Big 5 Show Offers Access to the Middle Eastern Market

The Big 5 Show has been held each autumn in Dubai, a member of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), ever since 1989 and has evolved into the biggest exhibition of construction and related products in the Middle East, which in recent years has been one of the world's most dynamic markets.

According to statistics compiled by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, construction in the emirate grew at a compound annual rate of 17.6% during the 2000-2006 period. The industry contributed 13.6% of Dubai's GDP in 2006, when 8,170 building and construction companies were operating there.

As a platform for convenient access to the Middle Eastern market, The Big 5 Show is a focus of intense attention for construction-industry suppliers and decision-makers from throughout the world. The 2007 show, held on Nov. 25-29 at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Center, attracted a record 50,420 visitors, an increase of 22.8% over the previous year. Most of them came from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, the UAE, India, Pakistan, and North and East Africa.

Exhibitors at the show totaled 2,839 companies from 52 different countries including Canada, Italy, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, the United States, Holland, China, and Taiwan. Thirty national pavilions provided organized space for exhibitors from those countries to display their latest and most innovative products.

"This year saw The Big 5 deliver the biggest and best ever showcase of construction-related products and services ever seen in the region," said Bernard Walsh, managing director of DMG World Media Dubai, which organized the show. "Proof of the importance of the region was the all-time record number of professional trade visitors that came to the show - 50,420 - an increase of 22.8% over last year. There was also a huge increase in the number of visitors from outside the UAE."

Showcase Products

The show matched the vigor of the construction industry's development in the region by showing off a full line of building materials, hardware, water technology and desalination facilities, air conditioning and refrigeration systems, ceramics, bathroom hardware, tiles, pipes, pumps, locks, doors, glass, metal window frames, maintenance and repair tools, and marble and stone materials.

The reconstruction work that is going on in Iraq is one of the key factors in the huge demand for building materials in the Middle East, adding to the show's importance and attracting to it manufacturers of heavy construction machinery and vehicles like the Terex Corp. of the U.S., a global leader in the line. Terex participated in The Big 5 PMV (Plant-Machinery-Vehicles) Exhibition, a tandem event reserved for displays of large equipment.

Among the exhibitors this year were 84 Taiwanese companies which showcased cutting tools, auto repair tools, building materials, bathroom fittings, reverse osmosis (RO) water-purification equipment, pipe fittings, casters, and spa facilities. The Taiwanese participants attracted a lot of attention from international buyers because of their commitment to product quality, competitive prices, and helpful services.

CENS, Taiwan's most experienced export-oriented media organization, was also at The Big 5 Show in 2007, circulating its CENS Hardware magazine to buyers who visited the Taiwan and Italian pavilions. The CENS publication was heartily welcomed by show visitors because of the comprehensive information it provided on hand tools, fasteners, and bathroom fittings.

The Big 5 Show 2007 proved a resounding success as a platform for suppliers wishing to develop the Middle Eastern market. This year the show will celebrate its 29th anniversary when it is held on Nov. 23-27 at the same venue, and Walsh believes that it will be a bigger success than ever.