Combining seven major exhibitions for the construction and contracting industry over 20,000 sq m of floor space, the Big 5 is easily the largest and most prestigious exhibition of its type in the Middle East and the quality and variety of products on display is unrivalled and matches that of the major European and US exhibitions, said the organiser dmg world media, Dubai.

Net floor space booked at the DIEC has increased from 16,800 in 2002 to over 20,000 sq m this year and on show will be products and services offered by more than 1,500 companies from 50 countries.
Last year, more than 25,000 key buyers and decision-makers from the public and private sector including architects, engineers, contractors and other specifiers, attended the event.
The Big 5, which will run from 29 November to 3 December, will feature national pavilions from all major exporting countries from the East and the West, alongside the important local developers, contractors, importers and distributors.

According to the dmg world media, two sections at this year's show will receive special attention: water technology and environment, and marble/stone and machinery. The other five sectors of the show are building and construction; air-conditioning, cleaning and maintenance, glass and metal and bathrooms and ceramics.
The building and construction section is the main component of the Big 5 show, covering about half of all available space and is growing every year while the bathrooms sector occupied a complete hall last year with the products of about 100 international suppliers on display.

More than 1,700 companies, from 49 countries, took 1,044 stands in Big 5 2002 and these included 22 national and regional groups.  Most of the exhibitors received a good response to the show, which provided them with important leads to follow up.
According to the organizer, the feedback received from the exhibitors at last year's event indicated that 80 per cent of them achieved most of their objectives and 84 per cent of stated that the visitor quality was good or excellent.

'I was recommended to come here by Trade Partners UK, the export arm of the UK Government's Department of Trade and Industry. I was told that the Big 5 was the place to see all the new construction materials ™ and it is. I've seen all sorts of exciting new materials, from all over the world. The Big 5 is a really useful place to meet people,' said George Thomson of QD Plastics.

Iain Mackenzie of Union Locks said: 'We've had very good enquiries - from Libya, Saudi Arabia, Kampala, Iran, India, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan ™ and a mixture of different types of visitors - dealers, architects, specifiers, engineers, distributors, even a large OEM customer. This show is really international.'

Another exhibitor Arthur Millwood of Emirates Glass said: 'We are very pleased with the number of visitors: throughout the first three days, we have seen a steady flow of relevant people, many from abroad, as well as our existing customers. We are highly pleased with the number of new and serious enquiries. We will be very busy during the coming weeks and months, following up all these valuable commercial leads.'

After the company's debut at the Big 5 last year, Lionel Perret of Sogal, France said: 'The show is very important for us. It gives us great access to the Middle East and the GCC in particular. We are extremely impressed by what we have seen.

The number of visitors showed a marked increase over the previous Big 5 event in 2001, further consolidating the exhibition's position as the most important and prestigious building, building services and construction event in the Gulf.  The total visitor attendance was 25,146. Visitors had increased by 18 per cent over that of the previous year. More than 41 per cent of registered visitors came from Dubai, 26 per cent from Abu Dhabi and the other Emirates and 16 per cent from Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states. Visitors from other countries (17 per cent) included significant numbers from Egypt, India, Iran and Europe.
Visitors from the GCC states alone, increased by 6 per cent to reach the figure of 4,047 in 2002.
Ayman Hijab of BW Gulf of the UAE who was visiting the show, said: 'The show brings together all the major players and the variety and the professionalism of the Big 5 is a winning factor for all. The show is organised in such away that all the companies are housed in a hospitable way. I came here out of curiosity. My colleagues talk about this huge show, rating it as one of the best in the world. I had to see it for myself.'

New focus
Water Technology and environment and marble and machinery are important growth areas, hence the focus has been set on these two segments of the industry, according to a spokesman for the organiser.
 'Over the next 25 years, the UAE alone will spend over $7 billion to develop its water resources. Desalination provides for 80 per cent of water requirements, and a series of new plants are coming into operation throughout the emirates,'' he says.

'The government has focused its efforts on the development of new projects and improving current water utilisation and management. Both public and private developments throughout the region offer opportunities for overseas and local manufacturers and suppliers.'
There was excellent response to marble and machinery sector at the Big 5 2002 and the sector continues to hold promise, he said.

'Construction activity in the UAE, now running at around $4 billion per annum, is defined by large-scale projects, which favour marble and granite against cheaper alternatives. These products are mostly dependent on imports, estimated to be around $100 million in 2002,' the spokesman said.
He continued: 'The demand for flooring stone in the UAE is the highest for the region, and is even higher than Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Demand for marble and granite products has been growing at around 6 per cent per annum and these products are imported mainly as large, uncut blocks or rocks and slabs polished for final use. Such imports of marble blocks and slabs account for approximately 12 per cent of total imports.'

Commenting about prospecting in the region, the dmg spokesman said.: 'Throughout the Middle East, construction activity is currently running at its highest level for over 20 years. The Gulf states have a young population and massive housing needs, while the oil wealth drives a construction boom in both public and private sectors. At the same time, following recent events in Iraq, the Dubai construction sector will play its part in serving the needs of the country.

'The ongoing construction boom in the Gulf region is founded on an active public sector, commissioning hospitals, mosques, fire stations, tourism and educational facilities. Private sector development is even more ambitious with the emphasis on hotel, leisure and commercial developments, shopping malls, apartment blocks, condos and trade towers. Architects, designers, consultants and contractors involved in these projects throughout the region are keen visitors to the Big 5, where major business deals are concluded. The Big 5 is the most important date for decision-makers throughout the GCC, the Middle East and Asia, he added.