If you want to simply create a cool, solar-powered charger for your iPod, a funky, personalized electric guitar or an awesome piece of futuristic furniture, then head straight to Fab Lab Arabia. But be prepared to get your hands dirty. Fab Lab Arabia is your regular geek’s dream of a perfect underground workshop come true! It’s a place where “do-it-yourself” is a working dictum and “what-I-want-is-what-I’ll-get” a winning attitude. Fab Lab — an abbreviation of Fabrication Laboratory, is an independent program that was initiated in collaboration with the Grassroots Invention Group and Center for Bits and Atoms, CBA, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the 1990’s. With the development and evolution of mass production propelled by major manufacturing industries, individual inspired productions and designs were hindered, slowing the process for self-innovative products for personal use as opposed to mass consumption. With a goal to empower members of the community to carry out technologically innovative projects at grass-root levels, around 50 Fab Labs sprang from the US to other major countries around the world, including Spain, France, Ghana, UK, India, Germany, Costa Rica and Norway. The first Fab Lab in the Middle East started operations in Jeddah five months ago. Two more stations are due in the coming months in Riyadh and Cairo, Egypt. Abdullah Kamel, president of Dallah Al-Barakah Corporation, brought the MIT concept to Saudi Arabia. He will privately fund them, while most Fab Labs have a hard time making ends meet after the first year, when MIT covers the initial start-up costs. “He was very interested to start the project here after visiting MIT. The idea to enable anyone to make things for themselves is inspirational,” said Mohammed Tayeb, manager at Fab Lab Arabia. Fab Lab is a place for young, aspiring, independent inventors, architecture, design and art students, small-scale business technology incubators and grass-root researchers to use the existing technology and tools available for digital fabrication. “It is a space for individuals who have ideas but cannot execute them for financial or other reasons. Fab Lab can help them develop their ideas. If an extra machine or material is required to develop their product and if it is feasible and available then we can supply it. We just want people to come and feel the passion for technology,” Tayeb added. Several Fab Lab projects around the world have contributed toward the progression of single communities by harnessing the power of technology. Major community projects have included solar powered turbines, Wi-Fi networks in rural Afghanistan, milk fat measuring sensors by Indian farmers and wireless radios by Norwegian farmers to help sheep-tracking. Machinery available at Fab Lab Arabia include a vinyl cutter, laser cutter, veneers, hand tools, casting materials and 3D milling machines connected to computers that spit out designs and templates of choice. These tools help create anything from a piece of electronic gadget to a garden chair. Members can use the space and materials free of cost and are assisted by trained members for the operation of machinery. The culture at Fab Lab can be likened to an open source hub, where there’s no agenda of hidden technology and second-generation products can be produced through peer-to-peer prototype sharing and developing. “I am a very hands-on person. I’m also musically inclined, so I’d like to make controllers for a synthesizer to create electronic music. The environment at Fab Lab Arabia itself is so inspiring”, said Yusuf Kurdi, an architect and graphic designer. Fab Lab Arabia is also a part of the global Fab Lab community where project ideas are shared, discussed and inspired through their online forum. The MIT research center also offers certified online courses at Fab Lab Arabia with weekly lectures, projects and assignments. “I wonder why people wouldn’t consider coming here? We also have free Wi-Fi, you can meet new people, share and develop ideas. It’s inspiring. What else do you need?” added Tayeb enthusiastically. Fab Lab Arabia truly is a techno-utopia for the geekiest. Fab Lab Arabia is located in Dallah Tower, Palestine Street. Opening hours: Sat-Wed : 9:00 a.m – 5.00 p.m Thur : 9.00 a.m – 2 p.m For more information please contact: [email protected]
Fablab Arabia: Where innovations begin
