Saudi Arabia invests in rebar construction robots to accelerate Neom build
If you are building a Trillion dollar city you need all the speed and help you can get, here come the robots!
Key takeaways
- To recap, Neom is the main project spearheading Saudi Arabia's push to transform its predominantly oil-based economy into a tourism-focused one as fossil fuel use is inevitably reduced in the coming years.
- Some of the most notable projects that are under this Neom umbrella include the Line megacity and twin skyscrapers Epicon.
- The idea behind the move into automated robotics then, is that it will reduce both.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2025) 'Saudi Arabia invests in rebar construction robots to accelerate Neom build', 311 Institute, 8 January. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/saudi-arabia-invests-in-rebar-construction-robots-to-accelerate-neom-build/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
As Saudi Arabia continues to reshape its desert landscape with an incredible number of ambitious construction projects like Neom, it has employed some high-tech robotic help to increase efficiency and speed things up. To recap, Neom is the main project spearheading Saudi Arabia's push to transform its predominantly oil-based economy into a tourism-focused one as fossil fuel use is inevitably reduced in the coming years.
Some of the most notable projects that are under this Neom umbrella include the Line megacity and twin skyscrapers Epicon. Obviously, building all this takes a lot of materials and also a lot of people. The idea behind the move into automated robotics then, is that it will reduce both.
The Future of Neom and Smart Cities, with Keynote Matthew Griffin
With this in mind, Neom's strategic investment arm, the Neom Investment Fund (NIF), has made a significant investment in Europe's GMT Robotics. Finer details on the type of robots being used or their functions have not yet been revealed, but clearly the production of rebar, the reinforcing rods used in concrete construction) -will be a major focus, which makes sense since Neom is currently using around 20% of the world's steel supply.
"Having worked in the rebar industry in various forms for the past 30 years, it is very exciting to reach a point where the large-scale adoption of robotics and automation to improve the rebar process is happening," explains Ulrich Deichmann, CEO of GMT Robotics. "We share in Neom's ambition to rethink how construction is delivered and look forward to a highly successful partnership that will help revolutionize the construction industry.
"The benefits of robotics application within the construction sector are numerous. They include boosting task efficiency, reducing operating costs, improving health and safety, and optimizing design flexibility."
The news comes following Neom's recent investment into concrete production and its construction of a multi-plant concrete factory. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has won its FIFA World Cup 2034 soccer tournament bid, so we can expect the region's construction to increase even further over the coming decade.
Source: Neom
What this means for your organisation
Scale forces automation.
Neom uses around 20% of the world's steel supply and needs a great many people to build. Its backing of GMT Robotics is aimed at cutting both. When a project is this large, manual methods become a constraint on speed.
Rebar is the first target.
The source says rebar production looks set to be a major focus, though the robots and their functions are not yet revealed. Rebar is a clear early candidate for automation, and robotics is already a mature technology. Suppliers of reinforcing steel should expect buyers to ask for automated methods.
Demand will keep climbing.
Saudi Arabia has won its FIFA World Cup 2034 bid, and Neom is also investing in concrete production. This sits within the wider Gulf push to build tourism economies. Firms in the supply chain should plan for sustained demand and for pressure to deliver faster and with less waste.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Which of our site tasks could robots take on before our competitors do?
- How exposed is our supply chain to rising demand for steel and concrete?
- Should we partner with, or invest in, a robotics firm now?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
If you are building a Trillion dollar city you need all the speed and help you can get, here come the robots!
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 8 January 2025. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2025). Saudi Arabia invests in rebar construction robots to accelerate Neom build. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/saudi-arabia-invests-in-rebar-construction-robots-to-accelerate-neom-build/
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