The highly anticipated 45th edition of Big 5 Global, the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia’s (MEASA) largest construction event, will open its doors tomorrow, running from November 26–29, 2024, at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event will be held alongside several notable forums, including LiveableCitiesX, Future FM, and GeoWorld, each contributing to the sector’s evolution through forward-thinking projects and solutions. With over 2,700 exhibitors from more than 60 countries, the event is set to welcome more than 100,000 attendees, showcasing transformative technologies, innovative products, and sustainable solutions across the construction and urban development sectors.
This year’s Big 5 Global is anchored in its commitment to advancing urban resilience and sustainability, in line with global and regional trends. According to Josine Heijmans, Senior Vice President – Construction at dmg events, the exhibition will highlight innovations such as automation, Building Information Modelling (BIM), drones, and AI-powered analytics, all of which are reshaping the way cities are designed, built, and managed.
“These technologies are not only enhancing processes but are also crafting the cities of tomorrow, elevating the quality of life and driving urban sustainability,” said Heijmans.
One of the standout features of Big 5 Global 2024 is the Digital Construction World, which will host the largest-ever representation of construction technology in the event’s history. Industry giants like Autodesk, Trimble, Oracle, and Premier Construction Software will present solutions aimed at improving efficiency, streamlining collaboration, and enabling smarter city planning.
From BIM systems to cloud-based project management tools, these technologies promise to revolutionise project execution, ensuring faster, more sustainable construction outcomes.
The Dubai Municipality Pavilion will spotlight cutting-edge sustainable construction technologies. This year, the pavilion will feature Desert Board, a UAE-grown business debuting eco-friendly materials, alongside Avenco Robotics and Generation 3D, both offering live demonstrations of advanced 3D printing technologies tailored for construction applications.
The Future Cities Showcase, part of the LiveableCitiesX platform, will delve into transformative urban projects and sustainability initiatives. Highlights include:
- The Abu Dhabi Projects & Infrastructure Centre, unveiling innovative strategies for sustainable city development.
- DLR Group and Knowledge Economic City, presenting forward-thinking urban designs and projects in Saudi Arabia.
- Egis, showcasing integrated solutions for urban and infrastructure challenges.
- Deyaar Development, presenting its latest sustainable urban projects.
Big 5 Global will also serve as a launchpad for key announcements from industry leaders:
- Arabian Gulf Steel Industries (AGSI) will unveil regional expansion plans.
- Zamil Steel will showcase initiatives centred on Saudi Arabia’s growing market.
- Mitsubishi Elevators will debut its 2025 elevator line, marking its first participation in the event.
- Naffco and Alusol will present new fire-resistant and shutter roll-up doors, respectively.
- Trimble will reveal insights into LiDAR scanners and GNSS systems for advanced surveying applications.
This year’s Start-up City will highlight 72 start-ups from 17 countries, presenting disruptive innovations in IoT, AI, 3D printing, smart city technologies, and sustainable materials.
Some of the participating start-ups include Cemvision AB, reinventing cement for sustainable construction; CONXAI, using AI to enhance construction workflows; VERTLINER, offering autonomous drone technologies for vertical inspections; AC3D, Inc., advancing scalable 3D printing for large structures; and Trubuild, streamlining modular construction for faster project delivery.
“These start-ups embody the next generation of innovation transforming construction and urban development,” noted Heijmans.
Big 5 Global 2024 is more than just an exhibition; it’s a hub for collaboration, innovation, and inspiration, fostering advancements that redefine urban living.