THE Big 5, the region’s largest construction event gets under way later this month at the Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai, UAE, where it will showcase the products and services of more than 2,500 exhibitors from 65 countries around the world, who are eager to do business in the $1.3-trillion GCC construction market.

The Big 5 is expected to attract around 60,000 industry professionals looking to source new products and keep abreast of the latest technology during the four-day exhibition. And with a history spanning more than 33 years in the region, the event is said to be a perfect barometer for the region’s building and construction industry.

Professionals from the local, regional and international markets come together at the event to network, debate and do business in the region, which is once again upbeat and offering ample lucrative opportunities.

“The GCC’s construction industry outlook is catching the attention of regional and international players, as they look at ways in which they can take advantage of the significant opportunities and longevity of the market outlook,” says a spokesman for dmg::events, the organiser of the show.

“Saudi Arabia and the UAE continue to hold poll positions in terms of project worth at present, at $510.5 billion and $274.6 billion respectively, of the total $1.3 trillion GCC market. The latest figures come from a recent report from Meed, commissioned by The Big 5 2013,” he adds.

New focus

This year, The Big 5 encompasses a new focus area for building interiors, bringing together a wide range of products and services specifically catering to this sector of the industry. The new arena provides a selective platform for this increasingly influential market segment, currently worth around $10 billion within the GCC.

“We took the decision to form a dedicated space for the building interiors sector this year,” says Andy White, group event director. “The industry has grown year-on-year in the region and is also of interest to a number of specific audience groups, so bringing all these products and services together makes it much easier for suppliers to connect with potential buyers and vice versa. The Big 5 is known as a strong business facilitator, and we are constantly looking for ways to make this process simpler and more effective for our visitors.”

In addition to the new arena, the exhibition will again be broken down into product-specific sectors for 2013, housing exhibitors according to their product category and encompassing sectors including HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, coatings, adhesives and sealants, kitchens and bathrooms, windows and doors, steel, marble, slate and ceramics, water technology and general construction.

The popular schedule of live demonstrations will also be a highlight in 2013, with exhibitors taking advantage of the opportunity to create an ‘as-live environment’ for their products and showcase innovative technology and solutions directly to their target audience.

The importance of knowledge-based content will also continue to play a key role throughout this year’s event, with free-to-attend seminars taking place in the specifically allocated theatres on the event floor. Industry leaders will present research and insight from across the building and construction industry, sharing upcoming trends and innovation, with a strong focus on sustainability, which continues to be a central theme to all elements at The Big 5 this year.

Building on the success of the Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) workshops that have taken place over the past few years at the event, The Big 5 will also be hosting sessions dedicated to Abu Dhabi’s sustainable building code Estidama, as well as workshops from Dubai Municipality on Dubai’s Green Building Codes and from Dubai Central Laboratory on testing and certification of products.

The conference at The Big 5 for 2013 has evolved to encompass the spirit in which the dedicated new product arena – building interiors – was devised. The Sustainable Design and Construction Conference will take place from November 26 to 27 and is set to host debate and discussion across a range of industry topics, including ‘Master planning for Sustainable Cities of Tomorrow’ and ‘New Methods and Strategies to Drive Sustainable Building Practices across the Region’ as well as information on updated sustainable building guidelines from Dubai Municipality and design showcases from a range of iconic sustainable structures in the UAE, including The Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi and Dewa (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) headquarters in Dubai.

“Education has been a strong platform within The Big 5 for a number of years, and each year we aim to provide as tailored opportunities as possible,” says White. “We want to ensure that there are forums for attendees to learn about up-to-date information and trends from across the industry. Sustainability is a common thread running across all these platforms, and there will information available to attendees that provide the very latest in regulation and application for sustainable construction in the region.”

Sustainable innovation will continue to be recognised at The Big 5 through the return of the Gaia Awards, now in its sixth consecutive year, rewarding innovation that supports sustainable construction. Organised in co-ordination with UAE-based Green Technologies, the Gaia Awards have grown to become an important accolade for both exhibiting and non-exhibiting companies at The Big 5.

Business matters

Another familiar feature of this year’s event will be the Platinum Club, which provides exclusive, invite-only access to a range of services and facilities on site at the event. The club is open to only the most prominent contractors, architects, projects managers, consultants and industry professionals, who influence the purchasing of construction products and services and are in possession of budgets in excess of $100 million.

Platinum Club members have direct access to information about products they are responsible for sourcing, and The Big 5 helps to facilitate contacts and meetings for club members, as well as use of VIP onsite facilities and free entry to selected show features.

In addition, two specialised events – Middle East Concrete (MEC) and PMV Live – will be staged alongside The Big 5 to offer visitors a full range of construction products.

MEC is the largest event for the concrete industry while PMV Live is the region’s most interactive event for the plant, machinery and vehicle industry.

 “The GCC holds some of the most valuable business prospects for the building and construction industry for the foreseeable future and The Big 5 provides not only the regional industry but also international players, a platform to make their mark on these opportunities,” White concludes.

Visitors can register for free entry to the event at www.thebig5.ae/reg and save Dh100 ($27) on the entrance fee.