THE 40TH EDITION OF THE BIG 5

From its humble beginnings in 1979 to the number one meeting place for the global construction community in the Middle East and Africa, The Big 5 celebrated its 40th anniversary in Dubai.

1) The Big 5 Celebrates its 40th Anniversary!

From its humble beginnings in 1979 to the number one meeting place for the global construction community in the Middle East and Africa, The Big 5 celebrated its 40th anniversary in Dubai. On the backdrop of four decades of success, dmg events, the organisers of The Big 5, announced that they were ready to turn the expo into a global hub for the entire construction industry aimed at boosting one of the major pillars to the region’s economy.

2) His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum officially inaugurates The Big 5 2019

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, CEO and Chairman of the Emirates Group, Chairman of Dubai World, and Noor Takaful Insurance Company, officially inaugurated the 40th edition of The Big 5 at the Dubai World Trade Centre on 25th November 2019.

3) His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visits The Big 5 2019

Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum added to the 40th anniversary celebrations by gracing The Big 5 with his presence on the 3rd day of the show.

4) Full construction cycle under one roof

For the first time, The Big 5 covered the full construction cycle alongside six specialised shows: The Big 5 Heavy, Middle East Concrete, HVAC R Expo, Middle East Stone, The Big 5 Solar, and the Urban Design & Landscape Expo.

5) Thousands of construction products from around the world

The construction industry mega-event welcomed over 2,507 local and international exhibitors from 61 countries showcasing 20,000 building solutions and products over the four days of the show.

6) Introduction of a brand new sector at The Big 5 2019

For the first time this year, The Big 5 also introduced the brand new Offsite & Modular Construction Sector with a dedicated educational agenda. With rapid and efficient construction delivery being in high demand, buyers require state-of-the-art offsite and modular construction solutions for residential, educational, healthcare as well as commercial applications, making the new sector extremely sort after.

7) Free educational programme & special features

The event also provided complimentary, high-level summits, practical seminars, 240+ CPD-certified workshops and round tables to foster collaboration, support best practices, and provide effective solutions to today’s industry challenges. New for this year was the launch of the one-day HVAC R Pioneers’ Summit held at HVAC R Expo and the Geospatial Leaders Summit, at The Big 5 Heavy.

8) Women in Construction Forum & Awards

The second edition of The Big 5’s Women in Construction (WIC) Forum & Awards was a much-anticipated highlight of day three aimed at addressing the need to reinvent gender balance, diversity & inclusion (D&I) policies and best practices in the workplace while empowering women in the male-dominated construction sector. The packed-out audience was given a 360-degree overview of the current issues faced and the new initiatives undertaken to push the industry forward.

9) First of its kind research report

This year The Big 5 launched its first Voice of the Construction Industry Report during the opening day of the conference. The inaugural report, which is based on a survey carried out by GRS Research & Strategy Middle East, represents the views of 5,951 senior construction industry professionals, based in 136 different countries, making it the largest of its kind.

10) The Big 5 CEO Forum

With regional governments continuing to invest heavily in infrastructure, 150 CEOs from the region’s leading construction firms attended The Big 5’s inaugural invite-only CEO Forum to discuss current challenges, trends, and strategies to support the growth of the sector.