Buildex International Contracting, a construction firm specializing in residential, commercial, and industrial projects, is entering the Gulf's construction landscape with the premise of making building smarter at its core. Founded by Ahmad Al Arif, the company is designed around AI-driven systems that possess the potential to reshape how projects can be managed and delivered in real time.
The launch of the company comes in response to Al Arif's observation within the region. While construction companies across the UAE scale their operations, reaching a market size of $127 billion as of 2026, Al Arif argues that much of the industry often relies on static processes. Buildex steps into that environment with a more responsive model that prioritizes data visibility and operational efficiency without disrupting the fundamentals that already work.
A deep lineage of contracting prowess forms the foundation of the company. Al Arif highlights that his grandfather established Al Arif Contracting Group in the early 1970s, building a reputation through relationships and consistency. The second generation, he notes, expanded that footprint with Stromek Emirates Foundation, specializing in foundations and piling work, followed by Power Factor, which brought MEP works, design, installation, and electromechanical capabilities in the fold. Together, Al Arif notes that the companies created a vertically integrated ecosystem capable of delivering end-to-end construction services.
"Stromek and Power Factor have been powerful players in the UAE market and even in Saudi Arabia. Stromek alone has been a part of a large number of projects across the Gulf," he says. That scale, to him, stands as a testament to the experience, but also unveils a potential for where systems could improve.
Buildex was created to act on that realization. "I opened this company to experiment with a new way of management," he explains. The fundamental shift, he highlights, lies in enhancing the legacy structures with a more connected and intelligent framework. At the center of that framework is AI.
"We are integrating AI into our workplace, into our project management systems, into our accounting, into everything, basically," he says. Al Arif's approach, he says, is intended to bring every layer of the business into a single ecosystem where information can move seamlessly.
He observes how that change becomes tangible in daily operations. "When I was testing the system, I could ask how many screws were used in a project, and it would tell me," Al Arif shares. "As long as your data is entered, the AI retrieves it instantly. Tasks that once required hours of manual checking are reduced to seconds."
Management, in his view, is where the real impact lies. "The biggest problems in construction are resources, finances, timelines, and progress," he says. These are not new challenges, but Al Arif believes that AI introduces a level of clarity that reshapes how they are handled.
Similarly, he points out that asset tracking stands out as another critical advantage. "If something is not operational without reason, you are losing money by the minute," he explains. "AI helps you see where everything is and what it's doing." From his perspective, this visibility leads to efficiency, which cascades on-site and at the management level.
Still, Al Arif acknowledges adoption bottlenecks within the region. He believes that many firms continue with familiar systems, especially when they deliver consistent results. Keeping that perspective in mind, he still pushes for evolution. "The industry can be quite set in its ways. If something works, people don't want to change it. But you don't leave it as it is, you build on it. Otherwise, someone else will do it and take your place," he says.
He points to past shifts as proof, specifically with computer-aided design (CAD), which he notes had once transformed construction workflows. "The companies that adopted it grew, and the ones that didn't disappeared," Al Arif says.
AI, he believes, will follow a similar path over time.
Alongside digital systems, Buildex is exploring new construction methods. 3D printing sits high on that agenda, with plans to integrate it into future projects. "We're looking into acquiring 3D printers so we can build for ourselves and for clients," he says.
In his view, 3D printing technology can open avenues for reduced material use, faster timelines, lower costs, and greater flexibility, which could reshape how projects within the residential sector are deployed. He sees the technology as a catalyst for possibilities that can align with commercial and housing needs within the Gulf.
Despite the forward-looking model, Buildex remains grounded in a simple principle: the lasting impact of what is built. "When I build something for someone, I want them to remember it positively for the rest of their life," Al Arif says. "A building becomes part of their daily existence," he adds. "They live in it, invest in it, pass it on. I want to create that meaningful impact."
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