Big 5 Construct Saudi wrapped up in style last month (September) in Riyadh following four days of industry discussions focused on the future of construction and Saudi Arabia’s rapidly changing built environment.
Across Big 5 Construct Saudi and its four specialised events - HVACR Saudi Arabia, FM & Clean Saudi Arabia, Heavy Saudi Arabia and Totally Concrete Saudi Arabia - sustainability and collaboration were recurring themes in conversations on products, technologies, project delivery and asset performance, said the organisers dmg events.
Exhibitors showcased solutions designed to reduce environmental impact and improve operational efficiency.
The industry sessions examined how collaboration, planning, innovation and technology can help turn sustainability ambitions into measurable outcomes, while meaningful connections resulted in industry-shaping agreements across the ecosystem.
The exhibition floor witnessed active discussions translate into several agreements signed during Big 5 Construct Saudi, reflecting the depth of business engagement at the event.
Among them, Fipco and Saptec signed a co-operation deal to combine their construction, contracting and infrastructure expertise, with the partnership set to explore joint project opportunities and strengthen project execution capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi contracting firm Alruwais also signed a partnership agreement with software and AI provider Nemetschek, focused on business development and future collaboration, supporting greater integration across its business ecosystem.
In a separate agreement, Alruwais partnered with Gulf Machines Trading Co (Gumaco) to strengthen integration and connectivity in construction and manufacturing, and support more efficient project delivery.
Alruwais also announced a new partnership with Tameed Finance to explore joint financial solutions and opportunities across shared sectors.
Big 5 Talks: sustainability takeaways from the sessions
The discussions at Big 5 Talks complemented the exhibition with practical perspectives on the priorities driving Saudi Arabia’s construction sector, with sustainability emerging as an increasingly integrated consideration across project planning, procurement and delivery.
Speakers highlighted the importance of setting clear sustainability targets early and translating them into practical actions on site, with collaboration across the value chain.
During the session ‘Meeting sustainability requirements during construction’, experts explored how earlier alignment between project stakeholders can help teams move from sustainability commitments to implementation.
Dr Ahmed Taha Nouman, Director of Environment, Al Rajhi Building and Construction Company, stressed the need to turn “sustainability targets from paper to clear action on site”, while Daoud Akeilah, Principal Sustainability Consultant, REEDs Consult, highlighted the role of collaboration from design through procurement and delivery.
Noorullah Wasi, Environmental Compliance Manager at King Fahd Sports City Project, Saudi Binladin Group, reinforced the importance of early stakeholder engagement, noting that initial alignment is critical to ensuring materials, installation requirements and sustainability targets are achievable during construction.
Big 5 Impact Trail Awards
The event’s focus on sustainability was reinforced through Big 5 Impact Trail Awards, recognising solutions that demonstrate innovation and practical impact across key areas including low-impact technologies, circular economy principles and operational sustainability.
The Sustainability Innovation Award was presented to Prime Middle East Trading Company for its Solstice Low-GWP Refrigerant Solutions, while Masdar received the Best Circular Economy Solution Award for its Kronospan Products. Al-Futtaim Engineering Company was recognized with the Operational Sustainability Award for its Integrated Facilities Management Solution.
Muhammed Kazi, senior vice-president at dmg events, said the final day of Big 5 Construct Saudi marked the close of a strong edition, with discussions during the event leading to new connections, collaborations and commercial opportunities.
“The response from the industry reflects the scale of opportunity in the kingdom, and we look forward to building on this momentum as we prepare for next year’s edition,” he added.