Marble, granite steal the floor at Big 5
01 March 2004
The largest and longest established trade fair for the region’s construction and contracting industry – the Big 5 2004 – will expand into the Sheikh Rashid Hall at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre, with a dedicated product sector devoted to marble, ceramic and stone products and machinery.
Last year, the fair had occupied all available space in the eight halls at the exhibition centre, when 1,500 companies from 50 countries attraced 27,097 professional visitors. The expansion follows growing demand for space from individual exhibitors and national pavilions for more stand space at the show, said a spokesman for the organiser.
“The marble, ceramics and stone markets in the Middle East are keeping pace with the buoyant construction industry in the region. Demand for marble and granite products in the region has been growing at around six per cent per annum. And, demand for flooring stone in the UAE has remained the highest in the entire region,” he said.
The importance of this sector for the contracting industry in the Middle East is said to have prompted the organisers to dedicate the Sheikh Rashid hall to exhibitors from all over the world who specialise in stone and ceramics products and machinery.
The Big 5 is a wide-ranging event, encompassing no less than seven major industry sectors including: building and construction; cleaning and maintenance; water technology and environment; air-conditioning and refrigeration; bathrooms and ceramics, and glass and metal.
Bob Hughes of dmg world media Dubai, said: “Construction activity in the UAE is now estimated at $5 billion per annum and is defined by large-scale development projects which favour marble and granite against cheaper alternatives.
“We have decided to highlight this industry sector because it is clearly becoming a major opportunity for overseas exporters and local distributors, and we want both our exhibitors and visitors to benefit from the increase in demand.”
The Big 5 2004 will take place during November 20 to 24.
