The Big 5 Saudi, an international building and construction show, will be held for the fifth time in Jeddah.

The construction event, which is taking place at Jeddah Center for Forums and Events from March 9-12, has grown nearly 90 percent over the past four years. Between 2011 and 2014,

exhibitors increased from 300 to more than 504; visitor numbers rose from 9,000 to more than 15,000 and total event space grew from 7,000 sqm and will be 20,000 sqm in 2015. All of its exhibition space is “sold out.”

The annual event brings together thousands of visitors and exhibitors and showcases cutting-edge construction products and innovations from around the world.

Construction plays a key role providing a platform for house building, employment opportunities for Saudi nationals, and growth potential for local businesses. In 2014 alone, it is estimated that SR281.25 billion ($75 billion) construction projects were awarded, and an estimated $200 billion in contracts will be awarded over the next two years.

Expanding on last year’s two-day free-to-attend seminar series, the event will, for the first time, offer free to attend Continued Professional Development (CPD) certified education courses for attendees. The seminar series will give attendees free access to 12 sessions and panel discussions, including five project showcases. All these educational features will help visitors further their construction careers.

Nathan Waugh, event Director, for The Big 5 Saudi, said: “The Saudi construction sector is one of the most significant economic drivers in Saudi Arabia, and has played a major role in the country’s development. We are proud to have seen The Big 5 Saudi grow from strength to strength and celebrate its 5th anniversary this year. In addition, we are delighted once again to count on the valued patronage of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.”

He added: “Last year the free educational sessions on offer proved very popular with attendees, so we have increased the number of sessions available at the 2015 event.”

Ahmed A. A. Al-Ansari, commercial division manager, Qatar Steel, commented: “We are delighted to participate in The Big 5 Saudi for a second consecutive year. The exhibition has gone from strength to strength and we look forward to another successful show. The Big 5 Saudi provides Qatar Steel with a unique opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities on an international platform, allowing us to directly target potential customers and interact with global construction industry leaders.”

The Big 5 Saudi 2015 is supported as by Rajhi Steel, a major manufacturer of iron and steel in Middle East and North Africa, as its gold sponsor.