Constructionshows
The Big 5 celebrates its 40th anniversary from 25 to 28 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre
Reaching a remarkable milestone in Dubai, The Big 5, Middle East’s largest construction event, will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year.
On the backdrop of four decades of success, the mega show will turn into a global hub for the entire construction industry at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 25 to 28 November.
The Big 5 2019, aimed at supporting one of the major pillars to the region’s economy, will feature more product sectors than ever before, alongside six co-located shows offering 360-degree building solutions, from the inception to the completion of all construction projects:
- The Big 5 Heavy, the largest exhibition dedicated to the infrastructure and heavy construction industry in the Middle East;
- Middle East Concrete, the leading platform for the concrete industry in the region;
- HVAC R Expo Dubai, Middle East’s leading platform connecting the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry;
- Middle East Stone, the region’s premier event for natural stone, marble, granite, design and technology;
- The Big 5 Solar, Middle East’s only dedicated platform for solar solutions in construction;and the Urban Design & Landscape Expo, the region’s premier trade event for urban green spaces.
The Big 5 2019 will combine the benefits of dedicated events with a truly comprehensive platform able to attract a global audience from over 130 countries to Dubai, for four days of face-to-face business meetings.
“We are thrilled to announce that this year our events are all back side by side,” says Josine Heijmans, Portfolio Director at dmg events.
“The spectrum of products and solutions for the construction industry will be wider than ever. Construction professionals will be able to grasp what’s going on in the industry and take advantage of the different disciplines across the entire lifecycle of the projects being finally together, under one roof.”
To facilitate communication across the industry, The Big 5 will also launch the CEO Roundtable this year, gathering the who’s who of the construction industry in a closed door setup.
Moreover, after the successful launch of the Start-Up City, the Live Innovation Zone, and the FutureTech Construction Summit in 2018, innovation and technology will take centre stage in the upcoming edition of the show, Heijmans promises.
“As new technologies emerge, the different industry functions must come together and collaborate throughout all the stages of a project. That’s why at The Big 5 we firmly believe in promoting an environment where silos are broken down, allowing for an effective communication to finally take place among all the stakeholders involved in the construction process.”
For the first time this year, The Big 5 will also introduce the brand new Offsite & Modular Construction Sector.
“With rapid and efficient construction delivery being in high demand, buyers require state-of-the-art offsite and modular construction solutions for residential, educational, healthcare as well as commercial applications,” Heijmans explains.
Beyond bringing to Dubai thousands of innovative products, the event will also provide complimentary high-level summits, practical seminars, workshops, and round tables to foster collaboration, support best practices, and provide effective solutions to today’s industry challenges.
40 years of growth in Dubai
Launched in 1979, the same year Jebel Ali Port started its operations in Dubai, The Big 5 has been a key player within the booming construction industry in the Middle East.
The event has grown from strength to strength, reflecting the growth of the UAE and the broader region.
Two years after the opening of the iconic Burj Al Arab in 1999, The Big 5 welcomed for the first time 1,000 exhibiting companies that recognised Dubai as the place to be to make profitable business.
In 2007, when Palm Jumeirah put Dubai and the UAE on the global real estate map, the show became one of the first in the region to host a foreign Prime Minister. Right after the opening of the Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa, the event also introduced the first CPD-certified workshops in 2010 to train industry professionals and serve the sector by promoting best practices and innovation.
Over the past four decades, The Big 5 has launched hundreds of thousands of products boosting the expansion of the regional market. It has facilitated partnerships, advanced knowledge and industry best practices, while serving as the gateway for international companies to do business and expand in the Middle East.
Today, The Big 5 is the number one annual meeting place for the global construction community to network, learn and do business in the region and beyond, as the MENA market keeps attracting industry players from around the world. With more than USD 1 trillion worth of contracts awarded over last five years, in fact, the MENA region’s future projects pipeline exceeds USD 3.7 trillion. Construction and civil construction projects alone account for USD 2.4 trillion, according to a recent report by MEED Projects published by The Big 5.
Confirming the UAE and Dubai’s growing role as a global business hub, international participation at The Big 5 has increased by 11% over the past five years only, the event organisers reveal.
In 2018, 2,250 exhibitors took part in the show, which welcomed more than 68,000 construction professionals from 132 countries. 70% of the exhibiting companies and 41% of the visitors came from outside the United Arab Emirates.
Longstanding partnerships
Remembering its decades long partnership with The Big 5, Mr. Shabbir Haideri, Group General Manager at M.A.H.Y. KHOORY & Co, said:
“The year 1990 was a milestone in M.A.H.Y. KHOORY’S history when it first took the step and partnered with dmg events to take part in the prestigious Big 5. This collaboration opened up many first ventures for M.A.H.Y. KHOORY making it the reliable business house it is today.
“What started out as a simple “meet and greet” segment in most of The Big 5 exhibitions, eventually fostered partnerships with reputable companies worldwide. Needless to say, The Big 5 has been instrumental in M.A.H.Y. KHOORY gaining its recognition in the construction industry.”
Nagarajan C.V., Deputy Chief Executive Officer of DUTCO TENNANT LLC, said:
“When we first decided to participate in The Big 5, we saw the show as an opportunity to let the local market know about the new products we were bringing to the UAE, like the country’s first elevated water tank and the first diesel engine power station. Throughout the years, exhibiting at The Big 5 allowed us to find customers, business partners and even talent.
“More than that, The Big 5 allowed us to become a Gulf-wide company. The Big 5 has encouraged us to look beyond the UAE borders and now we have offices and run operations across the entire region, from Saudi Arabia to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.
“Looking back at the past decades, we can state that the growth of Dutco has been truly parallel to the one of The Big 5: from a small show taking place in just a couple of halls, to the massive, international and successful exhibition it is today.”
The Big 5 2019 runs from 25 to 28 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre, alongside The Big 5 Heavy, Middle East Concrete, HVAC R Expo Dubai, Middle East Stone, The Big 5 Solar, and the Urban Design & Landscape Expo.
To know more, visit www.thebig5.ae.
Source: dmg Events