Biggest ever event as mega projects & market pick up entices industry to capitalize on the lucrative GCC market
Dubai, UAE: His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy
Ruler of Dubai, officially inaugurated The Big 5, Middle East Concrete and PMV Live 2013 on Monday at the Dubai World Trade Centre. With a history of more than 33 years in the region, the event has grown 10 percent in 2013, and brings together over 2,500 exhibitors from 65 countries with an anticipated 60,000 construction industry professionals on site over the course of four days. Professionals from the construction industry gathered together to showcase and source new, innovative and sustainable products, see the latest trends, get an update on regulations impacting design and build, and identify new markets and business opportunities.
Opening alongside The Big 5 was Middle East Concrete, the largest event for the concrete industry showcasing innovative concrete products, technical seminars and live product demonstrations, as well as PMV Live, an interactive event for the plant, machinery and vehicle industry highlighting the latest
heavy vehicles and related equipment throughout the four day event.
Andy White, group event director for The Big 5 2013, said: “We’re honored that His Highness Sheikh Hamdan has given his support to The Big 5 this year. The event continues to grow with each edition and is still considered the region’s most important event for the building and construction industry. This year The Big 5 is once again giving architects, interior designers, contractors, developers and all other construction professionals, access to the full spectrum of products. Our educational programme has also expanded this year giving our visitors access to hundreds of free seminars, workshops and regulatory updates.”
As part of The Big 5, international and regional experts addressed industry issues such as sustainability and low energy emitting materials, project management in construction, building interior trends, façade design, fire safety and managing ageing structural asset portfolios at over 100 free to
attend seminars running throughout the event. Best in class studies were presented during the Sustainable Design & Construction Conference including the LEED Platinum rated DEWA building and the futuristic White Sky iHouse. Dubai Municipality also presented on the update to its Green Building Codes, due to go live from January 1 2014, at a free to attend seminar on 25th November.
This year’s event also included a new arena specifically dedicated to building interiors, bringing together a wide range of products and services catering to this sector of the industry. The new arena provided a selective platform for this increasingly influential market segment, currently worth around $10 million within the GCC.
In addition to the new arena, the exhibition was further broken down into product specific sectors, including HVAC, Coatings, Adhesives & Sealants, Kitchens & Bathrooms, Windows & Doors, Steel, Marble, Slate & Ceramics, Water Technology and General Construction. The Big 5, Middle East Concrete and PMV Live 2013 was held from 25-28 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre.