THE Big 5, the largest event for the building and construction industry in the Middle East, will bring together more than 2,500 exhibitors from 65 countries, with over 60,000 construction industry professionals on site next month (November 25 to 28) at the Dubai World Trade Centre, in Dubai UAE.

Co-located alongside The Big 5 2013 will be Middle East Concrete and PMV Live, events dedicated to the concrete and machinery sectors, while a dedicated   building interiors zone will also  be featured at this year’s event for the very first time.

Other key features will include a conference titled Sustainable Design and Construction featuring a host of eminent speakers and showcase projects;  workshops on the US Green Building Council’s Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and Abu Dhabi’s Estidama ratings systems, project management, arbitration and Dubai’s green building codes; educational seminars including one on how to trade in the GCC; materials testing and certification; and live product demonstrations.

Also in the spotlight will be The Big 5’s annual Gaia awards, which has grown into the industry’s most respected awards honouring those construction equipment and products that have truly integrated the concept of moving towards a more sustainably built environment.

The leading event for the building and construction industry within the Middle East for more than 30 years, The Big 5 has seen the ongoing evolution of the GCC market and the increasing need for tailored sector solutions.

Footfall ... 60,331 people attended last year.

“We regularly host focus groups and meet with our advisory board members who help us each year to build an event that is relevant for those professionals who influence the procurement of construction products,” says group event director Andy White.

“Our research has shown us that there is a clear need for a dedicated zone for building interiors products, particularly for the interior designers and architects who attend our show. A common misconception is that The Big 5 is a building products-only event, however, for many years we have also hosted some of the world’s top interiors brands at the event,” he adds.

Products related to kitchens and bathrooms, ceramics and fittings are some of the most sought after solutions in the industry at present and this year  The Big 5 has expanded its product specific zones with the addition of building interiors to ensure that each sector in the construction industry has the opportunity to showcase its products and technologies. The new building interiors zone will showcase the latest products from across the region as well as the likes of Italy, Spain and Greece.

With a current value of $1.5 trillion, the GCC construction market is one of the most buoyant in the world at present. As the UAE and Saudi Arabia continue to hold their prominent positions for total worth of current and upcoming construction projects, with $629 billion and $494 billion respectively, the GCC is looking for new inspiration.

Highlights ... educational seminars and workshops will be part of the event.

The real estate industry in the GCC is expected to create significant business opportunities, with an anticipated $1.1 trillion worth of projects currently in the design, bid or construction stage, according to research from Zawya.

With an overall construction spend expected to reach $2.54 trillion across all major sectors, the UAE and Saudi Arabia remain at the top of the list in terms of spend, and projects are currently estimated at $903.05 billion and $766.77 billion respectively.

White says: “The construction market in the GCC was one of the first to bounce back following the economic challenges around 2009, and as an event organiser we see the volume of participation from key international markets grow as companies look to enter what is being seen as a ‘big ticket’ market.”

Infrastructure, oil and gas and power and water are three sectors creating strong opportunities for the building and construction industry within the GCC. However, it is real estate that is set to dominate the market for the years to come. There is an anticipated $528.41 billion of projects in the UAE and $321.42 billion in Saudi Arabia, two geographies continuing to lead within the GCC, according to the research from Zawya, commissioned by The Big 5.

“The UAE, and most specifically Dubai, continues to lead the real estate boom, with 48 per cent of the real estate market share in the GCC,” comments White, “with a number of multi-million dollar projects announced in 2012 alone, and a very positive start to 2013. We have seen countries, including Spain, Germany, Italy, Turkey and Greece, increase attendance at The Big 5 year-on-year.

“The levels of technology, quality and innovation is very high across Western markets, but there is not necessarily the right opportunities where they can be utilised. As such, we find many companies are choosing to launch products here so as to access the fast-paced industry and real business opportunities across many sectors in the GCC.”

Last year’s Big 5 event, the 33rd edition, saw 2,371 exhibitors from 65 countries and 32 national pavilions. A total of 60,331 people from 140 countries visited the event that was spread over 91,533 sq m of exhibition space.

Visitors at a stand last year.

Value-added events which ran at The Big 5 2012 included the Green Build Conference, the World FM Congress, the Gaia Awards, over 50 live product demonstrations, Leed workshops, concrete repair workshops, ‘How to Trade in the GCC’ seminars and many others. About 99 per cent of visitors last year said they intended to visit The Big 5 in 2013.

One of the exhibitors last year was Stuart Burns, director of Dura Composites, who had said: “We come to The Big 5 every year because it produces great results. We meet people, whether they are specifiers or contractors, who actually want to do business.”

MEC

As the largest dedicated concrete event in the region held over 7,000 sq m of space, Middle East Concrete (MEC) provides a platform for senior decision makers, suppliers and industry experts to meet in an environment conducive for business.

With a large-scale exhibition of over 300 exhibitors, a calendar of conference sessions, workshops and free-to-attend seminars as well as the return of the popular live product demonstration series, MEC offers an unlimited opportunity for visitors and exhibitors to source concrete and related products, and discover the latest industry advancements, witness new techniques in action and discuss effective business solutions. It will also host The International Concrete Sustainability Conference.

PMV Live

With a visitor attendance growth of 64 per cent year on year and over 300 exhibitors on 7,000 sq m of exhibition area, PMV Live is the region’s premier dedicated platform for the plant, machinery and vehicles industry in the Middle East.

Providing an opportunity for procurement and leasing professionals to engage first hand with suppliers about upcoming projects and mega projects throughout the region, PMV Live offers visitors a chance to source heavy machinery, preview new vehicles and learn about market trends during workshop sessions, free-to-attend seminars and live product demonstrations hosted at the heart of the event in the outdoor arena. The event will include a live product demonstration arena.

The Big 5 is organised by dmg events. Founded in 1989, the international exhibition and publishing company has operated in the Middle East since 1995 and owns many leading brands such as The Big 5 construction events, Adipec, the oil and gas exhibition and conference, Index, the interior design exhibition and The Hotel Show. dmg events is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust, one of the largest media companies in the UK.