This year’s show will mark the fifth anniversary of the event

Under the royal patronage of Prince Mansour bin Mutaib bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, The Big 5 Saudi International Building and Construction Show is set to celebrate its fifth anniversary this March, from the 9th to the 12th, at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events.

The show’s organiser, dmg events, describes the occasion as a major milestone for the construction event that has reportedly witnessed substantial growth every year since its inauguration in 2011. According to the event announcement, from its inception to 2014, the show’s exhibitors went from 300 to more than 540 and the number of visitors increased by 52%, climbing from 9,000 to nearly 16,000. The overall space, meanwhile, is anticipated to grow from 7,000 square metres in 2011 to 20,000 square metres this year.

The success the event has enjoyed in its five years is not unexpected, since construction plays a key role in Saudi Arabia’s overall economic development. The sector has modernised the Kingdom and provided a platform for house building, employment opportunities for Saudi nationals and growth potential for local businesses, the announcement claims. It also reveals that an estimated USD 75 billion worth of construction projects were awarded in 2014 alone and around USD 200 billion will be awarded over the next couple of years.

“The construction industry is a crucial pillar of Saudi Arabia’s growing economy,” says Nathan Waugh, Event Director for The Big 5 Saudi. “It is widely acknowledged that well-managed and successfully delivered construction projects can improve the delivery of public and private services. But it needs a strong foundation, which is why The Big 5 Saudi has gone from strength to strength. It brings together decision-makers, procurement managers, international visitors and large companies for four days, providing them with the opportunity to network and see first-hand what new products are on the market.”

Rajhi Steel, a sponsor of the event, can attest to the show’s value, saying: “The exhibition has exceeded our expectations. We have been able to demonstrate an expansion of our image as a direct result of our participation.”

For this year’s show, dmg events is expecting to receive 16,000 visitors as well as 560 exhibitors and to see more multi-million dollar deals signed. The organiser is also keen to make it known that the event, in addition to showcasing products designed to help deliver a sustainable future, will highlight education as part of the show’s core agenda. As stated in the announcement, visitors can benefit from seminars and workshops covering various areas, such as asset maintenance, project management, market overview and the LEED rating system.