The 12th edition of Big 5 Construct Saudi took place from February 26 to 29 in Riyadh with the vision to redefine and revolutionise the future of construction in the GCC region. It brought together five new product sectors and over 1,300 exhibitors from 47 countries. 

In all, the exhibition covered 14 product sectors: Building envelope & construction, building interiors & finishes, building materials & tools, building security & access control, intelligent buildings, offsite & modular construction, kitchen & bathroom, plant machinery & vehicles, solar & MEP, concrete, construction technologies, paints, steel, and urban design & landscape. 

Spanning 70,000 square metres, the event, among other features, reflected the growing demand for cutting-edge HVACR solutions. The event also facilitated conversations about urban construction, advanced building techniques, smart cities and sustainability. Among them was the International Contracting Conference (ICC). His Excellency Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing, Saudi Arabia, inaugurated the ICC by giving the Keynote Address. Zakaria bin Abdulrahman Al-Abdulqader, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA), was among the distinguished speakers at the conference. 

In all, the exhibition area was home to 17 country pavilions, many of them showcasing advancements in HVACR technology. Among them was Midea, which unveiled its “latest innovation” – the IcyBlast. 

Big 5 Construct Saudi also hosted over 60 certified educational panels and discussions, encompassing nine streams: Sustainability, decarbonisation, HVAC R, facilities management, project management, concrete, architecture & design, digital construction, and codes & standards. From sustainability to digital construction, the sessions provided a roadmap for navigating the complexities of the modern HVACR landscape and, broadly speaking, gave delegates the opportunity to gain insights into key industry trends and best practices. As an additional benefit, delegates had the opportunity to earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points. 

Saud Alshaikh, Executive Director, Tahweer Buildings Company, was one of the speakers. He emphasised the need for sustainability within the construction sector during a panel discussion, titled ‘The Role of the Construction Sector in Achieving Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. He said: 

“Each organisation must set a clear sustainable goal, integrate sustainability concepts into the planning phase and invest in training and education towards sustainability.” 

Additionally, the Big 5 Talks revolved around technology, covering themes such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), the future of construction technology and value engineering. Petros N Zouzoulas, MEA Innovation Practice Lead, Parsons Corporation, highlighted the importance of strategic planning in construction projects during his session titled ‘Simplexity: Crafting an Efficient and Accessible Future in Infrastructure with Tech’. 

Speaking on the education panels and discussions, Muhammad Kazi, Vice President of Construction, dmg::events, said, “It is our vision to create the right platform for partnerships and collaborations to flourish between businesses in the industry, resulting in increased growth and profitability for exhibiting companies.” He emphasised on the pivotal role of Big 5 Construct Saudi as a driver of investment and innovation within the Saudi Arabian economy, adding that the event’s significance extended “far beyond the exhibition floor”

Here we bring the event to you in pictures…