The Big 5 2016 ... record-breaking edition.
Digital transformation
01 October 2017
The Big 5 continues to evolve, with the 2017 edition embracing digital technology, welcoming a co-located solar event, and dedicating an entire hall for HVAC-R.
The largest and the most influential construction event in the Middle East is set to opens its doors in Dubai, UAE, next month, promising an enhanced visitor experience with smart digital badges and a new co-located event that will give an insight into solar technology.
A new hall has also been set up dedicated to heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R). Also new this year is the Precast Summit, which is part of its education and networking segments that also includes a summit for construction and The Big 5 Talks.
The Big 5 was awarded “Best Trade Exhibition Over 10,000 sq m Gross” at The Middle East Event Awards 2017. Last year’s record-breaking edition welcomed 78,579 participants from 142 countries.
When it opens at the Dubai World Trade Centre this year from November 26 to 29, the 38th edition of The Big 5 will offer professionals from around the globe an enhanced platform to do business, and source the most innovative products and solutions for their projects from more than 2,500 exhibitors.
Networking and learning opportunities will be also on the rise this year, with The Big 5 CPD-certified Talks, Live Products Demonstrations, the Platinum Club, the 10th edition of the Gaia Awards, the Excellence in Construction Summit and The Big 5’s Innovation in Precast Summit, enabling professionals and decision makers to stay ahead with the latest trends and opportunities in the regional market.
Going smart
This year, The Big 5 will undergo a ‘smart makeover’ with the introduction of the new Konduko Smart Event service which will empower visitors to opt-in to receive any content stored on the smart readers available throughout the show floor. Via their smart badge, they will be able to digitally collect and control exhibitors’ information, and decide who to share their personal information with. The collected data will be then collated in a daily digest email, so all the relevant information will remain at hand in an email even after the event.
“Our mission is to offer an exceptional event that enables construction industry professionals to network, learn and do business effectively in one place, at one time. In our effort to improve the visitor experience every year, we decided to introduce Konduko’s Smart Event Service at The Big 5 2017, making it easier than ever for our visitors to collect information from the show floor,” says Josine Heijmans, dmg events’ portfolio director.
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Live product demonstration at The Big 5 2016. |
New HVAC-R hall
In order to meet the growing demand for smart, innovative and sustainable cooling solutions, and to support the local construction market in advancing industry best practices, The Big 5 is introducing a new dedicated HVAC-R hall.
“The total estimated HVAC-R spend on construction projects in Dubai is approximately $1.5 billion this year and is growing in line with the values of contracts awarded in the urban construction sector,” says Heijmans. “For this reason, we are launching a dedicated HVAC-R area that will help source the energy-efficient cooling technologies required by new green building specifications boosted by government initiatives like the UAE Vision 2021 and the Dubai 2021 Smart City Plan.”
The Big 5 Solar
With 20 per cent of visitors at last year’s show expressing an interest in solar technology, The Big 5 Solar will be co-located with the largest construction event in the region. Under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy, the event is set to become a premier platform for solar industry professionals to network and do business in the Middle East. The Big 5 Solar pursues the escalating green demands in the GCC by showcasing solar technologies from local and international exhibitors, as well as offering an education agenda geared towards industry development.
The event will feature 12 Solar Talks on real case studies, new technologies, innovations, finance models, and latest trends within the solar industry, and the third edition of the Global Solar Leader’s Summit (GSLS) taking place on November 27, which will be opened by the Ministry of Energy undersecretary Dr Matar Al Neyadi.
Summits
The Big 5’s Excellence in Construction Summit returns this year to unveil and explore current and future trends of the construction sector in Dubai, the GCC and beyond. The conference takes place on November 26, bringing together visionaries and forward-thinking leaders who have expanded the horizons of excellence in innovation and construction.
Confirmed VIP speakers include Ahmed Al Khatib, vice-president of real estate and delivery at Expo 2020 Dubai; Chris Kelsey, CEO of Cazza, the company behind the first 3D printed skyscraper project; and Bibop Gresta, chairman and co-founder of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies.
Meanwhile, The Big 5 will host the first Innovation in Precast Summit on November 26 and 27. Exploring the latest technologies, innovations, standards and regulations in precast concrete, the two-day event will feature internationally renowned precast experts, and is expected to be a turning point in the development of the regional building sector.
“The summit will provide a unique opportunity for delegates to network at the region’s largest construction event and do business with carefully selected international concrete suppliers,” says Heijmans.
Supported by BetonTage, Europe’s largest precast congress, the precast summit is free to attend. Dr Ulrich Lotz, CEO of BetonTage, comments: “The hot Middle Eastern weather requires innovative solutions like the integration of cooling facilities within precast concrete in order to reduce electrical power consumption for air-conditioning.”
Big 5 Talks
Alongside the exhibition, The Big 5 will offer 72 world-class educational sessions. Delivered by industry leaders, The Big 5 Talks will focus on six themes: MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing), Architecture, Sustainability, Business, Technology and Project Management.
The sessions will be CPD (Continuing Professional Development) certified, and free to attend for all visitors. More than 6,000 architects, engineers, project managers, contractors, developers and interior designers attended the complimentary workshops in 2016, confirming The Big 5 as the leading hub for knowledge-sharing and professional growth within the regional construction industry.
Awards
Environmental awareness is surging in the regional construction industry, as new building regulations require all new buildings to meet green building standards. Since 2008, The Gaia Awards recognises construction companies’ responsibility towards the environment, providing them with a platform to promote ‘green’ products and showcase sustainable solutions. A panel of industry experts will select the winners among exhibitors and non-exhibitors, whose products are distributed within the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.
A returning feature, the Live Product Demonstrations will offer an interactive display of the most innovative products and technologies presented in real time by The Big 5 exhibitors. Visitors will be able to gain an insight into the value and features of several new products, while assessing their suitability for their projects.
