Dubai – The companies participating in this year’s edition of the Big 5, the leading civil construction industry fair in the Middle East, claim that attendance and business is a bit better this year than in the last one. Even though they are not receiving record-high orders at the event, enterprises from around the world already have a reason to celebrate: Saudi Arabia. According to the companies exhibiting the fair, the country is placing the most orders and closing the most deals because of its booming real estate market.
The sales manager for TSSC, a United Arab Emirates-based tile manufacturing company, Nadeen Khan claims that by the third day of the fair, he has closed as many deals and made as many contacts as in the entire 2011 edition. The meetings he attended and the orders he received from Saudi businessmen, however, have exceeded those from other countries.
“I believe next year’s edition will be 40% larger than this one due to the booming economy. On the other hand, Saudis are making the most orders and contacts. It is the fastest-growing market in the region, and should remain so for years to come,” said Khan, who exports mainly to North Africa and the Middle East.
The training manager for Instant Access, which distributes American- and European-made cranes and construction equipment in the Middle East, Jason Woods said the 2012 edition is turning out to be as good the 2011 edition, which was good. He also said most customers are Saudis. “It will be the best sales target in coming years, because the market is opening up in the major cities, like Jeddah and Riyadh,” he said.
Local companies are not the only ones betting in Saudi Arabia. The Italian paint manufacturing company San Marco will likely sell 20% more in this year’s Big5 than in the last one. Most of this increase, says export manager Alessandro Zadra, is due to Saudi demand.
“The economy is picking up, and we should sell more this year. We ascribe that to development of new products and the search for new customers. The bulk of the orders we receive came from the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe and South Asia. In these locations, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Singapore are the main clients. The Saudis are investing heavily in construction in Riyadh and Jeddah,” said Zadra.
Another Italian who is enthused with Saudis’ purchases is the export manager for Airforce, a maker of hoods and exhaust fans. “The best economy in the region is Saudi Arabia’s. It has the most potential,” he said.
Even Brazilians can get cheered up with Saudi investment. This Wednesday (7th), the director of the Saudi German Co. (Sageco), Sulliman Alsayyari, met with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce CEO, Michel Alaby, and said he is looking for companies to build sewer networks and buildings up to four storeys high in his country.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
