Saudi Arabia will use robots to build a futuristic metropolis in the desert

Saudi Arabia continues to work hard to transform its desert landscape, with a slew of ambitious construction projects underway. To increase efficiency and speed up this process, the state decided to resort to the help of robotic mechanisms from the European company GMT Robotics.

Image Source: Neom

One of the largest projects being implemented in Saudi Arabia is called Neom. It involves the development of territories in the far north-west of the country in the administrative district of Tabuk. The main goal of the project is to help reorient the economy towards tourism, whereas currently it is mainly associated with oil. The use of fossil fuels is expected to decline in the coming years, so local authorities are seeking to find new sources of income, among which tourism is a very promising area for development.

The Neom project involves the construction of a full-fledged Line metropolis, Epicon twin skyscrapers, as well as related infrastructure. Obviously, the implementation of such a large-scale project requires a large amount of materials and people. The transition to the use of automated robotics is expected to reduce the amount of materials consumed and reduce the number of people involved in construction.

In this context, the Neom Investment Fund (NIF), which is the strategic investment arm of the project, has invested heavily in the European robotics company GMT Robotics. Details about the types of robots used and their capabilities have not yet been revealed, but it is clear that the main focus is on the production of fittings. This makes sense since the Neom project currently accounts for about 20% of global steel supply.

Image source: newatlas.com

«After 30 years in the valve industry, it is especially exciting to reach a point where large-scale adoption of robotics and automation is improving valve production. We share the Neom project’s desire to rethink construction methods and look forward to a successful partnership that will revolutionize the construction industry,” said a representative of GMT Robotics.

The news of the partnership with GMT Robotics came shortly after the Neom project invested in concrete production. In addition, Saudi Arabia won the race to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, which should also help accelerate the pace of construction in the region.