The Big 5 opens today, 15% bigger than previous show

Fifteen percent larger than last year's show, the Big 5 will be the first show to take up the entire venue at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) occupying a total of over 43,000 sqm, and will be the first to utilise fully the recently completed hall Sheikh Saeed Halls extension. This year's show will feature over 3,000 exhibitors from 52 countries, ranging from major global suppliers to regional agents and distributors, along with 22 National Pavilions.

Major exhibitors include: Harwal Group of Companies and Euroslot and Clipper from France, Belgium's Echo Engineering, Canadian Climatech, HCP Pumo Manufacturer from Taiwan and Tongdy Control Technology Co. from China and Germany's Hörmann KG VKG. Exhibitors will be showcasing everything from asbestos-free cement to waterless urinals which incorporate a TV screen, and fast-build wooden buildings to state of the art sectional steel water tanks.

The Big 5 Exhibition will feature an impressive line-up of added value elements including the presentation of the Gaia Awards 2009 and The Big 5 Conference, which will run on 24 and 25 November at the Monarch Hotel, bringing together some of the most influential people in the construction industry to consider the critical challenges that are indicative of current times.

Environmental issues will be high on the agenda throughout the exhibition. Leading by example, The Big 5 has taken the first steps to going carbon neutral, and visitors will be able to offset their carbon footprint at The Big 5 Green Stand.

Simon Mellor, vice president of construction DMG World Media Dubai, organisers of The Big 5, said;

"We are delighted and greatly honoured that HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum officially opened The Big 5 Exhibition today. It has been a tough year for the construction industry, but the Big 5 is the first time that the international construction community has come together since the beginning of the down turn and it will provide an excellent platform to share our thoughts on the past 12 months and devise strategies for the future. We look forward to an exciting four day event."

Helal Al Marri, CEO of DWTC, said, "As has been evidenced by The Big 5's impressive growth this year, the demand in key sectors such as construction is clearly on the rise. Our recent infrastructure expansion that provides a total of over one million square feet of covered exhibition space at our DICEC venue is hence a critical step that will cater for the increasing demand and positive growth in the region's events sector. This growth reinforces rising levels of global business and investor confidence in Dubai as a global business powerhouse".

As the largest event of its kind in the Middle East, The Big 5 provides an unrivalled platform for architects, engineers, contractors and developers from the public and private sectors to network, source and specify the latest building and construction products and services. Featuring National Pavilions from all major exporting countries of the world, The Big 5 provides the most comprehensive product offering for the building and construction industry.