The 39th edition of the Middle East’s leading international building and construction show, The Big 5, took place at the end of November.
The show was officially opened by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai. Over 2,500 global exhibiting companies and more than 30 official country pavilions displayed the latest building solutions and innovative industry products.
The Big 5 hosted its first ever FutureTech Construction Summit under the theme “Empowering Innovation in the Construction Ecosystem”. Speakers from Virgin Hyperloop One, Microsoft, Saudi Aramco and many more presented some of the latest and most promising technologies.
The Big 5’s ‘How to do Business in the UAE’ seminar provided business intelligence to exhibitors and visitors interested in navigating the burgeoning UAE construction market. Members from Expo 2020 Dubai and Dubai Customs were amongst some of the eminent speakers who participated in the event.
The first Women in Construction Seminar & Awards at The Big 5, organised in association with Mott MacDonald, addressed the challenges that women face in terms of equal opportunities in construction, a traditionally male dominated sector. Leading women in the industry were also awarded by a panel of industry experts on November 28.
At The Big 5 this year, the most promising tech innovations for the construction sector were on show at the dedicated Start-up City. Competing against a pool of 14 start-ups from around the globe, WakeCap was awarded a prize worth USD 25,000 by a panel of experts at the Start-up City Pitch Competition on November 28.
