, collaboration, and scalability both in the industry for the people that live in their communities.
This award recognises a crucial but often overlooked and under resourced part of the digitalisation process - he need to equip the workforce with high-quality digital skills. It highlights efforts to ensure employees receive comprehensive training, access certification opportunities, and gain valuable on-the-job learning experiences. The winner of this awards has made significant investments in programs designed to build a skilled, future-ready workforce.