The region’s largest and most-influential construction industry event, Big 5 Global returns this month to Dubai with an even stronger international presence, featuring 2,200 exhibitors from more than 60 countries.

The 44th edition of the construction showcase is set to open at the Dubai World Trade Centre on December 4 covering the full spectrum of the construction industry from inception to completion, and offering a platform for the whole industry to meet under one roof to do business, network and exchange knowledge.

Among the 60-plus countries participating in the event are China, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Türkiye, the UK and more. The four-day event is anticipated to attract more than 68,000 visitors from over 150 countries.

“Over the years, Big 5 Global has become a dynamic catalyst for the full construction value-chain – from inception to commissioning and management. The event is a pivotal bridge connecting global businesses with the right buyers, making it an essential place for professionals in the construction sector,” says Josine Heijmans, Vice President – Construction, dmg events, the organiser of Big 5 Global.

At this year’s Big 5 Global, eight product sectors take centre stage including building envelope and special construction, building interiors and finishes, construction tools and personal protective equipment, intelligent buildings, MEP services, off-site and modular construction, digital construction products and services, and solar solutions. The focus on these sectors makes the event a melting pot of cutting-edge innovations and modern construction technologies on a global scale, says dmg events.

In addition to the focus on the eight product sectors, the event is co-located with eight specialised events, namely Big 5 Heavy, Middle East Concrete, HVAC R Expo, Middle East Stone, Urban Design & Landscape Expo, and FM Expo as well as the biennial Windows, Doors & Facades (WDF) Event and Gulf Glass.

This global construction showcase is supported by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, with other supporting partners including Dubai Municipality and Dubai Civil Defense.

Big 5 Global is a melting pot of cutting-edge innovations and modern technologies.

Big 5 Heavy

This year’s Big 5 Heavy will have the largest outdoor exhibition area ever, showcasing cutting-edge construction equipment.

As a dedicated event catering to the plant, machinery and vehicles industry, Big 5 Heavy focuses on various product sectors including earthmoving machines and equipment – crushers, quarries and screening, access platforms, cranes and lifting equipment and forklifts, among others. 

Renowned companies exhibiting at Big 5 Heavy include Bauer, Terex, MAN Trucks, Isuzu, Husqvarna, Avant, Gorica and others.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for us to be a part of Big 5 Heavy to not only showcase our cutting-edge construction equipment but also to engage with industry leaders, experts and construction professionals,” said Shahram Houshmandfard, Managing Director at Bauer Equipment Gulf.

Another exhibitor, Milwaukee Tools will present battery-operated power tools with the company’s stand at Big 5 Heavy set to be fully operated on solar power.

A wide range of construction equipment will be showcased in the outdoor space.

Middle East Concrete

Middle East Concrete showcases products including concrete reinforcements, formwork and scaffolding, precast production and equipment, cement and cementitious products, batching equipment and readymix concrete, among others.

The event features some of the world’s biggest names in the concrete industry. These include Elematic, Condor, Masa, Lafarge, Putzmeister, Quadra, Topwerk, Hitech, Kryton and Gulf Precast Concrete, to name a few.

At the event, one of the exhibitors, Sigma Enterprises, is set to launch Trelawny, a concrete surface preparation technology as part of its expanding portfolio.

American Concrete Institute (ACI) is the Supporting Association of Middle East Concrete.

Ahmad Mhanna, Middle East Regional Director at ACI, said: “Through our partnership with Middle East Concrete, we strive to empower professionals and engineers by providing them with access to cutting-edge knowledge, innovative solutions and a global network of peers.” 

Middle East Stone

The robust urban construction activities in the region are fuelling a significant surge in the need for natural stone, marble and granite products. To cater to this escalating demand, Middle East Stone provides access to premium products for a wide range of applications including flooring, facades, landscaping, and interior fit-outs, as well as comprehensive installation and maintenance solutions on a global scale.

Companies such as Breton, Waterjet, Brachot, Julipedra, Iktinos, Naturelmar, and Granimarmo, among others, will be exhibiting at this year’s event.

WDF & Gulf Glass

The windows, doors and facades and glass industry is playing a major role in reducing energy costs and improving sustainability of buildings. Advances in technology, improved weather resistance and energy-efficiency are driving the demand for these products.

Product sectors under focus at the event include curtain-wall systems, insulation materials, aluminium doors and windows, wooden doors and windows and operational software, among others.  Some of the renowned names exhibiting at the event are Schüco Middle East, Alumil Middle East, Gutmann, Sykon, Hegla, Orgadata, Landglass, Filtraglass, Pertici and Sefpro (Saint Gobain).

Other Events

Other key events taking place concurrently include:

• HVAC R Expo: The exhibition will feature sustainable heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration products and services, from well-known names such as Honeywell, Rime Group, Resideo, Siemens, Gulf-O-Flex, Danfoss, Fawaz Group and Coolex.

• Urban Design & Landscape Expo: On show at this premier event for urban green spaces will be a wide range of product sectors including benches and seating barriers, composite wood and decking, furniture plant containers, garden and street furniture, paths and squares and pavers, among others.

Some of the exhibitors at the event include Bluestream, Raknor, Orient Irrigation, Fujairah Concrete Products, Serge Ferrari, Bagatinni and Eurotech.

• FM Expo:  At this expo, visitors can discover various product sectors including commercial cleaning and hygiene services, waste and recycling and other facility management products and services from companies such as Elid Technology International, Taqt, Vance Chemicals and Xporience.

Heijmans continues: “With the co-location of eight specialised events, Big 5 Global provides the opportunity to meet over 2,200 exhibitors from 60-plus exhibiting countries to explore the very best the industry has to offer, including ground-breaking technologies, sustainable building practices, cutting-edge materials and innovative project management solutions – all of which collectively support efficient development and delivery during the project lifecycle.”

Promoting global thought leadership in the industry, Big 5 Global this year brings an extensive content programme including Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit, Big 5 FutureTech Summit, Everything Architecture as well as Big 5 Talks held under 10 different streams including project management, concrete, geotechnical, architecture, solar, facilities management, facades, HVAC R and MEP, offsite and modular, technology and urban design and landscape.

The event also celebrates the third edition of Big 5 Global Impact Awards recognising innovation, sustainable development, technology and digital achievements in the construction industry in 19 categories.