Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Joins buildingSMART International as a Chapter-In-Formation

London, U.K. – July 30th, 2024 — buildingSMART International is delighted to announce that buildingSMART Saudi Arabia is now a Chapter-in-Formation, demonstrating total commitment and support to openBIM and the development of a network for industry collaboration.

As a not-for-profit entity, the new Chapter will support the digital transformation of the engineering and construction sector in Saudi Arabia, and contribute to the global mission of buildingSMART. The Chapter has set itself the following short-, medium-, and long-term objectives:

Short-term Objectives:

  1. Increase networking event attendance through industry partnerships.
  2. Set up the Professional Certification program to serve construction companies in Saudia Arabia
  3. Establish partnerships with government agencies to openBIM standards.

Medium-term Objectives:

  1. Expand training workshops to include advanced BIM implementation courses.
  2. Develop an advisory service package for sustainable solutions.
  3. Establish physical presence in key Saudi cities for easier access to Professional Certification programs.
  4. Become a recognized authority on BIM standards in the Saudi Arabian construction industry.

Long-term Objectives:

  1. Collaborate internationally with buildingSMART Chapters to promote global BIM adoption.
  2. Create a research and development department for innovative construction technologies.
  3. Achieve self-sustainability through diversified revenue streams.
  4. Drive sustainable and digitally-driven practices in the Saudi Arabian construction sector.

"It is exciting to be able to welcome buildingSMART Saudi Arabia as the 35th Chapter to join the buildingSMART network. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is well known for the scale and ambition of its national building and infrastructure programs. We look forward to working with colleagues in the Kingdom to ensure these programs benefit from the advantages of open digital workflows, which provide the foundations for a more productive and sustainable global built environment.” says Clive Billiald, Chief Executive, buildingSMART International.

"Establishing a buildingSMART Chapter in Saudi Arabia is a pivotal step towards advancing our construction industry to global standards. This chapter will serve as a catalyst for implementing cutting-edge digital solutions, fostering collaboration, and driving innovation in building practices. By aligning with buildingSMART International, we are committed to enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and the overall quality of our built environment, thereby contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals." says Abdul-Rahman Al-Ghabban, President Saudi Arabian Bechtel Company and Chairman buildingSMART Chapter Saudi Arabia.

About buildingSMART International
buildingSMART International is a vendor-neutral and not for profit body that leads the development of open standards that support digital information flows across the built asset industry. Its mission is to proactively engage industry participants who want to develop open standards for planning, design, procurement, assembly and operation of buildings and infrastructure worldwide. It provides the international network plus the necessary technical and process support to develop consensus based open standards. Its members, who range from across the entire built environment spectrum, collaborate under the buildingSMART organization and management. buildingSMART also partners with other international standards bodies such as ISO, the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). Its core Industry Foundation Class (IFC) standard achieved ISO approval in 2012.

Media contacts:

Aidan Mercer, Marketing Director
buildingSMART International
+44 7181-304-3435
aidan.mercer@buildingsmart.org