Schedule

Registration & Networking

Delegate registration and networking
Doors open for registration, snacks and networking outside the main hall.

Introduction

MC event introduction and welcome
Welcome to the 2026 Digital Construction Summit, event mechanics and what’s lined up for the day.

Jason Saundalkar

Welcome Speech
CPI Trade Media’s Jason Saundalkar welcomes speakers and delegates to the summit and discusses the event’s key themes and focuses.

Jason Saundalkar, Editorial Director – Built Environment & Heavy Industry Divisions, CPI Trade Media

Keynote Address

TBC
Content to be announced soon.

Panel Discussion One

AI in Construction – A Reality Check

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the most talked about topics around the world over the last 5-years. Traditionally, the construction industry has moved at a glacial pace with regards to the adoption of new processes and technology, however AI adoption seems to have jumped to the front of the queue, due to a number of drivers and historic pressures. Today a number of firms in the supplychain have integrated AI into their workflows, with some taking a measured and practical approach and others treating it as a magic bullet. This panel discussion will discuss:

• Belief vs. Reality – What are some of the optimistic beliefs that could start construction firms off on the wrong foot in their AI journeys, and where should companies actually begin? What are key limitations of modern AI tools that consultants and contractors have to be aware of?
• Data, data, data – Clean, high-quality, structured data is vital for AI systems to deliver accurate results and insights that drive true value for a firm or project. For companies that have unstructured/messy data and/or data in silos, what ground work should they put in before beginning their AI journey? Do construction companies actually look at their data before embracing AI or is it a case of jump first and ask questions later?
• Some decision-makers say that overall cost reduction is one of the drivers for the adoption of AI in their construction firms. But is AI use on complex projects actually going to be cost effective in the near future given that fixed AI costs and subsidies are ending, and a transition to metered billing is underway? Integration costs with legacy systems could also be prohibitively expensive, while maintenance and upkeep as the technology advances could be challenge for construction firms
• Preserving human capability – A dependence or overdependence on technology such as AI can erode human capability over time. For junior construction professionals without baseline manual expertise, what should construction companies do to ensure that knowledge is preserved and shared now and in the future? The aim being so professionals can spot errors in AI output before it causes problems on a project or professionals can continue to work on projects in the event the AI solution crashes/fails for any reason?
• There have been a number of instances where AI systems have ‘hallucinated’ or generated made up results – what is the cause for this and how can construction companies ensure that this does not lead to costly project delays and liabilities? Do enough construction firms mandate a final human check?
• Following investments into AI specifically, how can success be effectively tracked? What benchmarks should companies put in place? What has worked and what hasn’t?
• Regulatory and compliance demands in the region continue to evolve – what does this mean for construction firms and the use of AI applications?

Moderator to be announced

Confirmed Speakers

Farhan Mohamed, Head of BIM & Digital Technology, RSP Architects, Planners & Engineers

Hamzeh Nawar, Digital Innovation Lead, Middle East, Mott MacDonald

Hichem Troudi, Vice President – Project Transformation, DAMAC

Howard McDonagh, Operations Manager, Khansaheb Civil Engineering

Juan Tena Florez, Digital Services Director, KEO International Consultants

Mohammad Alfaour, Managing Director for Middle East & North Africa, Egnyte

Presentation One

TBC
Content to be announced soon.

Networking

Coffee break

Break for coffee and networking.

Sponsor Breakout Session One

TBC
20 minute breakout session/workshop.

Panel Discussion Two

Keeping up with Tech & Closing the Talent Gap

Construction technology and tools are advancing at a fast pace and this seems to be creating challenges for construction companies. Recent reports from international construction recruitment platforms state that 85% of open engineering roles cannot be filled by recent graduates. Another report by a global construction software firm revealed a number of construction companies said that a lack of digital skills is their main barrier for adopting and using new technology. This panel discussion will explore:

• The impact of regional geopolitics in terms of talent migration out of the Middle East in 2026, and the availability of technology savvy junior-, mid- and senior-level construction talent to work on a growing bouquet of construction projects?
• What effective strategies can construction companies implement to ensure that knowledge is retained when talent moves on? Are construction companies investing enough into ongoing training to keep pace with the launch of new technology and tools?
• International data from construction firms and industry bodies points to significant struggles in hiring talent with experience of working on specialised/advanced tools and workflows. What is the state of play in the Middle East with regards to availability of specialised digital construction skills to work on complex projects?
• The importance of up-to-date curriculum and the impetus for schools and universities to provide young people with sufficient hands-on training on modern digital construction tools. Conversely, should construction firms expect fresh graduates to have experience with modern digital construction tools considering how quickly tools and technology are changing?
• Is construction technology advancing too quickly and is there a danger that this rapid pace of advancement will create more problems that it is actually solving?
• Are construction technology companies investing enough into on-ground resources in the Middle East to better support construction firms with training staff, addressing glitches, refreshing software installed bases etc?

Moderator

Cristina Savian, Founder & CEO, BE-WISE

Confirmed Speakers

Ahmed Yousif, Lead BIM Managers – Head of Digital Delivery, Hill International

Fady Kobersy, Sales Director MENA, RIB Software

Noora Sibaa, BIM Consultant, Turner & Townsend

Rudy Riachy, Head of Computational Design, Ramboll

More speakers to be confirmed

Presentation Two

TBC
Content to be announced soon.

Ihab Ramlawi, Managing Director & Co-Founder, DuPod and AMANA Company

Networking

Lunch
One hour break for buffet lunch and networking.

Sponsor Breakout Session Two

TBC
20 minute breakout session/workshop.

Panel Discussion Three

The Reality of Robotics

Globally there has been increasing investment into the development of robots and robotic technology that can be used to support the delivery of construction projects. Today it’s possible to leverage site layout and surveying robots, humanoid platforms, bricklaying and masonry focused robots to automate repetitive tasks and much more. While robots have proven themselves on pilot projects and on a number of real world projects in foreign markets, what’s the reality of their use in the Middle East where projects can be massive in scale and the labor model is quite different to other markets? This session will shine a light on:

• What is the expectation for what robots should actually do on projects? Where can they deliver the most value – by automating tasks, replacing certain tradesman roles particularly with high risk roles on site or is a hybrid human/robot workforce going to be the norm for the foreseeable future?
• What is preventing the broader adoption of robotics today? What changes can the construction supply chain (developers, contractors, robotics firms etc) make to procurement processes and contracts to ensure that robotics go from limited use on construction projects to wide-scale adoption by 2030?
• By leveraging clean, structured data, rich BIM models and AI, can robots become truly autonomous on job sites? Conversely, if an autonomous machine causes damage or an injury, where does the reasonability sit? What additions to safety standards and protocols are required?
• Does the math add up in the Middle East? Investing in robots can be a significant investment followed by spends for maintenance, upgrades, specialised operators, operator training etc. Does the traditional labor cost saving argument hold up for the use of robots on projects in the region where the labor model is different to other markets, and projects can be orders of magnitude larger than those in other markets, potentially requiring a greater number of robots in the field?
• While there is healthy potential to leverage robots to work on jobsites when site/weather conditions are harsh (extreme heat, challenging terrain, dust storms etc), what is the reality of their reliability in these harsh conditions? Are there any successful casestudies showcasing a robot’s capabilities in extreme (45+ degree Celsius) heat?

Moderator to be announced

Confirmed Speakers

Dr. Anas Bataw, Digital Transformation Director, Engineering Contracting Company

Dr. Raffi Tchakerian, Co-Founder & General Manager, Innovate Build Deliver (IBDA)

Hussein Elkashef, Deputy General Manager, Kabbani Construction Group

More speakers to be confirmed

Presentation Three

TBC
Content to be announced soon.

Event Wrap-up

MC closing remarks
Thank you for attending the 2026 Digital Construction Summit.