Gulf Construction Online - ‘Extraordinary’ turnout at Big 5 Saudi seminars

Events

Machinery on display at the expo.

‘Extraordinary’ turnout at Big 5 Saudi seminars

01 April 2015

More than 545 exhibitors took part in The Big 5 Saudi, a leading international building and construction show that successfully concluded last month (March 9 to 12) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The fifth edition held at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events hosted visitors, exhibitors and delegates from across the region.

Organiser dmg events reported an extraordinary turnout for the free-to-attend Seminar Series and the Continued Professional Development (CPD) certified education courses at the show.

Nathan Waugh, event director for dmg events, said: “The success of the show is testimony to Saudi Arabia’s commitment to investing in and building a sustainable nation that will ultimately benefit the economy.

“We are delighted to see that in the space of five years, The Big 5 Saudi has become the leading international building and construction event in the country. The event provides a platform for experts across the industry to exchange knowledge and showcase their products and services, in one of the world’s most buoyant construction markets. We believe that our exhibitors, sponsors, delegates and visitors will see benefits to their businesses throughout the following year.”

Tareq Al Harbi, deputy director at A Salim Bin Hendi Al Harbi Establishment, who visited the show, commented: “Every year The Big 5 Saudi seems to get bigger and better. We visit every year to see how the market is operating, what kind of products and services are available, and to also attend some of the workshops.”

Elliot Rizk, business development manager for Mice Arabia, the co-organiser, said: “We are proud of how much the show has grown, and of how valuable it has proven to be for the construction industry, not only in Saudi Arabia, but also in the region as a whole.

“About 98 per cent of our visitors have expressed their interest in returning to the show every year, as it has benefited their businesses vastly, and 87 per cent say their visit has directly influenced their product purchasing decisions.”

Commenting on Tamkeen’s participation at the event, business director Michael Horsfall said: “The Big 5 Saudi has provided a platform for us to communicate directly with our clients. Over the last two years, the success of the event has directly impacted revenue with a record number of deals signed this year. We will continue to support The Big 5 Saudi in the future.”

The Big 5 Saudi grew from 300 exhibitors in 2011 to more than 540 in 2014; from 9,000 visitors in 2011 to more than 15,000 in 2014. The overall exhibition space has grown from 7,000 sq m in 2011 to over 20,000 sq m in 2015.

The Big 5 Saudi 2015 was supported by Gold sponsor Rajhi Steel, a leading manufacturer of iron and steel in the Middle East and North Africa.