DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES -- The 2007 Big 5 Exhibition will be held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre from November 25 to 29, 2007. The Big 5 2006 exhibition was the largest building, building materials and construction exhibition ever held in the Middle East, reports the show’s organizer. It occupied 10 exhibition halls, the Al Multaqua Hall, the brand new Zabeel Hall and The Pavilion at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre. The visitor attendance was 41,058, which represents an increase of 6.5%.
Approximately 52% of registered visitors came from outside the Dubai Emirate. The Dubai numbers were up 22%, reflecting the high level of construction activity in the Emirate, while the numbers from the GCC states and other Arab countries held up well in view of the Eid holiday that preceded the exhibition. The figures above do not include approximately 5,600 individuals from the exhibiting companies, many of who did substantial business at the show, according to the show’s organizer. The exhibition attracted in excess of 11,600 overseas visitors and approximately 4,000 overseas exhibitors. There were 2,158 stands at The Big 5 2006, exhibiting the products and services of 2,892 companies. These companies came from 67 countries and included 30 national firms.
Additionally, 48% of registered visitors came from Dubai, 24% from Abu Dhabi and the other Emirates and 14% from the Gulf States and other Arab countries. Visitors from other countries included significant numbers from India, Iran and Europe.