Gulf Construction Online

The Big 5 Special

The Big 5 ... key construction event.

Focus on Five

01 November 2016

The region’s largest construction showcase is set to open its doors this month in Dubai, UAE, putting the spotlight on the five key sectors of the industry.

True to its name, The Big 5 this year will group its thousands of international and regional exhibitors according to their area of specialisation in five key sectors of the construction industry.

The largest and most renowned construction industry event in the Middle East, The Big 5 will open its doors in Dubai, UAE, this month (November 21 to 24). Now in its 37th edition, it is expected to attract 75,000 visitors and over 3,000 exhibitors across the entire Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

The brand new floorplan layout comprises five dedicated sectors: mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services, building interiors and finishes, building envelope and special construction, construction tools and building materials and smart building and design technologies.

“The new dedicated sectors will make planning the visit to The Big 5 easier and more efficient than ever before,” says a spokesperson for dmg:events, the organiser of the show.

Josine Heijmans, event director of The Big 5, says she is confident the new layout will facilitate business opportunities, while effectively responding to the current needs of all construction industry professionals.

“One of the key reasons for our visitors to attend The Big 5 is to look for specific products, innovations and new technologies as well as to network with new or existing business partners and industry peers,” she says.

While the previous layout did include the five main sectors, many international exhibitors were located in country pavilions. This, coupled with the expansion of The Big 5 over the years, made it more challenging for attendees to find the specific products or the companies they were looking for, she points out.

“These main sectors are further broken down into subsectors, so it will be really easy to navigate the exhibition halls and find the right exhibitors and products. In addition, a new app, route planners, a search function on the website and staff onsite will further support visitors attending the show,”
adds Heijmans.

New features

Also new this year is the exclusive one-day Excellence in Construction Summit, which has just received endorsement from the Dubai Economic Council (DEC) as a strategic partner.

The summit, to held on November 22 at the DWTC, will gather 500 industry leaders to discuss current and future trends of the construction sector in Dubai, the GCC region and beyond.

“Our endorsement of The Big 5 2016 and the Excellence in Construction Summit mirrors DEC’s keenness to support and contribute to all activities that enhance Dubai’s economy,” states Hani Rashid Al Hamli, the secretary general of the DEC.

“The Big 5 is the largest construction event in the Middle East, and its summit is a rich opportunity for all stakeholders who look forward to develop the construction industry,” he notes.

The construction sector is considered among the key pillars of Dubai’s economy beside trade, tourism and banking, he adds.

According to a recent international report, the value of Dubai’s construction projects in execution and planning stages is expected to reach a record of $390.7 billion this year. Of this, 13.7 per cent of the developments worth $53.5 billion are currently under progress.

According to Al Hamli, the construction sector is key for the sustainable growth
of Dubai.

Lauding the DEC endorsement, Heijmans says: “We are extremely proud and honoured by DEC’s decision to support The Big 5’s Summit this year. We are confident this partnership will positively support Dubai’s Vision, providing strategic insights into a world of opportunities as well as challenges faced by construction professionals in the region and from around the world.”

Al Hamli will deliver a keynote speech at the summit, offering a presentation on the construction industry in the current global economic framework.

Also, DEC experts will join the workshop on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and the future development of the infrastructure industry in the UAE and GCC.

Gaia Awards

Among changes introduced to the overall Big 5 showcase, the eighth edition of Gaia Awards has been opened for public voting. Since 2008, the Gaia Awards at The Big 5 have been honouring the products and services that help reduce the construction sector’s impact on the environment in the Middle East.

Open to organisations whose products are distributed within the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, the Gaia Awards will take place at the DWTC on November 23.

This year for the first time ever, shortlisted products will be voted for by the public through a voting page on The Big 5 2016 website. Voting stations will also be available at the venue during the first and second days of the event.

Ten companies that presented highly innovative products that are expected to have a tremendous impact on the Middle East construction sector have been shortlisted for this year’s Gaia Awards by a panel of industry experts with acclaimed credentials.

These companies were selected from among more than 100 applications received for the awards. The Gaia Awards’ judging panel will include the public votes in their decision while selecting the overall winner and the winners for the five product sectors.

The overall winner chosen by the Gaia Awards judging panel will receive a prize of $50,000 in marketing value.

The 10 products that have been shortlisted include:

• Abloy EL560L low-energy lock by Assa Abloy (represented by Prometal Metal Industries): The lock is said to exhibit revolutionary innovation in energy efficiency, combining maximum security, integrated functionality and minimal environmental impact for the end-user.

• Diathonite Evolution by Diasen: This plaster replicates the natural qualities of cork, creating a high-performance external wall insulation system to protect buildings.

• EcoPower hybrid hurricane ventilator by Synergy United Company: The ventilator uses wind or low electrical energy to ventilate buildings and create optimum indoor air quality (IAQ). The product uses to advantage the difference in day and night temperatures to cool buildings.

• Modulo and Elevator raised floors by Cobiax Middle East: The product enhances the structural behaviour of slabs and structures while meeting the criteria for sustainable and economic planning of buildings.

• One-Way-Container (OWC) by Inotec: The product prevents back injuries and breathing problems. It also improves work efficiency, reduces carbon dioxide emission and is 100 per cent recyclable.

• Pladur gypsum board by Yesos Ibéricos: The ceilings range meets high demands in terms of acoustic conditioning and aesthetic design.

• Photovoltaic (PV) glass for buildings by Onyx Solar Energy: The PV glass turns buildings into clean electricity generators while respecting the structural capabilities of conventional glass.

• SageGlass by SageGlass: This electronically tintable, dynamic glass prevents heat and glare, increases occupants’ comfort, optimises daylighting, reduces energy consumption while maintaining the view to the outdoor.

• Solidian grid by Solidian: This non-metallic reinforcement made of glass/carbon fibres does not corrode and allows to minimise concrete covers for maintenance- and remediation-free lightweight structures.

• Toro Watt Dual Path by Jumbo Engineering: This air-handling technology in a dedicated outdoor air system handles sensible and latent heat load individually, bringing a 20 to 40 per cent reduction in size of the cooling coil. It also generates a 30 to 50 per cent reduction in recurring power consumption; reduces the deployment of refrigerants; and uses water for sensible cooling at 10 Watt per tonne of refrigeration.

The Big 5 is co-located with Middle East Concrete and PMV Live. Alongside the exhibition, it offers a live demonstration area and advanced educational features, including 75 free CPD certified workshops and the free-to-attend Excellence in Construction Summit.

Last year’s Big 5 saw record-breaking numbers, with 73,584 participants, including 3,104 exhibitors from 67 countries, across 113,526 sq m of floor space.