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The Big 5

Business to business

The sustained number of exhibitors at The Big 5 show is indicative of the event’s popularity and proof of the global confidence in the opportunities offered by the region’s construction sector.

01 November 2010

THIS year’s Big 5 will yet again prove to be an exciting package of opportunities, featuring new products and concepts and best business practices for the cream of the global construction industry.

About 2,500 exhibitors from 70 countries, ranging from major global suppliers to big brands to regional agents and distributors, in addition to 29 national pavilions, will participate in this leading international building and construction show, set to take place this month (November 22 to 25) at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). This will include 200 new exhibitors and two new country pavilions, proving the event’s continued popularity and expanding scope.

As the largest event of its kind in the Middle East being staged across 16 halls at the DWTC, The Big 5 provides an unrivalled platform for architects, engineers, contractors and developers to source and specify the latest building and construction products and services. It also has a proven track record of being the place where business takes place. Last year, for example, exhibitors reported doing an average of more than $700,000 worth of business at the show and more than $1.1 million subsequently, according to dmg::events, the organiser of The Big 5.

About 35,000 global visitors representing 120 countries are expected at the show, providing the biggest gathering that offers opportunities to network with regional players in the renewed construction sector, and build relationships with new contacts and keep in touch with existing business partners.

35,000 global visitors ... expected at the show.

“We have 200 new exhibitors and two new country pavilions joining us at the event this year, a testament to the growth and increasing regional and international reach of The Big 5,” says Simon Mellor, senior vice president of construction at dmg::events. “The Middle East’s construction industry has fared well despite the recession and is inclining at a steadier pace than the likes of Europe and the US, so opportunity is rich and the event aims to provide a platform where these can be maximised.”

Saudi exhibitor numbers have increased by 38 per cent since last year’s event, with increased figures pointing to a number of different factors, according to the organiser. Among them is Saudi Arabia’s buoyant construction market, which is set to tower over the rest of the GCC in the next five years. Research on behalf of The Big 5 exhibition has shown that the kingdom will represent an impressive 56 per cent of the GCC construction industry over the next five years.

Other sectors which are set to see increased spend over the next five years include oil and gas, power and water and industrial developments.

“With almost $800 billion worth of construction scheduled from now until 2016, companies from Saudi Arabia have singled out The Big 5 as an important event to do business to both cater for the current and increasing construction demands,” says a spokesman for dmg::events. “Data from market researchers Ventures highlighted that the kingdom will see most spend in the construction of mixed-use and residential developments, rising to over $55 billion in 2013. Other building developments which will see a growth over the next five years include recreational facilities and sporting facilities, highlighting the country’s dedication to creating community-style developments.”

“The Saudi construction industry is certainly faring well and there is significant investment to come over the next five years. The Big 5 is a very regional event, which brings together every sector of the industry regionally and internationally. With such strong opportunity in the Middle East, and particularly in the Saudi market, we are looking forward to a very interesting and productive event,” Mellor comments.

Host Dubai is also showing signs of bouncing back. “Demand has increased in most sectors of the market compared to that experienced in 2009, (although) the timing of any recovery has been extended due to excess supply”, according to the latest study on real estate by Jones Lang LaSalle, a global real estate services firm.

“Despite further short-term pressure on pricing, there remains interest among investors in securing high quality and securely leased real estate in Dubai. The significant re-pricing that has occurred over the past two years is stimulating renewed demand from both occupiers and investors who recognise that Dubai remains the most competitive business environment in the Mena (Middle East and North Africa) region,” the report states.

Many exhibitors at The Big 5 2010 are seeing the region as the ideal platform on which to launch new and innovative technologies and will be showcasing a variety of products and services for the first time, globally and regionally, at the event.

Switzerland’s Saia-Burgess Controls will be launching its new energy monitor system, an easy-to-use, unpack-and-use product which helps to monitor the amount of energy being used and so helping to save energy where possible. The company believes that attitudes in building design have changed and there is more thought being put into the entire life cycle of a building.

The UK’s Teletower Access Solutions, a new player in the market, will be launching the world’s first telescopic mobile access tower. The tower comes in two parts, as opposed to the traditional 12 to 15, and is easily transported in a small car. When erected, it can reach working heights of up to 4 m, with seven adjustable height options. The patented design allows single-man operation and can be put together in under three minutes.

From Spain, Soler & Palau will be showcasing its new range of silent-design bathroom extract fans which produce very little noise – only 26,5 dB(A) – when switched on and consume very little power. It will also be launching the TD-Silent range, which comprises low-profile mixed-use fans with sound-absorbent insulation. The fans are fitted with rubber gaskets on the inlet and outlet to absorb vibrations.

Turkey’s EcoTank will also be utilising its presence at The Big 5 to launch its new-generation liquid storage system, Mars, which is zinc-coated to ensure long-lasting performance in extreme weather conditions and comes in a range of sizes up to 3 million litres. In addition, Mars has a special geo-membrane liner inside to ensure the liquid stored inside does not come in contact with the steel parts.

Within the Middle East, there are also a number of companies that see the potential of the regional and international reach of The Big 5. Kuwaiti Global Alliance will be launching its new concrete technology, which can save 50 per cent on concrete construction. New Saudi exhibitor Cemtrade will present is new fire-retardant surface coating, a brand new product in the market, while Unitech, a member of the leading Saudi group IKK, will present new-generation power tools (see page 223). Bahrain-based Reynaers Middle East will launch its innovative architectural green-friendly aluminum systems and a wood and aluminium system for doors and windows (see page 213), and Oman’s Al Rawas Marble and Granite Company will showcase its new marble products (see page 243).

The Big 5 will not only serve as a venue for doing business but also as a platform for addressing burning economic issues that have acquired huge proportions in the present economic climate. In line with this, the organisers have lined up some of the construction industry’s most influential spokespersons to share their views on the challenges and predictions for the market at The Big 5 Conference, which will be one of the key elements of this year’s event. Topics such as The Global Construction Market: Returning to Business; Managing Price Fluctuations and Lowering the Cost of Construction; and Human Resources, Developing Skills and Retaining Staff will be discussed at a series of conference sessions.

“We have a fantastic line-up of speakers this year, with some of the most knowledgeable professionals from the industry facilitating debate and discussions about real business challenges and best practice,” says Mellor.

Some of the speakers are Arabtec chief executive officer Thomas Barry, Pearl Dubai chairman Abdul Majeed Al Fahim and Al Arrab Contracting executive vice-president and member of the board Samer Afra.

The supplier seminar, a new addition to this year’s conference, builds on feedback from last year’s visitors regarding new products and suppliers. The seminar aims directly at the supply market and will focus on New Products and New Sales; Developing Contracts and Managing Relationships; and Quality Standards and the Integrated Supply Chain.
In 2009, 82 per cent of visitors had said that they had found a new product or supplier at the event, highlighting its importance to the success of the construction industry.

“The supplier seminar represents the first-ever dedicated programme for the supply sector, and is a direct result of feedback from exhibitors and visitors, who felt that there was a need for this kind of forum,” Mellor says.

This year’s event will showcase some brand new concepts, including a number of onsite training courses, hosted by some of the world’s leading training associations, such as the Institution of Civil Engineers, Association of Consultancy and Engineering and the Institution of Structural Engineers. Courses in core skills, healthy and safety and management, for example, will be awarded with accreditation on completion.

A number of the successful features from last year will appear again, including the Platinum Club, which brought together 328 project buyers from the leading 600 projects in the region with a budget of more than $100 million, last year and looks to increase its success this year.

The event is open from 11 am to 8 pm from November 22 to 25.

Link to the Big 5 Conferences: