- Over 100 finalists from 12 countries shortlisted across 18 categories, recognizing achievements across construction and urban development
- Finalists include leading government authorities, developers, project owners, architects, consultants and contractors from Egypt, India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the UK, among other markets
- Sustainable Construction Organization of the Year receives the highest number of entries, highlighting continued focus on sustainability and measurable impact across the built environment
Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 7 October 2026: Big 5 Global Impact Awards 2026 has announced more than 100 finalists across 18 categories, recognizing organizations, projects, initiatives, teams and professionals delivering achievements across construction and urban development.
The finalists represent a broad cross-section of the built environment, from government authorities and developers to architects, consultants, contractors and technology leaders, with entries demonstrating progress across sustainability, digitalization, carbon reduction, liveability and workforce development. Finalists have been selected from 12 countries, including Bahrain, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Commenting on this year’s finalists, Josine Heijmans, Senior Vice President, dmg events, said: “The 2026 finalists demonstrate how organizations across the built environment are turning ambition into measurable outcomes. From sustainable construction and carbon reduction to digitalization, workforce development and liveable cities, the breadth of this year’s shortlist reflects the priorities influencing the industry today. Big 5 Global Impact Awards provides an opportunity to recognize the teams and individuals translating these priorities into projects and initiatives that can influence the wider industry.”
Government and private-sector leadership in the spotlight
Government authorities, public-sector organizations, developers and private-sector companies feature strongly among this year’s finalists, reflecting the nature of organizations of companies contributing to construction and urban development across the markets represented.
The line-up includes Dubai Municipality, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai, Expo City Dubai, King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) Projects, Diriyah Company, Saudi Aramco, King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) and the Ministry of Works, Bahrain. Leading private-sector names include The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.), Climatize, AECOM, Orascom Construction, Trojan Construction Holding, DAMAC Properties and KEO Group, among others.
Technology and sustainability in focus
The Sustainable Construction Organization of the Year category received the highest number of entries this year, reflecting continued focus on how companies embed sustainability into their operations, projects and broader business strategies. Finalists include AECOM, Diriyah Company, Expo City Dubai, King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) Projects, Orascom Construction, PETROJET, Climatize and Trojan Construction Holding.
Sustainability is also reflected across a range of projects spanning buildings, infrastructure and urban development. Finalists for Sustainable Construction Project of the Year include AECOM and Mubadala for Masdar Net Zero Energy Mosque, owned by AWQAF; AluHouse Company Limited for SSN 520 Light Public Housing Project in Hong Kong, owned by Architectural Services Department (ArchSD), HKSAR Government; DAMAC Properties for DAMAC Lagoons; Lagos Free Zone Company for Irele Tower, owned by Elevate Commercial Park Limited (ECPL); Masdar City for Horizons 1; Saudi Aramco’s Community & Public Projects Department for King Salman Energy Park (SPARK) Projects; The Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.) for Cairo Light Rail Transit (LRT) Phase 1&2, owned by Egyptian National Authority for Tunnels (NAT); and Trojan Construction Holding for Velodrome, owned by MODON.
Alongside sustainability, technology continues to be a key focus across this year’s shortlist, with AI applied to project delivery, asset monitoring, construction intelligence and other areas of the built environment. The Best Use of AI Award highlights how artificial intelligence is being applied across different areas of the built environment. Finalists include AlBawani for SCC & AI Cameras Smart Const. Cam & Analytics; China State Construction Engineering Corporation Middle East for CSCEC ME Insight Hub – Embedded AI for Predictive Project Intelligence; DAR Engineering for DAR Mate Intelligent Ecosystem; Dubai Municipality for Building Violation & Asset Monitoring; grfn for RSB Cooling Market Share & Efficiency Study, owned by Dubai Research and Bureau; KEO Group for Embedding AI Across Project Delivery; Sobha Construction; and ZFP (Zuhair Fayez) for ZFP R&D Unit – AI-Powered AEC Workflows, owned by ZFP – R&D Unit.
Commenting on the quality of this year’s finalists, Dr Yousef Mohammed Al Horr, Founding Chairman and CEO, Global Carbon Council (GCC) and judge, Big 5 Global Impact Awards, said: “Having reviewed this year’s finalists, I have been particularly impressed by the depth and quality of the work being delivered across the built environment.
The strongest entries demonstrate that sustainability is being translated into measurable outcomes through better design, resource efficiency, decarbonization and responsible delivery. Big 5 Global Impact Awards provide an important opportunity to recognize the organizations and individuals turning these priorities into tangible progress and setting a stronger benchmark for the industry.”
View the full list of finalists across 18 categories.
Every year, the awards are judged by an independent, international panel of industry experts, with winners selected based on the quality, impact and outcomes demonstrated through their submissions.
Winners will be announced at Big 5 Global Impact Awards ceremony on 25 November 2026 at Al Multaqua Ballroom, Dubai World Trade Centre. The awards take place alongside Big 5 Global, which takes place from 23 – 26 November 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre.
Big 5 Global is proud to collaborate with an esteemed network of partners and sponsors, including Main supporting partner, Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure; Supporting partner, Dubai Municipality; Gold Sponsor, Trojan Construction Holding; and Category Sponsor, Midea.
For more information, visit www.big5global.com
– Ends –
- Running from 23 – 26 November at Dubai World Trade Centre, the event is supported by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism, Dubai Civil Defense and Dubai Municipality
- Sessions across the Leadership Summits will explore strategic priorities across policy, investment, technology, delivery and liveability
- Over 20 country pavilions, including Austria, Italy, Germany, Greece, Morocco, UK, Türkiye, Spain and others, reinforce the event’s strength across construction and urban development
Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 30 September 2026: Big 5 Global, the most influential industry event for construction and urban development in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), returns to Dubai World Trade Centre from 23 – 26 November 2026, supported by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism, Dubai Civil Defense and Dubai Municipality. Marking its 47th edition, the event comes at a time when the region’s active project pipeline is driving demand for efficient project delivery, technology adoption, sustainable development and future-ready capabilities.
This year, the event spotlights four key priorities: Supply Chain Resilience, Technology Advancement, Sustainable Transformation and Future-Ready Workforce. These priorities reflect the region’s evolving built environment needs. Government-led economic transformation programmes, including We the UAE 2031, Saudi Vision 2030, New Kuwait 2035 and Oman Vision 2040, alongside urbanization and infrastructure development across MEASA, are driving long-term investment and creating sustained demand for products, technologies and expertise across the construction value chain, including building materials, HVACR, construction tools, MEP, interiors and finishes.
“The scale of development planned across the MEASA region creates significant opportunity for the industry, but the nature of that opportunity is evolving,” said Josine Heijmans, Senior Vice President, dmg events. “Projects are becoming increasingly connected across disciplines, spanning technology and building systems, supply chains, sustainability and workforce capabilities. Big 5 Global brings these perspectives together, giving the industry access to the products, partners and insights influencing how projects are delivered, while creating space for senior leaders to address the wider priorities influencing the built environment.”
Connecting the full construction ecosystem
Big 5 Global brings together products, technologies and expertise spanning the full project lifecycle, from building materials, interiors and finishes to MEP, construction tools and equipment, digital construction, geospatial technologies and facilities management. The exhibition connects these core areas with seven specialized events, including Heavy, Totally Concrete, Marble & Stone World, Urban Design & Landscape, HVACR World, GeoWorld and Future FM, bringing further focus to equipment and concrete production, stone, urban development and landscaping, building systems, geospatial technologies and facilities management.
The event provides a single meeting point for these interconnected sectors, giving developers, contractors, consultants, architects, engineers, procurement professionals and other decision-makers access to suppliers and solutions across the project lifecycle. This distinction is reflected in the participation of companies, including Anchor Allied, Soudal, Eternal Home, Zamil Steel, Framecad, Mahy Khoory, Dutco Tenant, Astral, SKM, Honeywell, Rheem, Premier Construction, RIB Software, Nemetschek, DJI, Liebherr, Bauer, Doosan, SANY and DeWALT.
The 2026 edition will also welcome first-time participants including Doosan Engines, a construction equipment engine provider; Einhell, a power tools specialist; and Reynaers, an aluminium systems provider.
Building on the international reach of the event, Big 5 Global will welcome exhibitors from more than 60 countries, with over 20 country pavilions bringing together companies from across the construction and urban development ecosystem. Participating pavilions include Austria, Italy, Germany, Oman, Greece, China, Morocco, UK, Türkiye, Spain, Russia, Egypt, Portugal and South Korea, among others.
Italy will have a particularly strong presence, with more than 100 Italian companies participating through the Italian Trade Agency, which will also contribute to the event’s Leadership Summits. Commenting on their participation, Valerio Soldani, Trade Commissioner to the UAE, Italian Trade Agency (ITA), said: ” Italy sees the Middle East as a region of significant opportunity for its construction and built environment companies, particularly at a time when markets are undergoing rapid transformation and investment decisions are accelerating. Through our participation at Big 5 Global, with more than 110 Italian companies represented across the event, we are reinforcing our commitment to supporting the region’s development while creating opportunities for Italian businesses to engage with key decision-makers and project stakeholders. Our involvement also extends to the event’s leadership summits, reflecting our commitment to contributing to the wider industry dialogue and sharing Italian expertise across construction, infrastructure and urban development.”
From products on the floor to decisions at the highest level
At Big 5 Global, while the exhibition connects buyers with the right products and solutions, the three Leadership Summits unite leaders, innovators and city-makers to turn built environment challenges into scalable outcomes. Sessions across Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit, LiveableCitiesX Summit and Big 5 FutureTech Summit examine the strategic priorities facing construction and urban development through executive-level discussions around policy, investment, technology, delivery and livability.
Complementing the high-level summits, Big 5 Talks, will bring together a broad programme of content streams spanning AI, concrete, architecture, geotechnical, HVACR, facility management, project management, sustainability, geospatial technologies, building information modelling and more. The programme will also feature Startup City Talks and pitch competition, alongside Let’s Talk Fire by ESL, buildingSMART Talks and ASHRAE Trainings.
New for 2026, Big 5 Talks will introduce Building Codes & Regulations Talks that will address the regulatory frameworks driving construction and development.
“In 2025, 77% of attendees identified as decision-makers and attendee spend accounted for $3.34 billion, translating industry priorities into commercial opportunity,” said Heijmans. “As we gear up for this year’s edition, we look forward to gathering stakeholders to drive new business, collaborate and exchange knowledge that can accelerate the industry.”
Big 5 Global is proud to collaborate with an esteemed network of partners and sponsors: Main supporting partner, Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure; Supporting partners, Dubai Civil Defence, Ministry of Economy & Tourism, Dubai Municipality, The Department of Municipalities and Transport, Ras Al Khaimah Municipality and Riyadh Region Municipality; Headline partner, Italian Trade Agency; Strategic partner, TALCO | Saudi Made; HVACR World strategic partner, Midea; Construction delivery partner, Trojan Construction Holding; Integrated freezone sponsor, KEZAD Group; Global industrial sponsor, National Industries Park; Construction mobility sponsor, United Motors & Heavy Equipment; Sustainable development sponsor, Dubai Investments Park; HVACR World Premium systems sponsor, Toshiba; Gold sponsor, MIE Groups; and Bronze sponsors, DeWalt, The Nemetschek Group and Stanley.
Registration for Big 5 Global is now open. The event takes place from 23 – 26 November 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre.
For more information and to register, visit www.big5global.com
– Ends –
- Leadership Summits attracted over 1,800 delegates for high-value discussions covering boardroom strategies, future-ready cities, AI, technology and geo-intelligence
- Global exhibitors launched new products and solutions, including Rheem Middle East’s Centurion system, CRC Industries’ Evapo-Rust and Alliance Silica’s SNL product line
- METER Technology signed an MoU with Geospatial Ventures, advancing geospatial tools and monitoring capabilities across the region.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – X December 2025: The 46th edition of Big 5 Global, co-located with nine specialized events, including Heavy, Totally Concrete, Marble & Stone World, Urban Design & Landscape, Windows Doors & Facades, HVACR World, LiveableCitiesX, GeoWorld and FutureFM, successfully concluded at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 24 – 27 November 2025.
Supported by the UAE Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure, Dubai Civil Defense, Dubai Municipality, Ministry of Economy & Tourism, Department of Municipalities and Transport Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah Municipality and Riyadh Region Municipality the exhibition welcomed over 85,000 attendees from over 165 countries for four days of learning, sourcing and collaboration, supporting the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region’s $9.18 trillion construction and urban development projects’ pipeline (Source: Ventures Onsite).
Addressing the current market demands and opportunities, this year’s edition introduced a unified structure built around four core themes, including supply chain resilience, sustainability, technology advancement and talent empowerment, delivering tailored content and solutions for professionals across multiple disciplines.
“Big 5 Global is designed to support the construction industry worldwide by aligning each edition with the sector’s shifting needs. Every year we refine our themes to reflect the market’s opportunities and challenges and this year’s approach clearly resonated with government entities, industry professionals and exhibitors alike,” said Josine Heijmans, Senior Vice President, dmg events. “The scale of participation and the calibre of visitors, from senior policymakers to technical specialists and decision makers, reinforced the event’s role as a serious meeting point for sourcing, knowledge exchange, strategic collaboration and practical problem solving. The breadth and quality of products and solutions on the exhibition floor showed how suppliers are adapting to regional and international project priorities. We are already working on next year’s edition, building on the momentum created this year.”
Building on this momentum, the exhibition floor saw strong activity throughout the week as exhibitors introduced new products, signed partnership agreements and met serious buyers seeking practical solutions for current project demands.
Exhibitor announcements and partnerships
METER Technology, Big 5 Global’s GIS strategic partner, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Geospatial Ventures Limited during the exhibition. The agreement focuses on developing and deploying advanced geospatial tools, devices and monitoring capabilities, enhancing existing solutions and collaborative technologies. The partnership marks a significant step towards smarter systems and improved accuracy for both government and private sector applications in the region. The MoU signing at Big 5 Global represents an important step in advancing geospatial capabilities across the region, combining expertise, innovative technologies and industry collaboration.
At HVACR World, RubberWorld presented Gulf-O-Flex Assist, a tool that streamlines compliance and enhances project sustainability, marking its official exhibition debut. Another exhibitor, Rheem Middle East, launched Centurion, a heating and cooling system engineered for energy efficiency in the Middle East and Africa. The system simultaneously cools spaces and recycles heat to produce hot water, achieving up to 84% energy savings.
Speaking of the newly launched product, Brian Hempenstall, Vice President and General Manager of Rheem Middle East, said: “Centurion isn’t just a product, it’s a smarter way to deliver comfort while saving energy. We’re excited to offer a solution that helps our customers lower costs and reduce their environmental impact.
CRC Industries launched Evapo-Rust, its water based, biodegradable and reusable rust remover designed for industrial and maintenance applications. The product generated strong interest among professionals seeking more sustainable and efficient asset care solutions.
Alliance Silica marked the official GCC introduction of the Société Nouvelle du Littoral product line. The agreement with SNL formalizes the availability of certified European reference materials for cement testing, strengthening the region’s access to standardized quality assurance tools. The signing, attended by Philippe Guibert, Director of SNL, reflects growing demand for internationally recognized laboratory materials across cement factories and construction testing facilities.
Bekaert Emirates presented a range of steel fibre solutions for precast elements, tunnelling, mining and industrial flooring, along with reinforcement systems for machinery, energy and marine applications. Commenting on the company’s participation, Mohammed Jabber, Regional Sales Manager for the tunnelling and mining division, said: “Big 5 Global gave us the opportunity to strengthen our presence in the region and engage directly with the people driving the sector. We showcased a broad range of fibres and reinforcement solutions for multiple segments and met consultants, contractors and key decision-makers who influence specifications across major projects. The event also allowed us to understand the evolving market landscape and see how companies are advancing their technologies for the years ahead.”
Leadership Summits explore sector priorities and policy perspectives
The four Leadership Summits, including the Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit, LiveableCitiesX Summit, Big 5 FutureTech Summit and GeoWorld Summit, brought together over 1800 delegates. The audience represented a targeted mix of senior government representatives, organizational leaders, technical experts and strategic decision makers, setting the tone for focused, high-value discussions on the road ahead for the built environment.
In the session titled The government outlook, Building the future, Dubai’s construction sector and regulatory excellence, Naser Al Shaibani, Structural Control Section Manager at Dubai Municipality, outlined how the Emirate is strengthening its regulatory ecosystem and transitioning from a smart city model to a predictive city model. His presentation detailed Dubai’s unified regulatory framework, the end-to-end digital permitting cycle, AI-powered building code tools, BIM standards, automated e-checking processes and 3D printing guidelines. The Build in Dubai was highlighted as a central access point for stakeholders navigating the complete construction journey, supporting a more efficient, compliant and future-ready development environment.
At the LiveableCitiesX Summit, Dr Christina Yan Zhang, CEO of The Metaverse Institute, delivered an impact address on the shift toward citizen-centered and environmentally responsible digital innovation. She explored how technologies such as AI, digital twins, large world models and brain computer interface applications are reshaping urban planning and long-term sustainability strategies. Her message underlined the need for collaborative and equitable technology deployment to ensure that digital transformation delivers meaningful value for communities and the planet.
Technical sessions deliver practical insights at Big 5 Talks
Across the four days, the Big 5 Talks brought together specialists for technical deep dives on project controls, next generation technology adoption, asset performance and field challenges.
In a session on Project controls unlocked, Utilization, strategy and real-world challenges, Engr Mohamed Ezz, MENA Partner Success Manager for Construction, Project Management Institute, discussed how organizations can strengthen delivery performance by improving integration, addressing common coordination barriers and applying lessons from complex global projects.
A panel discussion on next-generation technology examined what works, what does not and why when implementing digital tools at scale. Moderated by Manal Assaad, Founder and Chief CX Strategist of KlarCX, the conversation featured insights from Engr Majid Abu Abdoun, Senior Transport Engineer, Financial Sustainability & Investment Department, Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure; Rupert Tait, Co-Founder, Procurified; Fady Kobersy, Sales Director – MENA, RIB Software; and Ahmed Yousif, Regional BIM Manager, Middle East & North Africa, Hill International.
Speakers offered guidance on investment priorities, avoiding short-lived solutions and building technology roadmaps that stay resilient through market volatility.
Big 5 Global is proudly supported by leading sponsors and partners, including Main Supporting Partner, Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure; Supporting Partner, Dubai Civil Defense, Dubai Municipality, The Department of Municipalities and Transport, Ras Al Khaimah Municipality and Riyadh Region Municipality; Country Strategic Partner, Saudi Made; GIS Strategic Partner, Meter Technology; WDF Strategic Partner, Schüco; WDF Exclusive Platinum Sponsor, Alumil; Government Growth Partner, Italian Trade Association (ITA); Net-Zero Steel Sponsor, Arabian Gulf Steel Industries (AGSI); MEP Sector Sponsor, GF Corys Piping Systems; Sustainable Development Sponsor, Dubai Investments Park (DIP); Gold Sponsors, Würth Professional Solutions and MIE Groups; HVACR World Silver Sponsors, Daikin and Hisense; HVACR World Industry Sponsor, TCL; HVACR World Insulation Sponsor, Gulf-O-Flex; LiveableCitiesX Bronze Sponsor, DAC Group; Bronze Sponsors, DeWalt, Nassar Stone and Nemetschek Group; Academic Partners, American University Dubai, American University of Sharjah, Canadian University Dubai, Heriot Watt Univerity and Manipal Academy of Higher Education; Supporting Associations, American Concrete Institute, Association of Ethiopian Architects, The Council for International Accreditation of Architecture & Design, Chartered Institute of Building, Egypt Green Building Council, Emirates Green Building Council, Ethiopian Association of Civil Engineers, Indian Plumbing Association, Ethiopian Construction Technology and Management Professionals Association, Institution of Civil Engineers, IFLA Middle East, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Society of Engineers, Sustainability Professionals of Saudi Arabia, UAE Contractors’ Association and Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors; GeoWorld Supporting Associations, Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors, International Society for Digital Earth and World Geospatial Industry Council; Future FM Supporting Association, Egyptian Facility Management Association; and Knowledge Partners, Project Management Institute and Ventures Onsite.
–ENDS–
