The region’s largest event for the construction and building industry, 'The Big 5 2010' opened in Dubai on Monday drawing over 2,500 exhibitors from 70 countries.

The four-day event covers all sectors of the industry, including facility construction, site & infrastructure, plant, machinery and vehicles, sustainability and environmental and facility services.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, officially inaugurated the event which runs till November 25.

Major exhibitors include UAE-based Al Khaleej Ceramics, RAK Ceramics, Emirates Cement and MAHY Khoory as well as international companies such as the UK’s Dyson and Kingspan Insulated Panels, Babini Office from Italy and Rockwool Technical Insulation from the Netherlands.

Sheikh Mohammed also opened 'The Big 5 PMV', the Middle East’s leading exhibition dedicated to plant, construction vehicles, machinery and equipment, held as part of Big5.

Now in its fourth year, the 'Big 5 PMV' takes place inside The Arena, Sheikh Saeed Halls at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Commenting on the Big 5, Simon Mellor, senior vice president of dmg :: events, said there will be a number of added value elements at the event with exhibitors helping to promote the importance of environmental responsibility on the Green Stand and winners from yesterday’s Gaia Awards presentation on hand to discuss the technologies they have developed to help the industry reduce its carbon footprint.

Seeley International will be showcasing its Climate Wizard, which picked up Gold at the Gaia Awards.

'The Big 5 Conference 2010 will open tomorrow with high-level speakers from all sectors of the international and regional construction industry,' said Mellor.

'They will be facilitating discussion, debate and knowledge share and including the brand new onsite accredited training courses, from some of the world’s most renowned industry institutions,' he noted.

'There has been a real buzz in the weeks leading up to the opening of The Big 5 and following what has been a difficult 18 months for the industry, the ME market is robust and in a strong position at present, further emphasised by  pre-registration, which is up 37 per cent on 2009, to over 25,000,' he added.

On the 'Big 5 PMV,' Mellor said an impressive international assembly of contractors, developers and suppliers is at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre for the four-day event, encouraged by reports of the construction industry’s resilience.

The exhibition will also cater to construction firms still trying to shrug off the effects of the economic crisis during a two-day 'Plant and Vehicle Management Best Practice Workshop' which will run on November 23-24 at the Big 5 PMV.-TradeArabia News Service