The region’s largest event for the building and construction industry, The Big 5, opened on Monday in Dubai where a total of 2,500 exhibitors from 70 countries will be showcasing their key products for the next four days.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Deputy Ruler of Dubai, officially inaugurated The Big 5  at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the presence of the visting UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

The mammoth construction industry event will also feature key events including the FM Expo, PMV Live and Middle East Concrete thus providing complete building solutions to those attending the event besides hosting 27 national pavilions.

Middle East Concrete and PMV Live opened alongside The Big 5, taking place in Sheikh Saeed Halls and FM Expo, which will be located in the Trade Centre Plaza. After the launch, Cameron addressed an audience at the UK pavilion.

Andy White, event director for The Big 5 2012, said: “This year’s event is the biggest to date, and brings together renowned brands from the building and construction world. With the alignment of PMV, Middle East Concrete and FM EXPO alongside The Big 5, visitors have access to the full spectrum of products, technologies and insight into the industry.”

The events will see a range of product launches, the showcasing of new technologies, educational conferences and seminars as well as live demonstrations and opportunities to network with professionals from across the industry.

With 70 countries taking part in the events, there will be the very best from the world’s building, construction, facilities management, concrete, machinery and vehicles sectors.

Many of the educational forums will also kick off today, with The Big 5’s Green Build Conference and FM EXPO’s World FM Congress as well as the free-to-attend seminars taking place in the Lecture Theatres located on the exhibition floors.

The seminars will host a range of presentations from companies presenting new technology or insights from the industry, specifically focusing on sustainability and business in the region, including ‘How to trade in the GCC.’

“Sustainability is a theme that underpins all events taking place this week. It is a topic that is an inherent part of all sectors of the building and construction industry, and one that each event will address specifically within its own context," said White.

“Education is at the forefront of all events this week and we have some of the world’s most highly acclaimed experts presenting during a very busy four-day schedule. We look forward to an exciting week ahead and hearing the very latest that the industry has in store,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service