ISO 19650 · GCC AEC · Autodesk Forma
ISO 19650 Compliance on Autodesk Forma — Configured, Not Just Claimed.
The only GCC partnership that delivers both the BIM strategy and the CDE automation — end to end.
Having Autodesk Forma does not mean you are ISO 19650 compliant. Accienta defines your information management strategy. BlackSmithSoft builds the CDE automation that enforces it. Together, we deliver every element the standard requires — from BEP production through to a fully configured, auditable CDE on Forma Data Management.
EIR Review · GCC Compliance
Workflows · Naming Convention
ISO 19650 · GCC AEC · Autodesk Forma
ISO 19650 Compliance on Autodesk Forma — Configured, Not Just Claimed.
The only GCC partnership delivering BIM strategy and CDE automation — end to end.
Having Autodesk Forma does not mean you are ISO 19650 compliant. Accienta defines your information management strategy. BlackSmithSoft builds the CDE automation that enforces it — from BEP production through to a fully configured, auditable CDE.
EIR Review · GCC
APS · Workflows
What ISO 19650 Actually Is — and Why Every GCC Project Now Needs It.
ISO 19650 is the international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization that defines how information should be created, managed, shared and maintained across the full lifecycle of a built asset using Building Information Modelling. It is not a software product. It is not a certification badge. It is a structured framework that governs how every document, model and data element on your project is named, stored, reviewed, approved and handed over — from first design through to operations.
ISO 19650 evolved from the UK's PAS 1192 framework — the standard that the British government mandated for all publicly procured BIM projects. It became an international ISO standard in 2019. Since then it has been adopted — or directly referenced — by procurement authorities, government agencies and major developers across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The standard defines how a Common Data Environment (CDE) — the single source of truth for all project information — must be configured, how information flows through it, who approves what at each stage, and how information is structured for handover to the asset owner at project completion. On Autodesk Forma, the CDE is Forma Data Management — and configuring it to genuinely comply with ISO 19650 requires a specific, structured implementation that most teams do not know how to execute correctly.
ISO 19650 — Part 1
Concepts and Principles
Defines the foundational framework — what BIM information management means, the key roles (Appointing Party, Lead Appointed Party, Appointed Party), and the core concepts of the CDE, information containers and the information management function. Applicable to all projects regardless of scale or type.
ISO 19650 — Part 2
Delivery Phase of Assets
The delivery standard — governs how information is managed from Employer Information Requirements (EIR) through BIM Execution Plan (BEP) production, information delivery milestones, model authoring, CDE workflow states (WIP → Shared → Published → Archived) and handover. This is the part most GCC clients reference in their tender documents.
ISO 19650 — Part 3
Operational Phase of Assets
Governs how asset information is structured and managed after handover — the Asset Information Model (AIM), Asset Information Requirements (AIR) and how the digital twin connects to the operational facilities management environment. Increasingly required by UAE and Saudi developer EIRs for major projects.
GCC Mandate Status — April 2026
United Arab Emirates — Dubai
Dubai Municipality mandated BIM in 2013 and updated requirements in 2015. Current DM guidelines require ISO 19650-aligned data protocols for all stages from design through execution on major projects. Non-compliant submissions face permit approval difficulties.
Active MandateUnited Arab Emirates — Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities mandated BIM for all major construction projects from 2019. ISO 19650 alignment is required for projects above threshold value and for all government-procured infrastructure.
Active MandateKingdom of Saudi Arabia
BIM mandatory for all new construction projects managed by MOMRAH from 1 January 2024. For projects above SAR 100 million, ISO 19650 BIM information management is increasingly a mandatory technical requirement under MOMRAH guidelines. NEOM, Diriyah, The Red Sea Project and all Vision 2030 mega-programmes require advanced BIM and ISO 19650-aligned information management.
Mandatory + ExpandingQatar
Ashghal, the Qatar Public Works Authority, leads BIM adoption on major infrastructure. BIM and ISO 19650-aligned workflows are required on major Doha infrastructure projects. Qatar's smart city expansion continues to expand digital delivery requirements.
ExpandingThe bottom line for GCC firms
If your firm bids for public sector projects in the UAE or Saudi Arabia, ISO 19650 compliance is already expected in tender documents from major clients including Emaar, Aldar, NEOM, Saudi Aramco, ADNOC and DGDA. Non-compliance does not just mean a failed audit — it means lost tenders.
Why Most GCC Teams That Claim ISO 19650 Compliance Are Not Actually Compliant.
Having Autodesk Forma or BIM 360 does not mean you are ISO 19650 compliant. The platform is the infrastructure. Compliance requires the platform to be configured — specifically, correctly and in full — to the workflows, naming conventions, access controls, review processes and information states the standard requires. Most GCC teams have the platform. Almost none have the configuration.
Problem 01
Forma Data Management is not configured — it is just used as file storage
The most common failure. Teams have Forma Data Management (formerly Autodesk Docs) but use it the same way they use a shared drive — upload files, create folders, share links. ISO 19650 requires the CDE to have defined workflow states (WIP, Shared, Published, Archived), role-based access at each state, structured review and approval processes and automated version control. None of those exist in a default Forma Data Management setup.
Problem 02
File naming is inconsistent and does not match the standard
ISO 19650 defines a specific naming convention for information containers — including project identifier, originator, volume/system, level/location, type, role, number and revision. Most GCC teams use project-specific conventions that nobody outside the project team understands, making documents unsearchable, unauditable and non-compliant when the employer or authority inspects the CDE.
Problem 03
No BIM Execution Plan — or a BEP that exists but is never enforced
ISO 19650 Part 2 requires a pre-contract BEP and a post-contract BEP — both of which must be specific to the project's EIR and maintained throughout delivery. Most GCC teams produce a generic BEP template that satisfies the tender submission but has no connection to how the project is actually run. The CDE is configured differently to the BEP. The naming conventions do not match. The delivery milestones are not tracked.
Problem 04
No audit trail — documents are edited, overwritten and shared informally
ISO 19650 requires a complete, auditable record of every information container — every version, every review, every approval and every issue. When documents are shared by email, edited directly in shared drives or uploaded without revision control, there is no auditable record. On NEOM, Saudi Aramco and ADNOC programmes where compliance is verified, this creates serious contractual risk.
Problem 05
Subcontractors and consultants are not onboarded to the CDE correctly
ISO 19650 Part 2 governs the entire supply chain — not just the main contractor or lead designer. Every appointed party must follow the information management protocol. Most GCC teams add subcontractors to Forma as basic project members with no role configuration, no access control and no training — meaning the CDE's integrity breaks down the moment specialist subcontractors start uploading information.
Problem 06
Handover delivers nothing — the Asset Information Model does not exist
ISO 19650 Part 3 and most major GCC developer EIRs require the delivery team to produce an Asset Information Model (AIM) at handover — structured, verified asset data that the facilities management team can actually use. Most GCC construction projects deliver a PDF pack and a collection of unstructured model files, not an AIM. This means the employer receives nothing of operational value and the contractor is in breach of contract.
Accienta × BlackSmithSoft — Two Specialists. One Complete ISO 19650 Solution.
No single firm covers every element of ISO 19650 implementation on Autodesk Forma from strategy through to platform automation. That is why Accienta and BlackSmithSoft have partnered — combining GCC-specific BIM consulting and Autodesk Gold Partner platform knowledge with BlackSmithSoft's deep Autodesk Platform Services engineering and CDE automation capability.
Accienta
Autodesk Gold Partner · BIM & AEC Consulting · GCC & EMEA
Accienta brings the BIM strategy, ISO 19650 consulting, Employer Information Requirement interpretation and GCC authority knowledge that forms the foundation of every compliant implementation. As an Autodesk Gold Partner — the highest verified tier in the GCC — Accienta holds the certifications required to configure and support the full Autodesk Forma platform at this level.
BlackSmithSoft
Autodesk Platform Services Certified · CDE Automation · Workflow Engineering
BlackSmithSoft brings the platform engineering, CDE automation, custom workflow development and API integration that turns Forma Data Management from a standard cloud document system into a genuinely ISO 19650-compliant CDE. With over 20 years of experience building on Autodesk Platform Services and a proven track record across UAE, Canada, USA and Europe, BlackSmithSoft specialises in what happens inside the platform after strategy is defined.
Together — Everything ISO 19650 Requires, Nothing Left Unconfigured.
The combination of Accienta's strategy and GCC compliance knowledge with BlackSmithSoft's platform automation creates an implementation that covers every element ISO 19650 requires — from the BEP document through to the automated CDE workflows that enforce compliance on every document, model and data exchange throughout your project. No other partnership in the GCC delivers both sides of this in a single, coordinated engagement.
The Complete ISO 19650 Deliverable Set — From Gap Analysis to Compliant CDE.
Every engagement between Accienta, BlackSmithSoft and your team produces a specific, documented set of deliverables — not a report and a recommendation. The outputs are the configured platform, the produced documents and the trained team.
Six Steps from Gap Analysis to ISO 19650-Compliant CDE.
Every Accienta × BlackSmithSoft ISO 19650 engagement follows a structured process — strategy first, platform second, training third. Nothing is configured until we understand exactly what your EIR requires and where your current process falls short.
Discovery — Accienta
We review your EIR, current BIM processes and Forma configuration
Accienta meets with your BIM manager, project director and document control team to understand your current information management process — how your CDE is currently set up, what your employer's EIR specifically requires, which authority standards apply and where your current process deviates from ISO 19650. This session defines the full scope of the implementation before any configuration begins.
Strategy — Accienta
We produce your BIM Execution Plan and information management protocol
Accienta produces your pre-contract and post-contract BEPs — specific to your project's EIR, not a generic template. The BEP defines your information delivery milestones, model authoring responsibilities, LOD schedule, CDE structure, naming convention, coordination protocol and supply chain information requirements. This document becomes the specification that BlackSmithSoft configures the platform against.
Platform Configuration — BlackSmithSoft
We configure Forma Data Management to ISO 19650 compliance
BlackSmithSoft builds the ISO 19650-compliant CDE inside your Forma Data Management environment — CDE workflow states (WIP, Shared, Published, Archived), role-based access at each state, project folder structure, transmittal configuration, review and approval workflows, custom attributes and the naming convention automation — all built against the specification defined in the BEP produced by Accienta.
Validation — Accienta + BlackSmithSoft
We test every workflow against the standard before your first document is issued
Before any team member uses the configured CDE on a live project, Accienta and BlackSmithSoft conduct a structured validation exercise — testing every workflow state, every access control, every automation and every naming convention against the ISO 19650 requirements and the project BEP. Issues are resolved before the CDE goes live, not discovered after the first submission deadline.
Training — Accienta
We train every role on the configured, compliant CDE
Accienta delivers role-specific training on your live, configured CDE — not a generic Forma demonstration. BIM managers are trained on CDE administration and compliance monitoring. Document controllers are trained on the workflow processes and transmittal management. Discipline leads are trained on model publishing and information state management. Project directors are trained on the compliance dashboard and delivery milestone tracking.
Ongoing Support — Accienta + BlackSmithSoft
We stay with you throughout the project information lifecycle
Compliance is not a one-time configuration — it requires maintenance as the project evolves, new parties join the supply chain and Autodesk product updates affect configured workflows. Accienta and BlackSmithSoft provide ongoing support: new party onboarding, CDE reconfiguration, Autodesk update advisory, compliance monitoring and direct GCC-based technical support for any CDE issues.
ISO 19650 on Autodesk Forma — Every Question GCC Teams Ask.
Most GCC teams discover their information management is not ISO 19650 compliant during a client audit or a failed tender — not before. Accienta and BlackSmithSoft give you a clear picture of where you stand, what your EIR requires and what needs to change before your next submission. Book a 30-minute compliance assessment — we will review your current CDE configuration and tell you exactly what the standard requires that you do not yet have in place. No generic advice. No product pitch. A direct technical assessment from the only GCC partnership that covers every element of ISO 19650 implementation on Autodesk Forma end to end.