Building and construction show Big 5 opens in Dubai today

The 43rd edition of the Big 5, the construction event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, has opened today. The four-day event is being held at th Dubai World Trade Centre.

The annual event will feature six specialised events addressing the entire sector eco-system, namely the Big 5 Heavy, Middle East Concrete, HVAC R Expo, Middle East Stone, Urban Design & Landscape Expo and FM Expo. Also held alongside the Big 5 is the inaugural Everything Architecture, the exclusive event for the architecture and design community in the Middle East.

More than 2,000 participants from 60 countries are taking part in the event, which will host 20 national pavilions, including newcomers Oman, Pakistan and Singapore.

The show will bring together key stakeholders from across the full construction value-chain to network, learn and do business.

The event also includes participation from the UAE’s Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, Dubai Municipality and Dubai’s General Directorate of Civil Defense.

The Big 5 2022 features focused exhibits, summits, industry talks, visitor experiences and incubator pitching to address key sector challenges, spur technology adoption, and promote sustainability.

💥 The annual meeting hub for the global construction community is now open! 💥 Get ready for for four action-packed days!

If you haven’t registered yet, you can still get your badge at #BIG5EXHIBITION! pic.twitter.com/FwWtmPW4Ag

— The Big 5 Exhibition (@Big5Exhibition) December 5, 2022

“The Big 5 covers all sector touchpoints as the industry looks to step into the vanguard of sustainability to address climate change, encourage cross-sector collaboration, better cater to heightened societal expectations, improve diversity, and prove its willingness as a technology adopter,” explained Ben Greenish, senior vice-president – Construction of Big 5 organiser dmg events.

Opening the programme is the Global Construction Leaders’ Summit, where local, regional, and global industry decision-makers will look for a collaborative pathway to industry transition.

Distinguished delegates attending the summit will hear from David Grover, CEO at ROSHN – Saudi Arabia’s national real estate developer powered by the Public Investment Fund, Adel Albreiki, CEO at Aldar Projects, Pierre Santoni, CEO Middle East at Parsons, Kez Taylor, CEO at ALEC, Ian Williamson, chief projects delivery officer at Red Sea Global and Saeed Al Abbar, CEO at AESG, to name a few.

It is also on day one that the 2022 winners of The Big 5 Construction Impact Awards will be revealed. A total of 17 categories ranging from ‘Carbon Net-Zero Initiative of the Year’, to ‘Best Use of Technology of the Year’, and ‘Workforce of the Future Initiative’, will recognise sustainable development, technological and digital achievements in the construction industry.

Amongst 117 finalists are leading organisations including Turner & Townsend, Gensler, China State Construction Engineering Corporation Middle East, Cundall, The Arab Contractors Company and Mott MacDonald.

The event is free to attend for industry professionals.

Read: Special report: How UAE’s construction sector is back to business