The Big 5, the Middle East’s largest construction event that this year marks its 40th anniversary, will turn into a global hub for the entire construction industry when it opens at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in November (24 to 28).

The Big 5 2019 will feature more product sectors than ever before, alongside six co-located shows offering 360-degree building solutions, said dmg events, the event organiser.

This year, the expo will combine the benefits of dedicated events with a comprehensive platform able to attract a global audience from over 130 countries to Dubai, for four days of face-to-face business meetings. These incude:

• The Big 5 Heavy, the largest exhibition dedicated to the infrastructure and heavy construction industry in the Middle East;

• Middle East Concrete, the region’s leading platform for the concrete industry;

• HVAC R Expo Dubai, the 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, the Middle East’s only dedicated platform for solar solutions in construction; and

• Urban Design & Landscape Expo, a premier event for urban green spaces.

“We are thrilled to announce that this year our events are all back side by side,” remarked Josine Heijmans, the 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 set-up.

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, added Heijmans.

As part of the 40-year anniversary celebrations, The Big 5 will this year introduce the brand new Offsite & Modular Construction Sector.

“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,” explained Heijmans. “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.”

Beyond bringing to Dubai thousands of innovative products, The Big 5 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.

Last year, 2,250 exhibitors had taken part in the show, which welcomed more than 68,000 professionals from 132 countries.