Big 5 event to showcase interiors, organisers say

The highly anticipated Big 5 International Building & Construction Show will feature a new interiors zone, organisers have confirmed.

Scheduled to take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre between November 25th and 28th, the event will bring together 2,500 exhibitors from across 65 different countries.

The team behind the show are keen to stress that it is not just an exhibition for construction materials, which is why the new Building Interiors section has been added.

It will feature the latest designs and innovations from across the Gulf region and will also showcase new products made in Italy, Spain and Greece, among others.

Group event director Andy White said: 'Our research has shown us that there is a clear need for a dedicated zone for building interiors products, particularly for the interior designers and architects who attend our show. 

'A common misconception is that The Big 5 is a building-products-only event, however for many years we have also hosted some of the world's top interiors brands at the event.'

The Big 5 has been the leading building industry event in the Middle East for more than 30 years and around 60,000 people are expected to attend this year.

There is no doubt that the UAE is a world leader when it comes to construction. You only need to look at the incredible array of skyscrapers, record-breaking malls and manmade island developments to see how advanced the Arab country is.

According to the organisers of the Big 5 show, the Gulf Cooperation Council's building sector is one of the most vibrant on the planet at the moment, with the market said to be worth $1.5 trillion (£966 billion). 

The UAE is believed to account for $629 billion of this figure, while Saudi Arabia makes up approximately $494 billion of the total.

If real estate investors were in any doubt as to the strength of the region's property industry, these figures should certainly give them a clearer picture.