May 23, 2016 | By Alec
Dubai is known as an ambitious nation, and that ambition has even reached the world of 3D printing. As the Dubai Health Authority has just revealed, they will be implementing initiatives to develop a huge medical 3D printing sector that produces a wide range of new (biomedical) 3D printing applications. Among others, they will be looking to develop customizable 3D printed dentures, and are even planning to set up production platforms for 3D printed artificial limbs costing less than Dh400 (about $100 USD).
This new announcement is part of one of the biggest 3D printing adoption programs the world has seen so far. Known as keen adopters of state-of-the-art technology, Dubai recently unveiled their own Dubai 3D Printing Strategy, which aims to make the country the 3D printing capital of the world by 2030. Unveiled just last month by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, this strategy will affect three main sectors in society: construction, medical products and consumer products.
It’s a strategy that was not completely unexpected, as the country has been a strong promotor of 3D printing initiatives. Last year, Sheikh Mohammed announced the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 plan, in which 3D printing will play an important role in helping Dubai become the most sustainable city in the world. These grand ambitions have been supplemented by several large-scale 3D printing projects, many of which are world firsts. These include using 3D printing to build Dubai’s Museum of the Futureand the world’s first fully functional 3D printed office building.
