This project develops a new class of hybrid cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels engineered for multi-storey construction, combining high-performance face lamella from South-East Asian hardwoods with a circular-economy palm core sourced from UAE residues. The objective is to deliver a structural product that meets EN 16351 and Eurocode 5 requirements while using locally relevant materials and a manufacturing process tailored to hot-arid environments.

The technical programme focuses on process optimisation at factory level: adhesive type and dosage, press pressure and cycle, lamella conditioning, and moisture balance are modelled and iteratively refined using a sensor-instrumented press coupled to a physics-informed digital twin. An AI optimiser reduces adhesive consumption and stiffness variability while maintaining target mechanical performance. Full-scale prototypes (3-, 5-, and 7-ply) will be tested to establish certified design values, enabling CLT use in mid- and high-rise and modular urban typologies.

Parallel to material engineering, the project develops the industrialisation pathway: sourcing and logistics models for ASEAN–UAE hybrid lamella supply chains, low-CAPEX factory layout and equipment specification, and an operations model suitable for SME-scale manufacturing. A full techno-economic assessment (CAPEX/OPEX, break-even volume, and sensitivity analysis) will be carried out alongside cradle-to-gate LCA, establishing net carbon performance and environmental competitiveness against steel and concrete.

By generating unified technical, manufacturing, and sustainability data, the project enables Dubai not only to adopt engineered timber but to set the benchmark for hybrid CLT in the GCC. The outcome is a replicable, factory-ready process package that positions Dubai as a standards-originating hub for regionally adapted timber technologies aligned with global green construction megatrends.