São Paulo – One of the new features of the largest trade fair for the construction industry in the Middle East, the Big 5 Show, due November 23 to 26 in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, is the Key Buyers Programme, which should bring to the event more than 300 importers in charge of the largest construction projects in the Middle East and North Africa.
Research teams are mapping out a grid of large construction projects in the Gulf region, and inviting buyers from each of them to the fair. “So far, we have 600 projects, with a combined purchasing power higher than US$ 1 trillion. Many of these individual buyers oversee projects evaluated at more than US$ 400 million each,” said the vice-president for Construction at DMG World Media, Simon Mellor, who is also the coordinator of the Big 5 Show, in an interview granted by e-mail to ANBA.
According to him, a report published in the April edition of the Construction Index of the Middle East Economic Digest estimated that the region still has a project pipeline of with a total value of US$ 3.1 trillion. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia account for the majority of that total, with US$ 1.3 trillion and US$ 647 billion, respectively. “Those are huge markets, and now that oil prices are starting to rise again, the figure should increase even further,” said Mellor.
With regard to the economic crisis, the fair’s coordinator believes that the impact on the East was not as strong as in Western markets. “That is why the Big 5 is still going strong,” claimed Mellor. According to him, during the peak of the crisis, up to 50% of the projects were being retendered, leading the projects to slow down. The price reduction for raw materials, such as concrete and steel, and the cheapening of labour led the volume of work to increase again.
“Rumours of Dubai grounding to a halt are somewhat misleading, at the height of the crisis we still had projects worth over $900 Billion in construction,” he added.
Proof that the interest in the Gulf’s building sector remains strong is the Big 5 Show itself. There will be over 2,900 exhibitors from more than 50 different countries. According to Mellor, in past years the venue has been a limiting factor for the Big 5, as demand for exhibition space always outstripped the size of the venue. This year, the Trade Centre has commissioned an additional 27,000 square meters of exhibition space, and that has allowed the fair to expand.
Organisers are expecting over 55,000 visitors. After the inauguration of the Dubai Metro, which should take place in September, Mellor believes that access to the fair will be made easier, which may attract even more visitors.
Brazil
The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce will have 336-square-metre stand at the fair. So far, nine companies have already enrolled. They are: Itagres Revestimentos Cerâmicos, Pincéis Atlas, Hidroservice, Joller Toilettes de Luxo, Formacomp, Schulz, Platform, Santa Luzia Molduras and Menegotti. The latter two, which manufacture frames and machinery and equipment for civil construction, respectively, will attend the fair for the first time.
“We would like to invite Brazilian suppliers to participate in the event, even if only as visitors at first, so that they may witness the range of projects and services on display. There is still a lot to be built here in this region, and developers need international know how and innovation to seize the opportunities,” said Mellor.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
