Big 5 Global, the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region’s largest construction and urban development event, will return to the Dubai World Trade Centre this month (November 24 to 27) to provide a platform to address the mounting pressures facing the global building industry.

The construction sector is grappling with rapid urbanisation, unpredictable supply chains, urgent sustainability requirements, and a persistent skills gap, forcing companies to constantly adapt for competitiveness and resilience. The 46th edition of Big 5 Global aims to provide a central meeting point for international suppliers, industry experts, policymakers, and government leaders to find solutions and forge strategic connections to help meet demand, deliver under pressure, and achieve sustainable growth.

The event hosts over 400 speakers across four strategic, high-level summits.

The event, which has served the region’s built environment for nearly five decades, reinforces its position by gathering senior decision-makers, manufacturers, contractors, consultants, and government authorities.

This year’s exhibition will feature over 2,800 exhibitors from more than 165 countries, highlighting the scale and diversity of construction activity across MEASA. Key participating countries include China, Germany, Saudi Arabia, India, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Türkiye.

In 2025, Big 5 Global will feature nine focused events, each reflecting key shifts in the construction sector. Heavy explores developments in machinery, vehicles and lifting systems, while Totally Concrete examines material and structural resilience. Marble & Stone World highlights innovations in stone, stone design, machinery and stone applications, and Urban Design & Landscape addresses greener approaches to planning and development.

Heijmans ... direct access to active projects.

Also returning is Windows, Doors & Facades, with insights into building envelope systems. A launch event, HVACR World covers efficient cooling, heating and air quality solutions suited to regional needs. LiveableCitiesX, GeoWorld and FutureFM provide perspectives on urban resilience, facility operations and geospatial technologies.

This edition of Big 5 Global will welcome more than 20 country pavilions, including Germany, Italy, China, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and the UK. New participants such as Georgia and Morocco add to the global mix.

“The global construction sector is at a tipping point,” says Josine Heijmans, Senior Vice-President – Construction at dmg events. “The scale of urban development under way in the MEASA region is historic, but the pressure to deliver is just as significant.  In this context of rapid development and expanding opportunity, Big 5 Global provides direct access to active projects, key stakeholders, and current industry insights, enabling the construction and urban development sector to navigate complexity with clarity.”

Heijmans adds: “Every year, we see unprecedented engagement from international suppliers, government authorities and private developers, reflecting the urgency and ambition driving the growth of construction and urban development.”

RESPONDING TO A GROWING MARKET

Across the MEASA region, construction demand is being fuelled by some of the most ambitious and transformative projects and developments, says dmg events.

Big 5 globa will feature over 2,800 exhibitors from more than 165 countries.

According to Ventures Onsite more than $9.18 trillion worth of projects are planned in the region, with $7 trillion in active pre-construction projects and an additional $2.18 trillion under construction. This pipeline of projects presents immense opportunity, according to the event organisers.

GCC contractor awards reached a record $267 billion in 2024, led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Large-scale developments, including the UAE’s Etihad Rail, NEOM, King Abdullah Economic City, Egypt’s New Administrative Capital and India’s National Industrial Corridor Programme, underscore the region’s ambitious urban development agenda. Huge construction and urban development ambitions are reshaping the global landscape. These multi-billion-dollar ongoing and upcoming developments are accelerating investment, timelines and expectations.

As activities scale across the built environment, the pressure on developers, contractors, architects, engineers, project managers and suppliers has intensified, where challenges are no longer isolated, but intertwined and fast-moving. Big 5 Global responds to these complexities as a strategic gateway to help improve both delivery and operational outcomes by bringing together more than 60,000 products, services, systems and solutions, says dmg events.

The event hosts over 400 speakers across four strategic, high-level summits, including Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit, Big 5 FutureTech Summit, LiveableCitiesX Summit and GeoWorld Summit, covering the discussions on early-stage planning and procurement to sustainable building practices, workforce development and advanced technologies.

Big 5 Global will bring together more than 60,000 products, services and solutions.

A COMPREHENSIVE LENS ON THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Big 5 Global, along with its nine co-located shows, provides a holistic perspective across the construction value chain. Together, these events reflect evolving market priorities, technological adoption and sustainability trends, giving attendees access to insights, products and solutions that directly support delivery on complex projects across MEASA.

As the region’s built environment grows in complexity and scale, Big 5 Global blends legacy expertise with forward-looking solutions, ensuring it remains at the heart of MEASA’s construction and urban development ecosystem, dmg events concludes.