How much does BIM cost in Saudi Arabia? What drives the price.

This guide explains each factor, how BIM consultants price their work, and what to send to get an accurate quote.

What are you paying for in a BIM service?

BIM is modelling hours plus coordination and information management. A BIM consultant builds a 3D model in which every wall, duct and beam carries data. The consultant then checks the disciplines against each other and manages the documents your contract asks for.

A typical scope includes some or all of these:

• A federated model of architecture, structure and MEP
• Clash detection reports
• Shop drawings
• Quantities taken from the model
• ISO 19650 documents such as the EIR and the BIM Execution Plan (BEP)
• An as-built model for facility management

The 7 factors that set the price of BIM

1. Built-up area and building type

Area is the starting point, but building type matters as much. A hospital or a hotel has far more services per square meter than a warehouse, so it takes more modelling hours.

2. Number of disciplines

An architectural model alone costs less than a full model with structure and MEP. MEP is usually the most time-consuming discipline, because every pipe, duct and cable tray has to be routed and checked.

3. Level of Development (LOD)

This is the factor clients most often underestimate.

• LOD 200 shows approximate size and position. It suits concept design.
• LOD 300 shows accurate geometry. Most tender and design packages ask for it.
• LOD 400 adds fabrication and installation detail. It is needed for shop drawings.
• LOD 500 records the building as built, for operation and maintenance.

Each step up adds detail to every element in the model, so the hours rise quickly. Ask for the LOD your stage needs, not the highest one available. See how we deliver architectural BIM at LOD 300 and 400.

4. Deliverables

A model on its own is one price. Shop drawings, clash reports, 4D scheduling, 5D cost data and COBie handover data each add work.

5. The quality of your inputs

Clean, coordinated CAD drawings are quick to model from. Incomplete or conflicting drawings mean the modeller has to raise questions and wait for answers. For an existing building with no drawings, the work starts with a laser scan, which is a separate cost.

6. Timeline

A fixed, short deadline needs a larger team working in parallel, and that costs more than the same scope on a normal schedule.

7. Standards and documentation

If your tender requires ISO 19650, the consultant has to produce and maintain the EIR response, the BEP, delivery plans and a Common Data Environment. A BEP for a single building usually takes two to four weeks to prepare.

How do BIM consultants price their work?

You will usually see one of four models:

• Per square meter: common for modelling a whole building at a set LOD.
• Lump sum per stage: a fixed price for a defined scope, such as design stage or construction stage.
• Per drawing or per sheet: common for shop drawings.
• Dedicated team per month: a number of modellers working under your direction, suited to long projects with changing scope.

A fixed lump sum protects your budget when the scope is clear. A monthly team is more practical when the design is still changing.

What makes a BIM quote go up after you sign?

Most cost increases come from four causes:

• The LOD was not written into the scope.
• The design changed after modelling began.
• Other parties delivered their models late or in poor condition.
• The number of review rounds was never agreed.

Put all four in the contract and the price will hold.

How can you reduce the cost of BIM without reducing quality?

• Ask for the LOD that matches your stage.
• Send complete, current drawings in one package.
• Agree the naming, file formats and review rounds at the start.
• Ask whether repetitive work can be automated. On the AMAALA Integrative Wellness project, our team used Revit families and Dynamo scripts to cut repetitive modelling time by about 70%.
• Bring the BIM consultant in early. Fixing a clash on screen costs far less than fixing it on site.

What should you send to get an accurate BIM quote?

Send these six items and a consultant can price your project properly:

If your tender includes an EIR, send that too. It answers most of these questions.

Frequently asked questions