Response to the Big 5 sees it building from success to success in 2006

"The response from exhibitors and visitors, both during and since the show closed, has been remarkable," said Bernard Walsh, Managing Director of dmg world media Dubai Ltd. "From the feedback we are receiving, the show continues to generate substantial business for exhibitors who used it as a platform to establish contact with the key regional decision makers over the five days."

Sustained growth in the commercial and residential sector across the Middle East has stimulated massive demand for space at the Big 5 in 2006, which is already looking set to break the records set in 2005, which saw not only the biggest ever show in the event's long history, but an all time high number of exhibitors and visitors.

"More and more projects are making their way from the drawing board to the construction phase," added Walsh.

"This year, we have already seen the official start of construction of the first phase of the 20 million square feet City of Arabia project, one of the leading private sector projects in the Middle East, which is due for completion in 2008."

Major developments continue to attract incredible amounts of investment. Other recent announcements that will mean a steady flow of contracts for the industry include real estate developments in Abu Dhabi worth a total of $270 billion over the coming few years. Aldar Properties CEO Christopher Sims, citing Aldar's $14.7bn Al Raha Beach project where 1,392 villas were sold in 45 minutes, promised seven more projects this year including another giant waterfront development.

This month also saw Nakheel CEO James Wilson announcing a second joint venture project with Donald Trump - the 1,000 apartment Village Centre which will also include three floors of retail. This development is due to be completed in December 2008 and will have a dedicated monorail station like the Trump Tower.

"What is really significant, and will create even greater opportunity for companies involved in the building and construction sector, is the recent decision taken by Dubai Municipality which will allow international contractors without local contacts to bid for major projects - construction majors from Brazil, Malaysia, Turkey, Japan, and Latin America are among those targeting lucrative Dubai contracts," said Walsh. "This is a major strategic shift, and one that will have a massive effect on the continued growth and expansion of the industry."

The international reputation of the Big 5 is stronger than ever before, with senior ministers such as the Hon. Claudio Scajola, Italy's Minister for Prodcutive Activities (Foreign Trade and Industry) describing it as "the perfect platform to introduce and display our products to the Middle East region."

Bookings for the Big 5 2006 have already been received from all over the world, including companies and country groups representing Europe, Australasia, The Near and Far East and the Sub-Continent, and the high level of interest in the sector was clearly demonstrated by the 14.4% year on year growth in visitor numbers visitors, which saw a total audience of 38,535 trade professionals attending the show (including 16,700 overseas visitors and exhibitors).

"There doesn't seem to be any limit to the growth of the sector in the Middle East," said Walsh. "Every time we think we've seen the biggest ever project announcement, something comes along the next day which is even bigger and even more ambitious - the amounts of money involved really are unbelievable."

The Big 5 2006 will be held at Dubai International Exhibition Centre from 28 October to 1 November 2006. Firmly established as the largest and most prestigious building services and construction event in the Middle East and Asia, it is also one of the largest dedicated exhibitions for any industry anywhere in the world. "The visitor audience attracted to the Big 5, both in terms of numbers and quality, cannot be matched by any other event in the construction and building services industry in the Middle East region." concluded Walsh.