# BIM and MEP for Gulf projects > BIMON is an Italian engineering and BIM company that has worked in the Gulf since 2016 as a specialist consultant to lead design firms: MEP design in BIM, coordination, BIM management and model validation. References include King Faisal Air Academy and the MoMRA headquarters in Riyadh, the Doha Metro Red Line North and Al Suwaiq Hospital in Oman. The team works from Italy, one to two hours behind Riyadh and Doha, inside the project's common data environment. Updated: 2026-11-07 Since 2016 we have worked on projects in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman: a 109-building military academy in Riyadh, the municipal affairs ministry headquarters, the Doha Metro and a 300-bed hospital. We join the lead consultant's team and deliver models, MEP design and model checks to the owner's information requirements. ## Countries - [Saudi Arabia](https://bimon.it/en/middle-east/saudi-arabia): In Riyadh we designed the MEP systems of 109 King Faisal Air Academy buildings in BIM, validated the models at every cycle and developed the electrical and mechanical systems of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs headquarters. - [Qatar](https://bimon.it/en/middle-east/qatar): For Italferr we handled BIM management and coordination of every station on the Doha Metro Red Line North, 13 km and seven underground stations, and designed the plumbing systems of four stations in BIM. ## Projects - [Doha Metro Red Line North Underground](https://bimon.it/en/projects/doha-red-line-north) — Doha, Qatar, 2016, client Italferr S.p.A. - [King Faisal Air Academy](https://bimon.it/en/projects/king-faisal-air-academy) — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2020, client One Works S.p.A. - [Al Suwaiq New General Hospital](https://bimon.it/en/projects/al-suwaiq-hospital) — Al Suwaiq, Oman, 2016, client Studio Altieri S.p.A. - [MoMRA Headquarters](https://bimon.it/en/projects/momra-headquarters) — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2019, client Manens-Tifs S.p.A. ## Rules at a glance - **Saudi Arabia**: A single Building Permit filed on the Balady platform of the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MOMAH); Saudi Building Code 2024 edition mandatory from 30 June 2025; for government projects, EXPRO's national manual includes a BEP template. [1][2][6] - **Qatar**: Ashghal publishes its own BIM standard (ABIMS), aligned with ISO 19650; in 2025 the Ministry of Municipality launched a permit system that reads drawings with artificial intelligence. [3][4] - **United Arab Emirates**: Dubai Municipality has required BIM for defined building categories since Circular 196 of 2013, extended by Circular 207 of 2015 (buildings above 20 floors, hospitals, universities, government projects). Later circulars have updated the thresholds: check the one in force. [5] ## How we work 1. **Part of the lead consultant's team** — On every Gulf project so far we worked for the appointed design firm (One Works, Manens-Tifs, Italferr, Studio Altieri) as BIM and MEP consultant. The lead consultant remains the point of contact for the owner and the authorities. 2. **To the project's information requirements** — We start from the owner's EIR and the BEP: model structure, naming, levels of development, check and delivery cycles. If the owner has its own standard, such as Ashghal's ABIMS or the EXPRO BEP template, we work to it. 3. **From Italy, in Gulf working hours** — The team works from Rome, Milan and Padua. Rome is two hours behind Riyadh and Doha in winter and one hour in summer, so coordination meetings and model reviews happen the same day, online and inside the project's common data environment. 4. **On site when the project needs it** — Site presence, for workshops, surveys or progress checks, is agreed project by project with the lead consultant. ## Guide - [How to choose a BIM consultant in the Gulf](https://bimon.it/en/choosing-a-bim-consultant) ## FAQ **Does BIMON have an office in the Gulf?** No. Our offices are in Rome, Milan and Padua. On Gulf projects we work as consultants to the lead design firm, online and inside the project's common data environment, one to two hours behind Riyadh and Doha. **Which Gulf countries have you worked in?** Saudi Arabia (King Faisal Air Academy and the MoMRA headquarters, Riyadh), Qatar (Doha Metro Red Line North) and Oman (Al Suwaiq General Hospital). **Is BIM mandatory in Saudi Arabia?** Some industry sources report a mandate from 2024, but we have not found the official text. In practice BIM is required by the owner: government projects follow EXPRO's national manual, which includes a BEP template, and large owners set their own requirements in the EIR. **Do you also work directly for owners?** In the Gulf we have so far worked for the appointed designers. For an owner we can write or review the EIR, validate the models delivered and set up the digital twin for operations, as we do in Italy. ## Contact r.pagani@bimon.it ## Sources 1. [RIBA Plan of Work: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Overlay](https://www.riba.org/media/4fvlc3ys/riba-plan-of-work-ksa-overlay-2026.pdf) — RIBA, 2026 (accessed 2026-11-07) 2. [Project Building Information Modeling Execution Plan (BEP) Template, Volume 6, Chapter 6 (EPM-KE0-TP-000025)](https://expro.gov.sa/en/knowledge/sections/methodologies-and-national-manuals) — Expenditure & Projects Efficiency Authority (EXPRO) (accessed 2026-11-07) 3. [Ashghal BIM Standards (ABIMS): Modelling and Data Management Guide D0601 V1](https://www.ashghal.gov.qa/en/Services/GIS%20and%20CAD%20Manuals/ASHGHAL%20BIM%20STANDARD/D0601_Modelling%20and%20Data%20Management%20Guide_V1.pdf) — Public Works Authority (Ashghal), 2022-03-15 (accessed 2026-11-07) 4. [Qatar launches AI-powered building permit system](https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/26/10/2025/qatar-launches-ai-powered-building-permit-system) — The Peninsula, 2025-10-26 (accessed 2026-11-07) 5. [CMS Expert Guide to BIM: United Arab Emirates](https://www.cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-building-information-modelling-bim/united-arab-emirates) — CMS, 2017-06-30 (accessed 2026-11-07) 6. [3 new construction codes added as part of the 2024 Saudi Building Code modernization](https://amlak.net.sa/en/73090/) — Amlak, 2025-01-08 (accessed 2026-11-07)