FUTURE PROOFING
The automation journey of the Middle East ’ s construction sector
Imad Itani , Head of Innovation at ALEC , takes us through how the Middle East ’ s construction sector will develop with robotics and automation in the near future .
I n a quiet corner of a sprawling construction site , a robot hums quietly as it methodically drills into concrete walls , preparing precise conduits for MEP systems . A task that once took a team of skilled workers hours to complete is now being executed in minutes , with unparalleled precision . These once-futuristic scenes are increasingly becoming reality , marking a shift in the construction industry ’ s relationship with robotics and automation .
Globally , robotics has surged ahead , transforming industries from manufacturing to healthcare . In construction , however , the journey has been slower . Challenges like cost , complexity and a deeply entrenched reliance on manual labour have slowed adoption . But as we approach 2025 , the Middle East is emerging as promising , proving ground for construction automation , with regional dynamics , bold ambitions and unique projects driving this transformation .
A market at the crossroads
Historically , the Middle East construction sector has leaned on the relatively abundant availability of cost-effective labour . Unlike Western markets , where spiralling labour costs and worker shortages made automation a necessity , the region ’ s dynamics offered little pressure to disrupt the status quo . In addition , the sheer scale of iconic projects often demanded human ingenuity over the meticulousness of machines .
But the sands are shifting . The Middle East is now home to some of the world ’ s most ambitious construction projects , from Saudi Arabia ’ s NEOM – a futuristic city being
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