GFT CAD Connect Dubai: 7 Ways IT Managers Cut CAD License Costs
On Thursday 15 October 2026, more than 40 IT managers and industry leaders joined GFT at the GFT CAD Connect Forum at voco Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road. The evening focused on one question we hear constantly from people in that seat: how do you control CAD license costs, improve utilization, and stop renewing every seat each year without a second look?
In this article, we recap the forum, thank the people who made it happen, and turn its core themes into seven practical steps your team can apply before your next renewal.
October 15, 2026
4:30 to 8:30 PM
Dubai, UAE
voco Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road
40+ IT Leaders
Workshop, Panel and Dinner
Why CAD License Costs Deserve a Second Look in 2026
For most construction and engineering firms, CAD licenses renew on autopilot. The renewal arrives, the budget line rolls forward, and nobody checks how many seats were actually opened last quarter. That habit is expensive. In the Flexera 2023 State of ITAM Report, IT asset managers estimated that 36% of desktop software spend is underused or wasted. Even teams with advanced asset management practices still estimated 30% waste on desktop software in the 2024 edition. CAD is desktop software, so the same pattern applies directly to CAD license costs.
Put that in practical terms. If a firm runs 100 CAD seats and 30% sit idle, it pays for 30 licenses every year that produce nothing. Across a three year renewal cycle, that waste compounds. The good news is that CAD license costs respond quickly to disciplined management. Research from Gartner found that organizations with mature license optimization processes reduced software spending by an average of 30% within the first year.
Inside GFT CAD Connect: What Happened on 15 October
The GFT CAD Connect Forum ran from 4:30 to 8:30 PM and brought together IT Managers, Heads of IT, Technology Managers, and Digital Transformation leaders from contractors and developers across the UAE. Many of them are partners we have worked alongside for years, and that shared history set the tone for an open, practical conversation.
A Panel Built on Real Experience
The industry panel brought together leaders who manage technology across large, multi site project teams:
- Eng. Salem B., ICT Manager at Binladin Contracting Group
- Dr. Anoop Prakash, Director of Civil Infrastructure at aasa
- Dr. Ibrahim Hegazy, Commercial Director at GFT
Moderator Cristina Savian, CEO of BE-WISE, guided the discussion like a true maestro, pulling practical answers out of every question on CAD license costs, utilization, and renewal planning.
Workshop, Partner Session, and a Well Earned Break
Ananthakrishnan Tharakesh led a dedicated session for attendees, and our strategic partner ZWSOFT joined us throughout the evening. We even stepped away from technology for a while: fitness coach Olga Perovic led the room through a short stretching session that had everyone laughing and recharged before dinner.
The evening closed with a networking dinner where IT leaders compared notes with peers facing the same budget pressure, and every attendee received a Certificate of Attendance.
7 Ways to Reduce CAD License Costs Without Slowing Design Teams
These seven steps reflect the core themes of the forum. None of them requires cutting the tools your designers rely on. Each one removes spend that delivers no output.
1. Audit Actual Usage Before Every Renewal
Pull at least 90 days of login data for every seat before you sign anything. Map each license to a named user, a department, and a last active date. Most teams find seats assigned to people who left, changed roles, or opened the software twice in a quarter. This single step usually reveals the fastest wins on CAD license costs.
2. Reclaim and Recycle Idle Seats
Once you know which seats sit idle, reassign them before you buy new ones. Gartner identifies license recycling, meaning recovering unused rights for reuse, as one of three core practices behind its 30% savings figure. Set a clear rule, for example any seat unused for 60 days returns to the pool.
3. Move From Named Licenses to Network Licenses Where It Fits
A named license belongs to one person whether they use it or not. A network license sits on a server and any authorized user can check it out, so 40 part time users might share 25 seats. For teams with shift work, site based engineers, or occasional reviewers, network licensing cuts seat counts without blocking anyone.
4. Match Feature Tiers to Real Work
Not every user needs the most advanced edition. A drafter producing 2D shop drawings and a design manager running 3D coordination have very different needs. Tiering licenses by role is one of the simplest ways to bring CAD license costs down while every user keeps the tools their job requires.
5. Compare Subscription and Perpetual Total Cost Over 5 Years
Subscription pricing looks smaller in year one, but it repeats every year. A perpetual license costs more up front, and only optional maintenance follows. Model both options across a 5 year horizon using your real seat count, and include training, support, and upgrade costs. For stable teams, the long term picture often favors perpetual licensing.
6. Keep Your Files Portable With DWG Compatibility
CAD license costs stay high when firms feel locked in. If every drawing, template, and block library depends on one vendor’s format, switching feels too risky to consider. Standardizing on DWG compatible workflows keeps your options open at every renewal and strengthens your negotiating position.
7. Make License Management a Monthly Routine
Annual reviews catch problems 11 months late. Assign an owner, review a simple usage dashboard every month, and track three numbers: total seats, active seats, and cost per active user. Gartner’s research ties the 30% savings to mature, ongoing processes, not one time cleanups.
Named, Network, and Perpetual Licensing Compared
| Model | How It Works | Best For | Cost Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named user subscription | One license per person, renewed yearly | Small, stable teams with daily users | High if users leave or work part time |
| Network license | Shared pool, users check seats in and out | Shift work, site teams, occasional users | Low, seats track real demand |
| Perpetual license with optional maintenance | Pay once, maintenance optional | Stable teams planning 5 years or more | Low over time, higher up front |
Your Pre Renewal CAD License Checklist
Use this checklist before your next renewal to see where your CAD license costs are leaking.
Usage and Inventory
- Export 90 days of login data for every seat.
- Map each license to a user, department, and last active date.
- Flag seats unused for 60 days or more.
Licensing Strategy
- Identify users who could share a network license.
- Match each user to the edition their role requires.
- Model subscription versus perpetual cost over 5 years.
Governance
- Assign one owner for CAD license management.
- Review total seats, active seats, and cost per active user every month.
- Confirm all drawings and templates stay DWG compatible.
Where ZWCAD Fits in a Plan to Lower CAD License Costs
For firms ready to act on these steps, ZWCAD from GFT gives IT teams more control over CAD license costs. ZWCAD works natively with DWG files, so existing drawings, templates, and blocks carry over. It offers both individual and network licenses, along with a perpetual licensing option, and runs on both Windows and Linux.
Software alone does not deliver savings. We support the move with license audits, onboarding, training, and local technical support, backed by 20 years in the region, more than 800 clients, and over 3,500 projects across 27 countries. Read what our team learned at ZWSOFT’s global conference in our ZWORLD 2026 recap.
Explore ZWCAD from GFT to see the licensing options that fit your team.
Missed GFT CAD Connect? Book Your Free CAD License Review
If you could not join us in Dubai, the conversation does not have to wait for the next forum. Our team can review your current CAD environment, show you where CAD license costs are leaking, and outline a plan your designers will barely notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the GFT CAD Connect Forum?
The GFT CAD Connect Forum was an exclusive workshop and dinner GFT hosted on 15 October 2026 at voco Dubai for more than 40 IT managers and industry leaders in UAE construction. It covered how to manage CAD licenses, reduce CAD license costs, and improve utilization.
Who spoke on the GFT CAD Connect panel?
The panel featured Eng. Salem B., ICT Manager at Binladin Contracting Group, Dr. Anoop Prakash, Director of Civil Infrastructure at aasa, and Dr. Ibrahim Hegazy of GFT, moderated by Cristina Savian, CEO of BE-WISE.
How much can a construction firm save on CAD license costs?
Results depend on your current usage, but Gartner research found organizations with mature license optimization processes cut software spending by an average of 30% within the first year. A 90 day usage audit is the fastest way to estimate your own figure.
What is the difference between named and network CAD licenses?
A named license is assigned to one person. A network license sits in a shared pool, so multiple users can access a smaller number of seats as they need them.
Will GFT host another GFT Connect event?
Yes. Inspired by the response to GFT CAD Connect, we are already planning our next forum. Follow GFT on LinkedIn or contact our team to be first to hear about the next GFT Connect experience.
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