‘The Big 5’ opens in Dubai to explore the future of the construction industry

The 43rd edition of the Big 5, the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia’s largest and most influential construction event, kicks off on December 5 at the Dubai World Trade Centre with an industry-altering and future-proofing agenda.

The Big 5 Heavy, Middle East Concrete, HVAC R Expo, Middle East Stone, Urban Design & Landscape Expo, and FM Expo will be among the six specialized events addressing the entire sector eco-system at the annual event. Along with the Big 5, the inaugural Everything Architecture is the Middle East’s only exclusive event for the architecture and design community.

More than 2,000 people from 60 countries are expected to attend the event, which will feature 20 national pavilions, including newcomers Oman, Pakistan, and Singapore, and will bring together key stakeholders from the entire construction value chain to network, learn, and do business. The Big 5 2022 features focused exhibits, high-level summits, industry talks, visitor experiences, and incubator pitching to address key sector challenges, spur technology adoption, and promote sustainability, with the UAE’s Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, Dubai Municipality, and Dubai’s General Directorate of Civil Defense providing the strongest government support to date. 

“The Big 5 covers all sector touchpoints as the industry looks to step into the vanguard of sustainability to address climate change, encourage cross-sector collaboration, better cater to heightened societal expectations, improve diversity, and prove its willingness as a technology adopter,” explained Ben Greenish, Senior Vice-President Construction of Big 5 organiser dmg events.

The Global Construction Leaders’ Summit kicks off the four-day agenda, with local, regional, and global industry decision-makers looking for a collaborative path to industry transition. David Grover, CEO of ROSHN – Saudi Arabia’s national real estate developer powered by the Public Investment Fund and summit headline sponsor; Adel Albreiki, CEO of Aldar Projects; Pierre Santoni, CEO Middle East at Parsons; Kez Taylor, CEO of ALEC; Ian Williamson, Chief Projects Delivery Officer at Red Sea Global; and Saeed Al Abbar, CEO of AESG, to name a few.

The 2022 winners of The Big 5 Construction Impact Awards will also be announced on day one. Seventeen categories will recognize sustainable development, technological, and digital achievements in the construction industry, ranging from ‘Carbon Net-Zero Initiative of the Year’ to ‘Best Use of Technology of the Year’ and ‘Workforce of the Future Initiative.’ Leading firms such as Turner & Townsend, Gensler, China State Construction Engineering Corporation Middle East, Cundall, The Arab Contractors Company, and Mott MacDonald are among the 117 finalists.

Elsewhere on the show floor, a busy schedule of free-to-attend CPD certified Industry Talks will cover topics across technology, facilities management, architecture & design, project management, and sustainable geotechnical engineering – a programme delivered by the event’s supporting association Deep Foundations Institute. Notable speakers expected tomorrow include Dr. Marwan Alzaylaie, Senior Manager Geotechnical- Building Department at the Dubai Development Authority; Valentin Gaburov, Senior Manager, HSE at the Dubai Healthcare Authority; Eng. Anwaar Al Shimmari, Executive Director of Geospatial Information, Governance Sector at FGIC; Mark Graham, Executive Director – Design Engineering Management at ROSHN; Andrew Mason, Director of Contracts at Calatrava International; Marwa Al Taffag, Head of the Federal Buildings, Housing and Establishments Design at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure; and Phil Auguste, Major Account Manager at Autodesk Global.

Technology enthusiasts can visit Digital Construction World, a dedicated sector at the Big 5, to find the latest solutions in contech, proptech, and infratech, as well as the Dubai Municipality’s pavilion, which houses 3D printing companies focused on each stage of the construction cycle. Innovators on display include Saudi Arabia’s WhiteHelmet, a developer of construction management software; Norway’s Rendra, which provides a BIM-based collaboration platform; the UAE’s PlanRadar, an award-winning digital field management platform; and American OpenSpace, a global leader in reality capture and AI-powered analytics.

The 55,000+ attendees expected at the Big 5 2022 will have the opportunity to discover a variety of experiences designed to enhance their visit. These include newcomers The Five Bar & Restaurant, an outdoor offsite modular unit display by BK Gulf, and an architectural student showcase by the American University in Dubai, as well as the return of an old favorite, Selfie @ Height by Quality Equipment Rental.Big 5 is free to attend for industry professionals. For more information, visit: https://www.thebig5.ae