Multi-million deals done as The Big 5 breaks all-time records

"Among the major deals that were announced at the show was a contract worth Dhs. 20 million which will see Somec Sharaf Middle East installing aluminium and glass window glazing for the 44 storey Dubai Jewel Tower in Dubai's Technology, E-Commerce and Media Freezone," said Bernard Walsh, Managing Director or organisers dmg world media Dubai.

Other Big 5 deals included Sigma, who received five orders worth a total of Dhs. 1 million for their linkable lighting towers (two from Saudi Arabia and three from the UAE), while first time exhibitor Mil-tek discovered the unique business power of The Big 5, recording an order worth US$22,000 with many more solid leads that the company is confident will result in even more sales. Waterjet Corporation, which manufactures water-cutting machines won a US$2 million order.

Turkish company Yorukoglu Machine Industry, part of the 66 company strong Turkish presence at The Big 5, signed four deals, including one from Iraq, for block-making machines and a batching plant worth US$640,000, and Al Khaleej Ceramics Company confirmed an order for 50,000 square metres of antique-finished porcelain glazed tiles.

Elsewhere at the show, new relationships were being formed, with many new agents appointed and distributorship agreements signed. Announcements included Bayer Material Science and Pearl Insulation Materials, who will open a polyurethane systems house joint venture in Dubai, and Gliderol International Industrial Doors signed an agreement to open an office and manufacturing plant in Sharjah.

Canada, which this year expanded its presence at the show by 40%, also enjoyed success at the show. Winters Instruments, who deal in temperature and pressure gauges for the oil and gas industry, signed a three-year deal for the Bahrain and Saudi markets worth in excess of US$1 million in the first year, and Icynene Incorporated and Better Insulation Construction Systems completed a deal that will see Parand Afra Pars Engineering Co., handling sales and distribution throughout Iran.

Al Hunton of the Ontario Trade Commission from Canada said, "It's been an excellent show for us - some of our exhibitors have signed great deals, and we are delighted with the contacts and leads that we have picked up."

IndePane, also from Canada, signed a three year deal for their Dusco Doors with Elegant Products, a leading door manufacturer from Hyderabad, India - it is anticipated that the value of this deal will run into six figures.

Meanwhile, 2006's Big 5 proved, across all criteria, to be the biggest and most successful ever held in the long history of the event, breaking all records - it completely filled eight halls plus the Sheikh Rashid Hall, Sheikh Maktoum Hall, The Pavilion and the new Zabeel Hall.

"Showcasing 2,892 companies from 67 countries, The Big 5 has once again showed why it is so highly rated and respected by the global building and construction industry," added Walsh. "By the close of the show, we will have welcomed well in excess of 42,000 visitors, which is far above our initial projections, and feedback from exhibitors has been extremely positive, 72% rating the quality of visitors as good or excellent."