Big 5 exhibitors eye $2t construction industry

Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum tours The Big 5 Dubai 2016 exhibition at DWTC on Monday. - Photo by Shihab

The Big 5, the largest construction and building industry showcase in the Middle East, opened on Monday at the Dubai World Trade Centre with more than 3,100 exhibitors showcasing their products and services targeting region boasting a vibrant construction pipeline of around $2 trillion worth of projects.
The event was inaugurated by Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry.
dmg events, organisers of the four-day event, said the exhibition assumed greater significance as Dubai is driving the new round construction boom in the region.
The value of Dubai's construction projects in the execution and planning stages is expected to reach a record of $390.7 billion this year. A total of 13.7 per cent of these projects, which are valued $53.5 billion, are currently under progress despite the oil slump.
A report estimated that the total spend on infrastructure projects related to Dubai Expo 2020 might reach up to $18 billion, with estimated development costs of the Dubai South area between $8.1 billion and $8.7 billion.
The UAE, one of the world's most attractive construction markets, hosts a robust construction pipeline of more than $700 billion, over one-third of the GCC's pipeline, according to the recent report "Powers of Construction: 2016" by the consultancy Deloitte.
Legoland Dubai's Castle Kingdom and Building Experience joins the Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal, Al Habtoor City Theatre, Dubai Opera, and NAS Arena are some of the UAE projects that won Tekla Global Building Information Modeling (BIM) Awards for their leading use of 4D digital models that can enhance productivity and collaboration.
"This year has been a seminal moment for GCC construction innovation, and 2017 will see continued momentum with government BIM directives, 3D printing and pre-fabrication, and BIM gaining wider take-up. The UAE's strong showing in international awards demonstrates the country's standing as a global BIM leader," said Paul Wallett, Regional Director of Trimble Solutions Middle East.
The Big 5 is expected to draw 75,000 participants along with national pavilions from all major exporting countries in East and West. This year, the teams from France, Italy and Brazil are in force with their innovative products.
This year's Big 5 edition has several key features including dedicated product sectors, live product demonstration, a one-day Excellence in Construction Summit, a tools demonstration besides a brand new floorplan layout clustered in five product sectors. The five product sectors in which exhibitors are grouped this year are: Building Interiors & Finishes, MEP Services, Building Envelop & Special Construction, Construction Tools & Building Materials, and Smart Building & Design technologies.
Another key highlight of the show is the dmg events' strategic partnership with Dubai Economic Council for the debut "Excellence in Construction Summit" on the sidelines of the expo. Taking place today, the summit will draw 500 industry leaders to discuss current and future trends of the construction sector in Dubai, the GCC region and beyond. Besides this, the giant construction expo will also feature key events such as the FM Expo, PMV Live and Middle East Concrete thus providing complete building solutions.
- issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com