The 44th edition of Big 5 Global, the largest and most influential construction industry event in the Middle East Africa and South Asia held in Dubai World Trade Centre from 4th to 7th December 2023. The event boasted a stronger and more impactful local and international support, with over 2,200 exhibitors from 60+ countries showcasing products and services to transform MEASA’s construction landscape towards a more sustainable future.
An epicenter of sustainable products and green solutions
The construction industry’s substantial energy consumption and carbon emissions make it a crucial sector in the race towards net-zero goals. Big 5 Global introduced an array of innovative solutions to address these challenges and where companies present new products, technologies and practices geared towards energy efficiency and decarbonising the construction sector.
Big 5 Impact Trail
As Big 5 Global advances its efforts to make a positive impact by supporting participating companies in their journey to promote eco-friendly construction products and solutions, the event also introduced Big 5 Impact Trail, a green path across the exhibition that leads all visitors to explore products helping to create a sustainable future for the industry.
Dialogues around decarbonizing the industry
Throughout the four days of the event, Big 5 Global was set to become the melting pot of thought leadership discussions across Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit, Big 5 FutureTech Summit, Everything Architecture and Big 5 Talks to actively shape initiatives that boosted the industry’s initiatives aimed at decarbonizing.
As the UAE marks the ‘Year of Sustainability’ and gears up to carry forward the legacy of COP28, His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, the former Minister of Climate Change & Environment outlined key strategies for a sustainable construction future.
Cristina Gamboa, CEO of the World Green Building Council delves deep to share insights on why the built environment is an imperative for Agenda 2030, where it should halve emissions and embodied carbon must be reduced by at least 40%.
Some of the other insightful sessions shaped the conversation around sustainability and decarbonizing the industry include the role of architects in building a net-zero world by Lutz Wilgen, Acting Head Design Management at Masdar City; Planning for sustainability and decarbonization for built environment assets by Katarina Uherova Hasbani, Partner and Global Director of Strategy and Advisory at AESG; as well as a session by Dr. Michael L. Tholen, Senior Managing Director, Technical Operations at ACI: Middle East & North Africa on its new Center of Excellence for Carbon Neutral Concrete.
With a 43-year legacy, Big 5 Global is the largest and most influential building and construction event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia and the annual meeting hub for the global construction industry. Took place from 4 – 7 December 2023, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Big 5 Global covered the full construction cycle across dedicated sectors and eight specialized events enabling industry professionals to source worldwide building solutions for every stage of construction: Big 5 Heavy, Middle East Concrete, Windows, Doors & Facades Event, Gulf Glass, HVAC R Expo, Middle East Stone, Urban Design & Landscape Expo, and FM Expo. The event was part of Big 5, the world’s largest and most diverse portfolio of construction events.
