Dubai opens world's first functioning 3D-printed office

Cost effective: Studies estimate the 3D print technique could cut building time by 50% to 70% and labour costs by 50% to 80%.

DUBAI: Dubai has opened what it said was the world's first functioning 3D-printed office building, part of a drive by the Gulf's main tourism and business hub to develop technology that cuts costs and saves time.

The printers – used industrially and also on a smaller scale to make digitally designed, three-dimensional objects from plastic – have not been used much for building.