As Dubai gears up to host the 43rd edition of the Big 5 – the largest and most influential construction event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia – the organizers, dmg events, say the 2022 exhibition and conferences line-up will be a watershed for the construction sector during unprecedented challenges and transformation.

When the Big 5 opens on December 5 at the Dubai World Trade Centre for a four-day run, it will bring together over 2,000 exhibitors from 60 countries and host 20 national pavilions, including newcomers Oman, Pakistan, and Singapore.

“There are at least 10 touchpoints for the Big 5 2022 that clearly demonstrate the likely impact this year’s event will have on shifting the industry’s dial across a spread of issues and opportunities,” explained Ben Greenish, Senior Vice-President Construction, dmg events.

Government Backing:

High up the 2022 differential scale is the strong government support this year’s event has secured. It has the backing and Summits-level involvement of Main Supporting Partner UAE’s Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, and Supporting Partners Dubai Municipality and Dubai’s General Directorate of Civil Defense. Other public sector institutions spanning from Saudi Arabia to Ethiopia are actively supporting the event and its features, positioning the Big 5 at the epicentre of global business and decision-making for the construction industry in the region.

Leadership Gains:

The Global Construction Leaders’ Summit, a gathering of some of the industry’s most prominent thought leaders, will feature an opening address by His Excellency Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and participation of Saudi’s major developers such as Headline Sponsor ROSHN, the national real estate developer powered by the Public Investment Fund, and Silver Sponsor Diriyah Gate Development Authority. Etihad Rail joins the line-up as the Summit’s Official Infrastructure Sponsor. 

Representatives of these and other leading entities from public and private sectors will take to the speaker platform and individually address issues and opportunities across the region, including sustainability.

Making An Impact:

The breakthrough Global Construction Impact Summit will feature an opening keynote address by Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Executive Director of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators, opening the platform, which is set to discuss national climate action strategies, building a circular economy, and forging pathways to gender-balanced boards. 

Impact Influencers:

The highly coveted Construction Impact Awards, which recognize sustainable development, and the industry’s technological and digital achievers, have seen their most fiercely fought competition with hundreds of entries being received across its expanded 17 categories, including for the first time, “Award for Inclusion & Diversity” and “Carbon Net-Zero Initiative of the Year”.

Women in Construction:

The Women in Construction Forum - an initiative developed in partnership with the Heriot Watt University’s Centre of Excellence in Smart Construction - has the support of the Global Compact Network, the Emirates Green Business Council, and the Dubai Businesswomen’s Council. The Forum, which is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, will help steer the industry forward in equality and representation. Joining the speaker line-up is Ethiopia’s Minister of Urban & Infrastructure Development, Her Excellency Chaltu Sani. Delegates will explore how women can add a unique value to the industry’s working environment and identify how the sector can remove barriers to gender equality.

Product Diversity:

An exciting array of global newcomers, including Carrier, Kobelco and Honeywell, alongside veterans such as Masa, Topwerk, Conares, Elumatec, and Isover - Saint-Gobain, are expected this year at the Big 5 and its six specialized events, The Big 5 Heavy, Middle East Concrete, HVAC R Expo, Middle East Stone, Urban Design & Landscape Expo, and FM Expo. 

Everything Architecture:

Adding to the value chain, innovative products and services which are transforming the architecture and design sector will be explored at the inaugural ‘Everything Architecture’. The event has been created exclusively for architects, designers, developers, and specifiers and is bringing together 70+ inspiring brands, including Schüco, AGC Glass, Keller Minimal Windows, Knauf Ceiling Solutions, Saint Gobain, Ecophon, Vector Foiltec and DCW Editions. The two-day Architecture & Design Talks programme also features some of the biggest names in the industry, delivering CPD-certified Talks along with interactive workshops.

Tech Focus:

Technology is the Big 5 2022 headliner featuring across a range of the event’s features, including the high-level FutureTech Construction Summit, Digital Construction World – a showcase of the latest technologies spanning from construction management software, virtualization, data science, geospatial, unmanned vehicles and robotics, to 3D printing, and artificial intelligence, to name a few –, the CPD-certified Technology Talks, and Start-Up City, a platform where 50 technology disruptors from nine countries will demo their contech, proptech and infratech solutions to stakeholders and decision-makers and the top 10 compete for various prizes from the Big 5 and its partners including ALEC, Centre of Excellence in Smart Construction, Dubai Business Women Council, Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and Founder Institute. 

Talking Geotechnical:

The free-to-attend, CPD-certified Industry Talks will address 10 themes, including a Geotechnical & Engineering Summit featuring sessions on sustainable geotechnical engineering by the Deep Foundation Institute (DFI).  Issues under discussion will include geosynthetic solutions for improved roads and infrastructure projects, reducing carbon emissions in geotechnical construction, and the future of underground construction using swarm robotics.

Visitor Vibes:

The 55,000+ visitors expected at the Big 5 2022 will also discover a host of experiences curated to make their attendance even more engaging. These include The Five Bar & Restaurant; Selfie @ Heights – the all-time favourite selfie aboard an aerial lift; outdoor offsite modular unit demo by B.K. Gulf; an architectural student showcase by the American University in Dubai; and a new pavilion from the Dubai Municipality showcasing the latest in 3D printing for every stage of the construction value chain.