The three-day event entitled the Big 5 Saudi 2012 is organized under the aegis of Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Prince Mansour bin Miteb.
In the event 518 exhibitors from 36 countries are participating.
"The response we have received to this year's event, in advance of its official opening, has been exceptional and we look forward to a very exciting event," said Andy White, event director for The Big 5 Saudi.
The expo is particularly significant as an estimated $163.5 billion worth construction projects are currently in concept stage in Saudi Arabia for the next year, a statement of the event organizers said.
The show organizers had to construct a bespoke second hall in order to provide space to meet the growing demand from exhibitors. The total value of Saudi construction works at concept stage is based on the studies of the Venture Middle East.
"A brand new dedicated concrete zone, which will provide a platform for exhibitors to position their products and services in a tailored environment. This ensures visitors have easy access to international products, trends and innovations all in one place," White said.
There is a phenomenal opportunity for exhibitors to do real business during the event and for buyers to source thousands of new and innovative products, he added.
"The Big 5 Saudi 2012 will provide unrivalled opportunities for the regional and international industry to access these projects in concept stage," he said.
"We are looking at the Saudi market with enthusiasm and optimism, especially that the Saudi construction sector is expected to maintain its upward momentum in the short to mid-term. We recently commissioned our heavy sections mill and we aim to market its produce within the Saudi market, which is the largest market within the GCC states," Vice President for Commercial & Strategy at Emirates Steel Mubarak Al-Khalili said.
Two workshops are also organized on the sidelines of the exhibition. The first of them, the LEED workshop, will take the participants through the key components of the LEED ratings system and the most successful way to develop LEED strategies and achieve credit categories. The workshop modules will cover a variety of related topics, including water efficiency, materials and design innovation.
The second workshop focusing on concrete repair will offer participants with latest developments in concrete repair and corrosion in addition to familiarizing them with the most recent European Standards and Concrete Society Technical Reports. It will also provide the opportunity to improve their ability to effectively mitigate the risk of concrete damage to improve lifecycle costs and maintain structural integrity.
The Big 5 Saudi attracted 9,000 visitors when it was launched in 2011.
International companies make up more than 75 percent of total exhibitors. The next Big 5 Saudi event will take place from March 9-12 2013.
