In conversation with Muayad Simbawa, managing director of Nemetschek Arabia

How is Nemetschek Arabia driving digital transformation in the Middle East’s architecture, engineering, construction and operations (AECO) sector in alignment with regional national visions?

At Nemetschek Arabia, we believe that digital transformation is more than technology, it’s about reimagining how people design, build and collaborate. With the ambitious national agendas of Saudi Vision 2030 and We the UAE 2031, the region provides an ideal backdrop for innovation-driven economies.

Through our global portfolio of trusted brands, such as Bluebeam, dTwin, Graphisoft, Solibri, and Spacewell, we deliver intelligent, interoperable solutions spanning the entire building life cycle. We champion openBIM, data transparency and digital twins to help organisations optimise performance, enhance collaboration and meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals. By combining global innovation with local expertise, we’re helping shape future-ready cities and empowering the region’s AECO and media industries.

How does Nemetschek’s focus on open standards ensure the success of the major developments across the GCC?

Gigaprojects across Saudi Arabia and the UAE demand seamless collaboration among global firms. Our commitment to openBIM, built on standards like Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), ensures true data interoperability and accurate information exchange across different software platforms. This removes silos, reduces design clashes and enhances coordination throughout the project life cycle.

With Solibri for data validation, we offer a single source of truth for all stakeholders and the transparency required by government entities. This open, collaborative ecosystem is essential to managing the scale, complexity and data demands of projects like Neom and the Red Sea Project in Saudi Arabia; Salalah Future City and Sultan Haitham City in Oman; and Saadiyat Cultural District, Aljada and Dubai Creek Harbour in the UAE.

As digital twins gain traction in smart cities, how is Nemetschek leveraging design data and artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver operational value?

The true value of digital projects emerges during operations where most life-cycle costs occur. Through our dTwin platform and Spacewell, we bridge design and operations by turning intelligent building information modeling (BIM) data from Graphisoft and ALLPLAN into dynamic, data-rich digital twins.

These models integrate with Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and management systems to create a live replica of the built asset. AI and machine learning analyse this data to predict maintenance needs, optimise energy use and enhance resource efficiency – empowering developers and asset owners with actionable intelligence for sustainable, high-performing operations.

What challenges do you foresee in the GCC construction industry, and how is Nemetschek Arabia helping organisations overcome them?

Enhancing productivity and ensuring quality control remain pressing challenges on large construction projects with tight margins. Our brands offer targeted solutions to address them directly. Bluebeam transforms on-site collaboration by moving teams away from inefficient paper-based workflows, while Solibri adds a rigorous layer of BIM quality assurance and model validation before construction begins.

This upfront quality control reduces waste and risk, positively impacting delivery timelines and cost efficiency. By enabling teams to detect issues early and coordinate more effectively, Nemetschek helps raise productivity and build quality across the region.

How does Nemetschek’s collaboration with local universities and bodies like buildingSMART Saudi Arabia support its long-term vision?

Our vision for the Middle East is to create a sustainable digital ecosystem. Partnerships with buildingSMART Saudi Arabia advance openBIM standards and align the regional AECO industry with global best practices. Equally, we prioritise empowering local talent through our Global Academic Programme.

Across the GCC, we partner with universities to provide access to world-class software, certification and hands-on learning. In Saudi Arabia, collaborations with King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals and Prince Sultan University support curriculum development and research in digital construction, building the future workforce for a digitally enabled industry.

What are Nemetschek Arabia’s strategic priorities as you expand across the region?

Our focus is to consolidate Nemetschek Arabia as the digital transformation partner of choice for the region’s most ambitious projects. Strategically, we are driven by three priorities: accelerating innovation, deepening localisation and strengthening ecosystem collaboration.

Innovation centres on emerging fields like AI-driven design, digital twins and smart asset management. Localisation means adapting our software, services and support to regional regulations and workflows. And collaboration focuses on co-creating value with government agencies, private sector innovators and academia.

Ultimately, our long-term vision is to help shape a digitally empowered Middle East, where technology, creativity and human expertise combine to redefine what’s possible in design, construction and operations.

Click here to visit Nemetschek Arabia

Published in partnership with