Cutting-edge new products, groundbreaking technologies, and forward-thinking discussions electrified the floors of the Big 5 Construct Saudi exhibition, as throngs of industry professionals mingled with their counterparts from both the kingdom and the wider region on the bustling event floor.

The 12th edition of the leading show for the construction sector in Saudi Arabia, which returned to Riyadh from February 26 to 29 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Centre, was inaugurated by Majid Abdullah Al-Hogail, the Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing in Saudi Arabia. He was joined at the ceremony by Eng Zakaria bin Abdulrahman Al-Abdulqader, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA).

Big 5 Construct Saudi covered the full spectrum of the construction sector under 14 product sectors. Doubling in size this year, the event boasted five new product sectors, and 1,300 exhibitors representing 47 countries. There were 17 international pavilions offering products, solutions and expertise from these countries.

The show provided an opportunity to 55,000+ professionals to engage with exhibitors and acquire products, equipment, building solutions, new technologies and services. With the event doubling, sectorised halls were organised to streamline visitor navigation and help them secure products and services that align with their needs, said Muhammed Kazi, Vice President – Construction at dmg events.

The ribbon-cutting was followed by the opening of the 4th edition of the International Contracting Conference (ICC), organised by SCA and dmg events. The conference spotlighted challenges, opportunities, and key factors shaping the contracting landscape in the kingdom.

Big 5 Construct Saudi also served as a hub for dialogues and discussions focused on propelling the kingdom’s construction sector forward. Emphasising collaboration among stakeholders to execute projects and shaping contracting practices for sustainable development in Saudi Arabia was a key focus during the talks.

 The conference focuses on the contracting sector's future and its pivotal role in realising the kingdom's vision, exploring innovations, technology integration including artificial intelligence, best practices in contracting processes, and insights into finance and insurance within the sector.”

Addressing the conference, Al-Hogail said: “The contracting sector is vital to our country’s growth, supporting key initiatives of Vision 2030 and driving various sectors forward. Given its importance, the government is actively developing and supporting it, exemplified by the establishment of the Saudi Contractors Authority. This entity has introduced numerous electronic initiatives and services via its website, such as model contracts, price index, projects platform, consulting services and project managers’ platform, effectively addressing sector challenges and facilitating smoother operations for contractors, project owners and institutions.”

Al-Abdulqader said: “The International Contracting Conference and Big 5 Construct Saudi garnered significant interest from specialists, contractors, project owners, developers, legal, finance, insurance, renewable energy firms, alongside project managers, subcontractors, consulting engineers, technology providers, transportation, infrastructure firms and suppliers”.

Speaking at the panel titled, ‘Driving innovation and collaboration in Saudi engineering and contracting: A vision for the future', Abdulmajid Al Rashoudi, Governor of SCA, said: "Saudi Arabia is now working in full swing and being very proactive in modern construction techniques. We must encourage cooperation between companies. So, we created a platform that facilitates the hiring process of engineers.”

The International Contracting Conference hosted discussions on nurturing talent, fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth, the role of the construction sector in achieving Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 for sustainability and strategies for managing financial resources in the contracting industry. Meanwhile, the Big 5 Talks hosted insightful sessions under the themes of project management, facilities management, architecture and design and codes and standards.

Participating in discussions centered on navigating the landscape titled ‘Decoding the Current State of the Contracting Sector in Saudi Arabia’, Khalid Al Othman, President of Imar Engineering Consultants, said: “Building bridges of trust between stakeholders will be the main driver of solving communication issues.”

"Everyone in construction industry has to immediately educate and implement sustainability," said Eng Saud Alshaikh, Executive Director - Eastern Regional Office at Tatweer Buildings Company, at the panel discussion titled 'The role of the construction sector in achieving Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 for sustainability'. Each organisation has to set a clear sustainable goal, integrate sustainability concept into the planning phase and  invest in training and education in terms of sustainability, he added.