75,000 participants expected at Middle East’s largest construction event. Originated 37 years ago from the amalgamation of five separate product-focused events in Dubai, today The Big 5 is the largest, most influential and renowned construction industry event in the Middle East. For its 2016 edition, organiser dmg events Middle East, Asia & Africa announced a brand new floor plan of The Big 5 show clustered in five product sectors.
From Nov 21 to 24, The Big 5 2016 is expected to attract 75,000 participants, hosting over 3,000 exhibitors across the entire Dubai World Trade Centre venue. Event Director Josine Heijmans 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 to network with new or existing business partners and industry peers”, Ms. Heijmans stated.
Although the event’s old layout already accommodated dedicated product sectors, the majority of the 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.
The new floor plan is the result of a meticulous analysis of the industry’s current needs. The five product sectors in which exhibitors will be grouped this year are: Building Interiors & Finishes, MEP Services, Building Envelop & Special Construction, Construction Tools & Building Materials, and Smart Building & Design technologies.
Presenting The Big 5 2016’s new layout, Ms. Heijmans explained: “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”.
Beyond offering both visitors and exhibitors a better experience, the new floor plan is studied to align with the construction industry’s current trends, as the introduction of the Smart Building & Design Technologies sector shows.
Ms. Heijmans also promises a stronger focus on the theme of sustainability at The Big 5 this year. Visitors will be able to cast their vote for the show’s GAIA Awards, which since 2008 honour companies in the construction sector whose products and services demonstrate a reduction of construction’s impact on the environment. For the first time ever, the GAIA Awards’ judging panel will include these votes in their decision while selecting the final winner of 2016.
The Big 5 has grown in parallel with the impressive urban development of the Emirate. The show has been one of the first in the region to welcome a foreign Prime Minister: in 2007, then Italian leader Romano Prodi visited the exhibition with his Minister for International Trade, followed by British Prime Minister David Cameron in 2012. In 2015, the Big 5, held in conjunction with PMV Live and Middle East Concrete, welcomed a record of over 73,000 visitors across 113,526 square meters space.
