Big 5 trade fair expands into Sheikh Rashid Hall

Last year, the Fair already occupied all available space in the eight Halls at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, when 1,500 companies from 50 countries welcomed 27,097 professional visitors. The expansion follows growing demand for space from individual exhibitors and National Pavilions for more stand space at the show.

The Marble, Ceramics & Stone markets in the Middle East are keeping pace with the buoyant construction industry in the region. Demand for marble and granite products in the region has been growing at around 6% per annum. Meanwhile, demand for flooring stone in the UAE is the highest in the entire region, higher than Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

The importance of this sector for the contracting industry in the Middle East inspired the decision of the organisers to dedicate the Sheikh Rashid hall to exhibitors from all over the world who specialise in stone and ceramics products and machinery.

The Big 5 is a wide ranging event, encompassing no less than seven major industry sectors, from Building & Construction to Cleaning & Maintenance, via Water Technology & Environment, AC & Refrigeration, Bathrooms & Ceramics, and Glass & Metal. While such a comprehensive trade fair attracting so many professionals from all over the Middle East is a distinct advantage for exhibitors as well as visitors, a dedicated sector - along the lines of similar specialist Marble & Stone events in Europe - will assist architects and specifiers to find the right products for their ongoing and future projects.

Bob Hughes of dmg world media Dubai Ltd., said, "Construction activity in the UAE is now running at around US$ 5 billion per annum and is defined by large-scale development projects which favour marble and granite against cheaper alternatives. We have decided to highlight this industry sector because it is clearly becoming big business, a major opportunity for overseas exporters and local distributors, and we want both our exhibitors and visitors to benefit from the increase in demand."

The Big 5 2004 will take place from 20 - 24 November at the Dubai International Exhibition & Convention Centre.