The continued expansion of construction activities in the GCC region is attracting an increased number of international exhibitors at The Big 5 this year. According to the latest statistics by BNC Network, there’s been a 17.4% growth in the number of active construction projects in the UAE in 2019 compared to the previous year, and an 8.6% increase in terms of value, which reached USD 818 billion.   

“Over 2,500 companies from 60 countries have chosen to come and exhibit their construction products and solutions at The Big 5 in Dubai this year. Some of these are participating to the event for the first time proving that the UAE are now more than ever ‘the place to be’ for international construction players,” says Josine Heijmans, Portfolio Event Director of The Big 5. “More than that, we expect 79,000 visitors from over 140 countries to attend the 38^th edition of the show; that’s a clear proof of Dubai’s recognized role as a leading business hub, which extends well beyond the Middle East region.”

In 2016, the UAE imported construction products and materials worth approximately USD 13 billion to complete the 11,755 projects currently under development across the country. China ranked number one among the UAE’s international suppliers, with a 30% market share and exports of about USD 3.9 billion last year, followed by Germany and the United States.

With a market share of 6.9% and a total value of USD 890 million in 2018, Italy is UAE’s fourth supplier in the construction sector. The premier market in the Middle East for Italian exports, the United Arab Emirates last year imported products from Italy worth USD 6.3 billion, and the trend in the first half of 2017 keeps growing.