Big 5 Global, the largest and most-influential construction industry event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), returns for its 45th edition this month (November 26 to 29) at the Dubai World Trade Centre, hosting a global gathering of industry professionals across urban development, construction, geospatial and facilities management.

The mega showcase runs alongside new events such as LiveableCitiesX, Future FM and GeoWorld.

The events will together host over 100,000 attendees from more than 165 countries, 2,700+ exhibitors and more than 300 speakers for four days of business networking, partnerships and knowledge exchange.

In its 45th edition, Big 5 Global will host over 20 country pavilions that will demonstrate unique construction solutions, including those from Austria, Belgium, China, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Poland, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Türkiye.

Eight product sectors in the spotlight at Big 5 Global include building envelope and special construction, building interiors and finishes, construction tools and personal protective equipment, digital construction products and services, intelligent buildings, MEP services, off-site and modular construction and solar products, technologies, and services.

Heijmans ...”This ultimate urban development and construction meet-up is where the future of our cities takes shape.”

World Bank’s projections indicate that by 2080, 80 per cent of the world’s population will reside in cities, with a substantial portion of this growth occurring in the MEASA region. As the need for construction and infrastructure increases with rapid urbanisation, the events provide a platform for industry professionals to discuss challenges, opportunities and advancements and facilitate collaboration among key stakeholders, says dmg events, the organiser of the events.

Emphasising the importance of this gathering, Josine Heijmans, Senior Vice President – Construction at dmg events, states: “This ultimate urban development and construction meet-up is where the future of our cities takes shape. With stakeholders from vision to commissioning all in one place, the events offer industry professionals a unique chance to gain insights, network with industry leaders and discover new solutions and innovations. If you’re serious about staying ahead in the industry, this is the place to be.”

According to dmg events, the total value of MEA projects is $9 trillion, with the value of pre-construction stage projects being $6.75 trillion, as the pipeline maintains a strong momentum of growth fuelled by substantial investments in urban development projects, including major developments in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. As a result, Big 5 Global not only highlights the region’s expanding opportunities but also strengthens its role as the ultimate meeting point for the industry.

New events

Running alongside Big 5 Global, LiveableCitiesX is an event tackling city-making challenges by uniting global and regional experts to shape sustainable, resilient, and liveable cities for the future. GeoWorld, the only event of its kind in the MEASA region, will highlight the important role of geospatial technologies and intelligence and how this growing sector is transforming industries around the globe. Redefining facilities management, Future FM will address the transformative shift within the FM industry and serve as a hub for FM professionals.

A total of eight specialised events will take place concurrently with Big 5 Global.

“Together with Big 5 Global, LiveableCitiesX, Future FM and GeoWorld bring the entire urban development and construction value chain together and address the intertwined challenges and opportunities in these sectors and create a cross-disciplinary collaboration,” adds Heijmans.

In their inaugural editions, LiveableCitiesX, Future FM and GeoWorld are supported by Dubai Municipality, Dubai Land Department (DLD), UAE Federal Geographic Information Centre (FDIC) and the World Geospatial Industry Council, further reinforcing the events’ alignment with key industry standards and objectives.

Five summits will be held alongside Big 5 Global.

Other specialised shows

For the third year in a row, Big 5 Global is supported by the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, highlighting the importance of industry collaboration and advancement and reinforcing the UAE’s role as a global leader in urban development and construction.

This year, the event is accompanied by five other specialised events covering the entire construction value chain. These include Heavy, which will be a showcase of the world’s most advanced plant, machinery and vehicles; Totally Concrete, which will transform the concrete industry by bringing in new technologies, sustainable methods and products; HVAC R Expo, which brings state-of-the-art technologies transforming the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration industry; Marble & Stone World, presenting innovations in stone, stone design and machinery and quarrying; and Urban Design & Landscape, which will present innovations in design, urban planning and landscape architecture.

The events will put the spotlight on over 60,000 products and solutions.

The events gather over 60,000 products and solutions and welcome a host of new-to-show brands such as China State Construction International Holdings, Knauf Ceiling & Solutions, Zoho Corporation, Trimble, Imagegrafix Software, Radiodetection, HP Adhesives, Asian Paints, Holcim and others. Some of the top exhibiting brands include Milwaukee, Stanley Black and Decker, Bauer, Gulf Precast, Topwerk, Masa, Honeywell, Siemens, Henkel Polybit Industries, Premier Construction Software and others.