Gulf Construction Online - Perfect opportunity

Saudi Build

Perfect opportunity

With Saudi Arabia’s construction market booming, Saudi Build 2011 has drawn exhibitors from all over the world who are eager to cash in on the major opportunities that the B2B event offers.

01 September 2011

EXPECTATIONS are running high for this year’s Saudi Build 2011, as some 700 exhibitors from around the globe arrive in Saudi Arabia to tap the huge opportunities offered by one of the most buoyant construction markets in the world.

The 23rd in the series of international construction technology and building materials exhibitions held annually at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre, the mega event is set to open next month (October 16 to 19) concurrently with Saudi Stone-Tech 2011, the 14th international stone and stone technology show.

Exhibition space has been expanded to reach over 29,000 sq m to accommodate the large number of participants interested in the Saudi construction boom and eager to meet Saudi Arabia’s project managers, procurement managers, architects, engineers, contractors, buyers, traders, businessmen, officials and manufacturers.

Saudi Build is the kingdom’s largest construction fair where exhibitors can showcase the latest building technologies, secure representative agreements for their products and sign major sales contracts in Riyadh, the centre of the region’s largest construction market, says Shahid Bhatti, project manager for Riyadh Exhibitions Company, the organiser.

“Saudi Arabia is increasingly grabbing the attention of global suppliers and technology vendors because of the sheer size of the kingdom’s construction market,” he says. “A large number of international companies are now exploring expansion opportunities in Saudi Arabia, especially at a time when other markets continue to underperform. Saudi Build and Saudi Stone-Tech will therefore serve as an ideal platform for international suppliers to network with trade buyers and decision makers from the Saudi government.”

He said the events have for years gathered the largest number of property developers, local and international builders, building merchants and high-profile investors, making them the definitive marketing venue for all stakeholders in the Saudi construction sector.

Saudi Build 2011 expects thousands of industry-related visitors, including high-profile business leaders from the kingdom and around the world, diplomats and high-ranking Saudi government officials. The event will also gather hundreds of exhibiting companies from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, collectively offering a comprehensive collection of the latest construction products and services.

Last year’s event attracted 22,783 professionals from around the world.

Saudi Stone-Tech caters to evolving requirements and changing trends in stone technology products, machinery and services. Supported by VeronaFiere (Verona Trade Fair Company), Italy’s top trade show organiser, and the Italian Marmomacchine Association, a technical and promotional organisation for Italy’s stone and allied industries, Saudi Stone-Tech will feature designers and landscapers who will showcase cutting-edge stone products, including marble, granite, travertine and stone derivatives, as well as cutting, polishing and manufacturing machinery.

Last year’s Saudi Build held from October 18 to 21 at the same venue covered the full range of industry topics related to construction materials, equipment, mechanical, civil engineering, concrete, steel technologies and “green” construction technologies. Some 900 exhibitors representing 37 countries including 19 national pavilions participated at the show that spread over a total area of 29,400 sq m.

About 22,783 professionals visited the event, coming from throughout the kingdom, neighbouring countries, the Middle East in general, the Far East, Asia and Europe. These included high-profile investors, businessmen, local and international public figures, diplomats and high-ranking government officials, financiers, engineers and contractors, architects and interior designers, distributors, real estate developers and project managers.

The main features of last year’s event included Saudi Build – The PMV Series 2010, the international exhibition for construction equipment, plant, machinery and vehicles. It gathered the main industry players from Saudi Arabia, the GCC and different countries to provide the latest solutions and equipment to the largest industry in the region. This year The PMV Series was held from May 29 to June 1 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Exhibitors at the event were generally positive about their trade fair presentation and praised, in particular, the quality of visitors, who were nearly all experts and representatives of the sector, the number of local companies and the presence of major key players at the show.

Saudi Stone-Tech, held concurrently with Saudi Build, was a key attraction.

Another successful highlight of last year’s Saudi Build event was Saudi Stone-Tech, which was a joint effort of Riyadh Exhibitions Company, Veronafiere and Confindustria Marmomacchine to deliver the latest designs, technologies and solutions in the stone industry.

The show’s 13th edition showcased products ranging from marble slabs to mosaics as well as computerised stone cutting, quarrying and polishing machinery and equipment. This joint collaboration produced a remarkable event last year where more than 200 specialised exhibitors in stone products and machinery took part. Saudi Stone-Tech 2010 welcomed exhibitors from over 15 countries and covered a total space of 6,500 sq m.

Also held concurrently was Saudi Build Matchmaking, in which more than 50 companies from 10 countries across Europe, Australia and New Zealand met with Saudi firms for an afternoon of one-to-one business meetings.
“Saudi Build 2010’s concurrent events contributed to the making of the show as a one-stop shop for all the construction needs of industry professionals, and governmental decision makers who visited the show and networked with the exhibitors,” says Bhatti.

Prince Dr Abdulaziz Bin Ayaf Al Muqrin, the mayor of Riyadh, expressed his happiness over the size of the exhibition compared to the last 10 years, and highlighted the importance of the exhibitors, the work of the organiser, and the quality of Saudi and international products.

A survey of the event showed that an overwhelming majority (95 per cent) of exhibitors were satisfied with the show, with 100 per cent recommending Saudi Build 2011.

Sebastian Sons of Numov, Germany, described Saudi Build one of the most important construction fairs in the region and especially in Saudi Arabia, saying it was a good mixture of businessmen, partner players, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), official institutions and visitors who were interested to see products from abroad.

Markus Josef Gumplmayr from the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber Austria said there was a wide range of companies from various nations at Saudi Build, and Saudi Arabia was “an interesting market in the construction area”.
Trade visitors to this year’s Saudi Build – the largest business-to-business construction fair in the kingdom – will be able to evaluate the latest offerings in building materials and equipment, architectural finishing products, stone, marble and granite products, construction tools and technology, engineering services, infrastructure materials, security and safety systems, among others. “They will also be able to establish new representation agreements, expand their existing business and source their project needs, all under one prime location,” Bhatti concludes.