Gulf Construction Online - DMG happy with exceptional response

The Big 5 - Saudi Arabia

White ... building on last year’s success.

DMG happy with exceptional response

01 February 2012

GULF Construction speaks to ANDY WHITE, event director, on the response and key features of The Big 5 Saudi 2012, following the phenomenal success of the inaugural event last year.

How is the response to the show this year? Has all space available been taken up?

The response to the 2012 event has been exceptional, and we have had to double the exhibition space in order to accommodate the demand. Interest from international companies has also increased, with global companies making up 75 per cent of total participation this year.

How does this year’s event compare to the inaugural show?

Last year surpassed all expectations and we were blown away by how positively the show was received. This year, we have built upon that success, with more exhibition space as well as a series of new elements. We will be introducing the Concrete Zone which will gather exhibitors dealing in these products all together in one place, providing a tailor-made opportunity for visitors active in the concrete sector to find the international products, information and technology they need. The heavy construction sector is expected to increase significantly in the coming years, particularly in the Western Province, and so we wanted to provide an area for those looking for further information.

In addition, there will also be the return of the Facilities Management (FM) Zone, which proved to be extremely popular last year. This sector is one that continues to rise in its influence within the earlier stages of the construction process and the FM Zone will provide FM managers with a range of companies who can offer services and advice.

What are the key sectors covered by the event and which are the top five sectors in the Saudi market?

Visitors to The Big 5 Saudi can expect to see a full range of construction materials including air-conditioning, marble and stone, bathrooms and ceramics, windows and doors, plant and machinery, sealants, adhesives and chemicals, precast concrete suppliers plus much more.

A recent report from Ventures Middle East conducted on behalf of The Big 5 shows that the share of construction projects in Saudi Arabia is split as follows: buildings, 50 per cent; oil and gas, 17 per cent; Industrial, 13 per cent; infrastructure, nine per cent; power and water, eight per cent; pipeline, two per cent; and marine one per cent.

What are the new features for 2012?

Apart from a new 8,000-sq-m purpose-built temporary structure housing 150 exhibitors, new features at this year’s event include a dedicated Concrete Zone, as well as a new workshop on concrete repair, which will be conducted by experts from the industry, including Tim Thomas, business segment manager, BASF Construction Chemicals, and Kevin Davies, senior corrosion engineer, CorroCiv. We will also be staging the US Green Build Council’s Leed 201 Core Concepts and Strategies training course, facilitated by Mario Seneviratne, Leed faculty member and Leed mentor.

Do you have any elements similar to the Dubai Big 5 like the Gaia awards and the key buyers programme?

No, we have not chosen to launch the Gaia awards at The Big 5 Saudi. As the Saudi event is still in its infancy and gaining momentum, we want to ensure that we have established a solid exhibition and educational offering before introducing new elements.

The Key Buyers programme at the Big 5 Dubai is a relatively new initiative and was launched after a long period of research. We will not have a specific key buyers programme at this year’s Saudi event but research is already under way to establish the key construction buyers in the Western province and we will introduce this at The Big 5 Saudi 2013.

What sets the show apart?

This year’s Big 5 Saudi will be the largest construction exhibition ever held in the Western Province. It will offer buyers the chance to view the industry’s most innovative construction products from all over the world, many of which will be seen for the first time in Saudi Arabia.

The breadth and diversity of international product is something no other event can deliver and will enable our buyers to source the most suitable products for their current projects.