Autodesk’s Naji Atallah on technologies shaping Saudi giga projects

In this interview with Gulf Business, Naji Atallah, head of Construction and Manufacturing for EMEA Emerging at Autodesk, discusses how the company’s cutting-edge building information modelling (BIM) and digital twin technologies are supporting NEOM, the Red Sea Project and Qiddiya.

Atallah also explores Autodesk’s commitment to upskilling the local workforce and supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals through innovation and sustainability in construction.

How is Autodesk’s technology, particularly BIM and digital twin solutions, contributing to the success of large-scale projects like NEOM, the Red Sea Project, and Qiddiya in Saudi Arabia?

We’re empowering the many companies designing and building programmes like NEOM, the Red Sea Project, and Qiddiya with tools that bring the vision to life. The complexity, scale, and schedule of those programmes dictate that firms rely on the most advanced processes and technologies. BIM is the core process that allows a digital twin of the asset to be created. With BIM solutions, teams can model, simulate, and fine-tune every aspect of a project before work begins on site.

The assets require collaboration between different architects, engineering firms and contractors located across the globe. The Autodesk Construction Cloud extends BIM to the cloud to help teams across geographies and the entire project lifecycle – from planning and design, to building and operating – to work together seamlessly. Teams can stay connected at each stage of the construction lifecycle – improving communication and collaboration between office and site. For example, when BIM managers share multi-trade models with teams on site, site managers and project engineers have the context they need to make critical decisions faster.

Research shows that over 95 per cent of data created during design and construction is not used in operations. This is where digital twins come in, combining the right and complete static data from design and construction with live data streams from sensors and IoT devices.

The result is a ‘single pane of glass’ view of the asset, where operators can monitor performance within its required parameters, make decisions about predictive maintenance, and learn from operation to embed operational experience in the design of future assets.

Beyond efficiency, BIM aligns with Saudi Arabia’s focus on sustainability and innovation under Vision 2030. Artificial Intelligence algorithms are also being used today to quickly optimise project layouts for desired outcomes, such as minimising embodied carbon.

BIM is increasingly the backbone of delivering Saudi Arabia’s ambitious programmes. It enables seamless collaboration and provides a single source of truth for the various stakeholders.

How do BIM and digital twin technologies improve infrastructure resilience, especially for projects facing diverse environmental and operational challenges?

Today, one-quarter of the global population lives in an area at significant risk of flooding, a number that is increasing daily. Weather patterns have also become more extreme in the Middle East, including extreme precipitation and droughts.

With increased urbanisation, extreme weather conditions have a higher probability of resulting in floods from the runaway water that cannot be absorbed by the soil. Advanced software can now quickly model how water behaves around assets being designed to better plan and prepare for the impact of weather events that may lead to flooding.

Program owners in Saudi are using detailed hydraulic maps that can be updated as land profile and asset data changes, enabling predictive decision making. They can also use rainfall radar data to model its impact and risk in real time. In addition, digital twin models of their assets to simulate scenarios of such events.

With storm and sewer water simulations on city models, authorities can pinpoint bottlenecks and take corrective mitigation actions, be it an upgrade to a drainage system or designing resilient infrastructure, to minimise the potential impact of these weather events.

In your experience, what aspects of the project lifecycle — such as design, planning, and post-construction — benefit the most from BIM technology?

BIM technology offers comprehensive benefits across the project lifecycle. Ultimately, the owner sees the benefit of adopting BIM because design and construction carry around 20 per cent of the total cost of ownership of the asset, while operations account for around 80 per cent.

In terms of phases, BIM enables better decision making early on in the project. By allowing teams to experiment, visualise, and refine ideas virtually, constructing the asset becomes easier with less waste and risk and more predictability, especially with early contractor involvement.

We also see, with more mature owners in Saudi Arabia, early input from their operations teams in the design process, which involves designing the asset with its performance parameters in mind.

How does BIM contribute to improving construction quality and efficiency, supporting the ambitious timelines of Saudi’s projects?

When you’re on a tight timeline, efficiency is everything. One of the core strengths of outcome-based BIM is how it enhances early-stage planning. By combining project data and context data, stakeholders can assess a number of design scenarios based on sustainability goals or cost constraints before making any decisions.

Real-time data allows designers to define constraints and receive AI-generated suggestions for the most sustainable or cost-efficient design options.

We also see BIM enabling newer construction methods. A great example was the work done by Amana Investments on the Red Sea’s coastal village.

By considering these pods as products to be manufactured, Amana used BIM to finalise the design, optimise the material usage, and assemble the pods in the more controlled factory environment before transporting the pods to the site for assembly.

How does BIM assist in tracking and achieving sustainability goals across the project lifecycle, as Saudi Arabia sets high sustainability standards?

The global green building sector continues to double every three years. Mapping sustainability standards is crucial for projects in Saudi Arabia, where sustainability isn’t just a goal but a mandate. Teams can now ensure they’re not just meeting standards but exceeding them.

The first step is changing the way we design and build our assets. BIM gives designers the visibility of the environmental impact of their designs. This could be by using less material, an alternative material, or simply making sure that clashes do not happen so that material is not wasted on site.

For operations, BIM allows energy analysis that takes into account the environmental conditions of the site, such as sunlight intensity and wind speed and directions.

Tell us about Autodesk’s upskilling programmes and how they are designed to equip the local workforce with skills in design, automation, and data-driven processes.

Autodesk believes that automation technology is needed to help businesses and society meet the demands of our growing and urbanizing global population.

We recognise that technological change drives disruption and are committed to helping workers adapt and thrive. By adopting a mindset of continuous learning, acquiring the most in-demand skills, and securing the most fulfilling roles, employees can thrive and support the industry’s most pressing needs.

We are investing in customers by developing training and technology to help workers learn new skills, earn professional credentials, and collaborate with automation tools in new and exciting ways to advance their careers. Our industry-validated certifications  help workers future-proof their skills and employers stay ahead, while in-product learning and new features enhance the capabilities of teams in real time.

Autodesk also collaborates with start-ups and trade, educational and government organisations to advance workforce adaptability.

Is Autodesk working with educational or government institutions in Saudi Arabia to promote these upskilling initiatives?

Autodesk is committed to broadening access to software and technology training to the future workforce of these industries, by providing its software solutions across Infrastructure, construction, water, manufacturing and entertainment for free to over 100 million students and educators across 160,000 educational institutions around the world.

We are supporting initiatives alongside our customers that are aligned with Vision 2030 goals. This includes providing resources and expertise to build digital-first talent, capable of driving the region’s ambitious construction and sustainability projects.

By equipping educators and students with cutting-edge tools and knowledge, we’re helping lay the foundation for a workforce that’s not just ready for the future — but ready to lead it.

What skillsets are critical for the next generation of professionals in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) industry, particularly in Saudi Arabia?

The future is data-driven, and the next generation of professionals needs to be too. Skills like data analysis, critical thinking, and proficiency in BIM and AI tools are essential to thrive in the evolving AECO landscape. But technical skills are only one side of the coin — soft skills like collaboration, adaptability, and problem-solving are equally vital. It’s the ability to work seamlessly with technology while bringing a creative, human touch to decision-making that will set future professionals apart.

As Saudi Arabia continues to push the boundaries of innovation with giga-projects, the leaders of tomorrow will need to combine technical expertise with an entrepreneurial mindset, ensuring they can adapt to new challenges and harness opportunities that come with rapid technological transformation.

How are you preparing to integrate advancements in AI and data-driven design into its offerings for the Saudi market?

At Autodesk University 2024, with nearly 12,000 customers, partners, and employees attending, we shared exciting Autodesk AI developments for our industries. Autodesk is uniquely positioned to innovate on behalf of our customers and industries, leveraging over a decade of AI research leadership in CAD geometry.

In addition to delivering productivity and automation today, we are paving the way to extend customers’ creativity in the future.

We’re committed to continued improvements of these solutions to drive business resilience and efficiencies for customers globally and across the Gulf. Data, AI, and Autodesk Forma are remarkable tools in the hands of motivated, innovative problem solvers. We’re making the future – one with less waste, with less knowledge loss, and with less friction from design to make to operate – together.

What is the company’s long-term vision for its involvement in Saudi Arabia, and how do you see it supporting the country’s construction and infrastructure goals?

Our vision is to be a key, trusted partner in Saudi Arabia’s journey toward innovation and sustainability. With the kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 as a roadmap, we’re committed to supporting projects that redefine what’s possible in construction and infrastructure. Whether it’s enabling giga-projects with cutting-edge technology, fostering collaboration across teams, or upskilling the workforce, Autodesk aims to be at the forefront of this transformation.

Our focus is not just on delivering tools but also on building resilience, driving sustainability, and ensuring that Saudi Arabia sets new benchmarks globally.

Long-term, we see ourselves as catalysts for change — providing the technology, expertise, and innovation needed to help the kingdom achieve its boldest aspirations while creating a legacy that future generations can be proud of.