The Big 5 Expo will take place again on November 26-29 at Dubai World Trade Center, in Dubai. It has become the largest event for the construction industry, so if you are going to exhibit, or just planning to visit it to discover the latest trends and innovations, don't miss our interview with the organisers of the show! We have interviewed Josine Heijmans, Portfolio Director, dmg events.
The fair presents a BtoB Networking Platform. Could you explain it?
The Big 5 welcomes over 65,000 participants connecting them with more than 2,500 exhibiting companies from around the globe. Opportunities to network with peers, sign deals and discover what’s new and trending in the industry for all professionals involved from the design to the final stages of construction including the management and retrofit of buildings, are countless across the four days of the event.
As a platform dedicated to construction industry players, it provides a professional environment where buyers and manufacturers can meet face to face. In this way, thousands of innovative products are discovered and sourced every year at the event, enabling a wealth of business opportunities at a local and international level.
Moreover, alongside the exhibition, over 100 CPD- accredited seminars and high-level summits presented by renowned experts foster knowledge sharing, advancing the entire construction community. For all these reasons, The Big 5 is recognized as the region’s largest and most influential event for the construction industry.
What are the latest trends in the Construction Industry?
Traditionally considered a late adopter of technology, the construction industry is now looking at technological innovation to remain competitive and address a variety of challenges, from booming populations and energy consumption.
Sustainable solutions and materials continue to gain traction, as the governments in the region push for a greener built environment through specific regulations like Estidama in Abu Dhabi, and Dubai’s Green Building Code.
Digitalization and the Internet of Things (IoT) are also having a huge impact on the industry, making it smarter and more efficient.
Staying on top of these trends and discovering innovative products is vital for professionals in the industry. The Big 5 has them covered, helping thousands of participants every year navigate through a sector that is now evolving faster than ever.
What news have you prepared for the 2018 edition? What are the highlights?
This year, The Big 5 turns to the future. Under the theme “Shaping the future of construction”, the event will fully focus on innovation to help the industry address the challenges of today and tomorrow by presenting and promoting innovative solutions across all stages of the construction lifecycle.
The brand new Live Innovation Zone will group the brightest ideas and initiatives from around the globe fostering innovation. Visitors will be able to learn the value and specifications of several new products during the live demonstrations and interact directly with presenters. Also, at The Big 5’s Start-Up City next to the Live Innovation Zone, selected start-ups will display the technologies and solutions that will soon shake-up the built environment.
Technological innovation will take centre stage at the Big 5’s FutureTech Construction Summit too, on November 26. Under the theme “Empowering Innovation in the Construction Ecosystem”, this unique event will gather VIPs, decision-makers and leaders in the construction industry, exploring how to achieve higher productivity, greater sustainability and enhanced affordability.
The Big 5 2018 is also launching the Women in Construction Seminar and Awards. Supporting positive change, the event will celebrate the female workforce already powering the construction sector and will offer powerful and successful women an international stage where to share their experience.
On its 39th edition, The Big 5 will finally turn into a mega event. The Big 5 Solar, the Urban Design & Landscaping Expo, HVACR Expo, Middle East Concrete and The Big 5 Heavy will all run from 26-29 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre under The Big 5 umbrella, providing additional products and innovative solutions to the industry. No doubt, The Big 5 2018 will be an unmissable event for everyone working in the construction industry.
What are the advantages of exhibiting at The Big 5, Dubai 2018?
Exhibiting at The Big 5 is a smart investment. Companies at the event can meet face to face thousands of buyers and distributors in four days, promoting their products in front of a selected audience.
Since its launch, The Big 5 has been a strategic point of reference for well-established organisations to reinforce their leadership position, as well as for manufacturing companies from around the world to access the growing Middle East construction market. Located in Dubai, the show is the premier gateway to more than 21,800 construction projects worth USD 2.4 trillion in the GCC.
Can you give us some tips to take the best out of visiting this event?
Covering over 110,000 m² in gross floor space, The Big 5 is huge. A handy exhibitor list is available on the show website to help locate the companies on the show floor. To make it easy for visitors to find exactly what they’re looking for, the event clusters exhibitors in 5 dedicated product sectors: MEP services, Building Interiors & Finishes, Building Envelope & Special Construction, Construction Tools & Building Materials, and Construct Technology & Innovation.
With over 100 exciting educational sessions on offer across the four days of the show this year, I recommend to also look at the summits and seminars’ agenda not to miss the inspiring presentations delivered by renowned industry experts. In 2018, workshops will run in four theatres, as BIM Talks, Architecture Talks, Project Management Talks and Design Talks.
Attendees will be able to collect a CPD-certificate at the end of each session, advancing their knowledge and career for free.
Beyond this, the ‘FutureTech Construction’ Summit, and the ‘Women in Construction’ and ‘How To Do Business in the UAE’ seminars will shed light on technological innovation, gender empowerment, regulations and business best practices in the region. An opportunity not to be missed.
Finally, I warmly recommend all interested visitors to pre-register for the event online at www.thebig5.ae. This will provide smooth access to the exhibition and save the 200 AED entrance fee charged onsite.
How to apply to exhibit or attend?
Companies interested in exhibiting at The Big 5 2018 can send an email or to call us or fill in the exhibitor enquiry form (all contact you can see at the official webpage)
Visitors can access the event for free by registering online at our website. Non-registered visitors will be charged AED 200 to access the show. Online registration closes on November 24 at midnight, so make sure to complete the form to get complimentary access to The Big 5!
Lastly, can you give us some participation results from the last edition?
In 2017, The Big 5 welcomed 64,595 participants from 137 countries, who were able to source thousands of innovative products displayed by 2,600 companies. The show also offered more than 70 CPD-certified workshops delivered by industry experts – a wealth of knowledge shared for free!
According to a survey conducted at the end of the event, 91% of our exhibitors were able to promote their company in the region, 86% of them met with local distributors, and 79% sold products to new customers.
These are excellent results and we look forward to supporting construction manufacturers from around the globe with another successful edition of the show this year!
