Qatar launches world’s largest 3D printed building project using COBOD printers

Qatar has commenced work on the world’s largest 3D-printed building project, using advanced construction technology developed by COBOD. Led by UCC Holding in collaboration with Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal), the project involves the construction of two large-scale public schools built through 3D printing. (main image: Render showing one of Qatar’s COBOD BODXL 3D construction printers, measuring 50 metres long, 30 metres wide and 15 metres high—part of the world’s largest 3D-printed building project.)

Each school spans 20,000 square metres, making them the largest structures of their kind ever attempted using this technology. The schools form part of a broader program to deliver 14 educational facilities across Qatar, totalling 40,000 square metres.

COBOD technology enables record-breaking scale

Previously, the world’s largest 3D-printed building was a 900 square metre equestrian centre in Florida, constructed by Printed Farms using COBOD’s BOD2 printer. That project highlighted the resilience of 3D printing for construction applications.

Qatar’s project significantly surpasses this record. UCC Holding commissioned two custom-made COBOD BODXL printers, each measuring 50 metres in length, 30 metres in width, and 15 metres in height—comparable in size to an aircraft hangar.

The scale of the project is unprecedented, with the two schools estimated to be 40 times larger than the previous record-holder.

Desert-inspired forms shaped by 3D printing

The construction process involves robotically controlled nozzles extruding a cement-based mixture layer by layer to form the building shells. The design of the schools draws on the surrounding desert landscape, with flowing, curved walls intended to mirror local dune formations—shapes that would be difficult and expensive to achieve through conventional methods.

Construction is largely carried out at night to avoid Qatar’s extreme heat and to optimise material performance. This also reduces noise, dust and energy consumption, supporting Qatar’s efforts to improve sustainability in construction.

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Local skills strengthened through digital construction

The project team, including architects, engineers and materials specialists, spent eight months preparing for construction. Over 100 full-scale test prints were completed to refine the process, followed by intensive training with COBOD engineers in May 2025, covering printer operation, structural layering and real-time quality control.

Alongside construction, the project is developing local expertise in digital construction methods, supporting the growth of new skills within Qatar’s workforce.

Once completed, the schools will function as educational facilities and demonstrate the practical potential of large-scale 3D printing in Qatar’s construction industry.

See: COBOD