With the GCC currently responsible for 68 per cent of all active projects in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, the launch edition The Big 5 Heavy, the largest construction event in the entire Middle East, is filled with promise and vigour.

According to a report prepared by the BNC Network for The Big 5 Heavy, there are reported to be 22,902 active projects in the GCC alone, valued at a total $2.4 trillion. Revealing that the total value of tender announcements increased substantially in 2017 by 50.2 per cent further cements the crucial role of heavy machinery towards building the skylines of tomorrow.

Eng. Ghaith A Yaseen, managing partner for exhibitor Deewan Equipment Trading commented: “GCC countries are the fastest developing countries in the world. Vision 2030 and Vision 2050 has placed time based development plans in all sectors including infrastructure, housing, environment, transportation, technology and industry. The 26,500 sq km NEOM city in Saudi Arabia, Expo 2020, Metros in various cities, Middle East rail and major development projects announced by oil companies etc are major opportunities.”

A new beginning

Running from March 26 to 28 at Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai, UAE, The Big 5 Heavy is packed with a wealth of local and international exhibitors, Continued Professional Development (CPD) certified content, and a huge outside demonstration area.

Pavitt: a stand-alone heavy construction exhibition is needed in the region

The Big 5  is the largest dedicated heavy construction industry exhibition in the region. Organised by dmg events Middle East, Asia and Africa (MEA), it is a re-launch of the Middle East Concrete and PMV Live events, and is supported by finished lubricants manufacturer, Caltex.

Organised to effectively cater to the needs of the concrete, construction, mining and quarrying machinery industries, The Big 5 Heavy 2018 is bringing a dedicated trade platform to property developers, local municipalities and government authorities.

“Concrete equipment, tower cranes, earth moving machines, drilling and mining don’t traditionally sit within a building materials show like The Big 5. There is a specific need for a standalone heavy construction exhibition that caters to the Middle East market,” said the event director for The Big 5 Heavy, Richard Pavitt. 

“The GCC infrastructure expansion continues at a breathless pace despite recent headwinds and The Big 5 Heavy is bringing all the major buyers and manufacturers together,” added Pavitt.

Big numbers

The Big 5 Heavy is hosting over 300 exhibitors from 27 exhibiting countries spread across dedicated product sectors: Middle East Concrete, PMV Live, Foundations and Geotechnical, and Mining and Quarrying.

Leading brands at the event include the world’s largest construction machinery manufacturer, Caterpillar (represented by Al Bahar - exclusive dealer in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain).

CIFA and Liebherr join the line-up showcasing concrete pumps, alongside the event’s official Lubricant Sponsor, Caltex, exhibiting their premium range of lubricants for heavy machinery.

A variety of cranes are also brought to the trade floor by Hitachi and Raimondi.

Education Agenda

A packed agenda of free-to-attend conferences and workshops designed to educate and assist construction professionals in their jobs offer attendees valuable CPD certified points. Conferences include:

The Concrete Essentials Seminar Series by the American Concrete Institute: The Concrete Essentials Seminar Series, presented by the American Concrete Institute (ACI), is a two-day educational event taking place on March 26 and 27. It provides participants with an in-depth look into topics including concrete durability, repair, and self-consolidating concrete, among others. The seminar series also features a three-part course on the ACI Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete. This latter, under a recently-signed agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council Standardization Organization, will be used to develop a Gulf Building Code.

Geotechnical and Foundations Engineering Summit: In conjunction with the Deep Foundations Institute and sponsored by Total Foundations Solutions, the Geotechnical and Foundations Engineering Summit to be held on March 27 covers issues surrounding sub-surface civil works; Data Management for Ground Engineering Applications; Instrumentation and Monitoring Systems – Successful Case Studies; Standardiaation and Legislation practices; Ground Improvement and Deep Foundation and Design Challenges. The conference is aimed at civil and structural engineers who want to broaden their knowledge on geotechnical issues specific to the Middle East.

Project Management: The project management CPD certified workshops give a comprehensive overview of practices, overcoming risk, financial planning and critical success factors to name a few, providing a sound base for project managers to work from. The two day theme takes participants through a project management life cycle held by thought leaders in the field.

Mining and Quarrying: Mining CPD certified workshops are aimed at energy professionals who want to gain a greater understanding of the operational practices pivotal to the mining industry. The workshops cover efficient mining practices, health and safety guidelines, challenges faced by quarry managers along with case studies across the region.

A free to attend event, it runs from 10AM to 6PM daily at The Dubai World Trade Centre.