The global construction industry needs to adapt by prioritising the orientation of future buildings and promoting the retrofitting of existing assets to reduce emissions.
This was a consensus made by leaders and high-profile speakers at Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit, which ran today alongside the 44th edition of Big 5 Global at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
During the opening of the summit His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Former Minister of Climate Change & Environment in the UAE called for the industry to evaluate its impact on the environment.
Addressing a global audience of delegates comprising government officials, industry thought leaders, experts and innovators, Dr. Al Nuaimi stressed that with growing public awareness the industry must adopt bold objectives to combat emissions and make the industry more sustainable.
Also speaking at the summit, Eng. Maryam Al Muhairi, CEO of the Buildings Regulation & Permits Agency at Dubai Municipality, highlighted an incremental surge in the adoption of cutting-edge construction systems and innovative building technologies poised to significantly reduce energy consumption in buildings.
International collaboration and million-dollar deals
In addition to insightful dialogues and discussions taking shape on the second day of the event, Big 5 Global also saw a major deal being signed between BAUER Maschinen, part of the Germany-based foundation engineering giant, BAUER Group and Kuwait-based Al Nouf Real Estate Company, a LA'ALA AL-KUWAIT Group of Company.
As part of the deal, Al Nouf Real Estate has expanded its fleet with the addition of a Bauer MC 96 duty-cycle crane. During the handover ceremony, Shahram Houshmandfard, Managing Director at BAUER Equipment Gulf said: “We are thrilled to have signed this remarkable deal at Big 5 Global.
"Bauer’s traditional core competency in specialist foundation engineering has today been expanded to encompass three distinct business segments: Construction, Equipment, and Resources. Bauer machinery and equipment has been a byword for top performance and quality as well as for continuous innovation.”
In addition to Houshmandfard, the handover was attended by Mark Dunglison, Director Planning & Design at Al Nouf Real Estate and Hana Neimatallah, Project Director at LA'ALA AL-KUWAIT Real Estate Company alongside Rohan Sequeira, Sales Manager at BAUER Equipment Gulf.
The signing of the deal comes at a time when Germany marks a 50% increase in exhibitors from across the construction value chain and as Kuwait returns to the exhibition.
Big 5 Global grows in scale and quality
“I believe that in today’s dynamic construction landscape, Big 5 Global plays a pivotal role as a catalyst for thought leadership and business transformation. The event not only fosters impactful dialogues from industry leaders, but also converges high-quality, leading-edge products on a global scale,” said Josine Heijmans, Vice President – Construction at dmg events, the organisers of Big 5 Global.
“This scalability is a testament to the industry's evolution, demonstrating how Big 5 Global effectively accommodate the burgeoning demand for access to pioneering solutions across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.”
At Big 5 Global the growth of scale and quality goes hand-in-hand with the participation of leading international and local brands from more than 60 countries; and one of these countries is Saudi Arabia, which brings ‘Made in Saudi’ to the event in addition to other leading companies.
With thousands of Saudi visitors expected to visit the event this week, further boosting trade relations between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Big 5 Global was toured by His Excellency, Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s presence at Big 5 Global is further strengthened by the participation of ‘Made in Saudi’.
"Participating at Big 5 Global brings an exciting opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to quality, innovation, and the advancement of the “Made in Saudi” brand on a global stage. We look forward to sharing our vision, forging partnerships, and showcasing the exceptional products and services that define Saudi Made, contributing to the future of international trade and development,” said Faisal Almaghlooth, General Manager of Made in Saudi Program.
“As it continues to attract a diverse array of exhibitors, Big 5 Global is further solidifying its position as a premier destination for discovering the latest advancements, forging valuable connections and celebrating excellence within the industry,” concluded Heijmans.