United Arab Emirates: Twenty one French companies will be present in Dubai from 12 to 15 September 2021 for THE BIG 5 SHOW, the sector’s flagship trade show in the Middle East. At a time when the building sector is in the middle of a major digital, energy and environmental transformation, France’s watchword will be INNOVATION!
During four days, the French companies will address these major issues by offering solutions such as access control, water consumption management and leak prevention, Facility Management, BIM (Building Information Modelling), green and connected structures in urban areas, new energy production techniques and photoluminescent road marking.
The health crisis has had little impact on the dynamism of the construction sector in the region, and the investments announced, such as the US$ 500 billion “Abu Dhabi 2030” plan, will result in numerous opportunities for the French construction sector.
This has been well-understood by the French companies, which already established initial contacts with real estate developer Azizi Developments during virtual business meetings, organised last June by Business France (project introductions, requirements and referencing process).
Farhad Azizi, CEO of Azizi Developments stated: “We look forward to partner with more best-in-class suppliers from Europe, and especially with many from France. Through our extensive reviews of the world’s best suppliers, we aim to deliver above and beyond our promises to our valued investors and end-users in terms of build quality and time. France has a lot to offer and we are delighted to soon be sourcing more renowned and highly distinguished brands in construction and innovation from it.”
The appetite for innovative or even disruptive technologies and for “high-end” products in the region is a real boon for France, whose excellence and expertise are strongly recognized.
Frédéric Szabo, Managing Director, Business France Middle East commented: “In order to meet the main requirements of the current construction projects in the Middle East region, France’s quality and reliability of its solutions cover all structural and finishing works. Its high technicality, innovation, and design addresses energy, environmental and digital, challenges, as well as indoor air quality and risk management. While time has come to meet again in September at the Big Five, for the great return of French exhibitors at the show, we organized not less than 9 different pavilions spread across 7 halls to welcome 21 French companies”.
Positioning of the leading French solutions in the region
Many French subsidiaries already operate in the Middle East and have either won numerous contracts or signed joint ventures. Indeed, Etihad rail awarded a contract worth US$ 230 million to Vinci Construction for the construction of a rail operations and maintenance facility while Freyssinet Gulf, a subsidiary of the French company Vinci Construction in a joint venture with Draw Link Group (local company), has opened an integrated service for the design, production and installation of 3D concrete printed architectural and structural elements
Construction in France – key figures:
- The construction market is a major driver of the French and European economies
- France is the European leader in construction, driven by 3 champions: Vinci, Bouygues and Eiffage
- The sector comprises 394,000 companies and 1,477,000 employees with revenues of €140 billion exc. VAT. The construction sector is expected to achieve revenues of €193 billion exc. VAT by 2024
- France is ranked 12th in the world’s most innovative countries according to the 2020 Global Innovation Index
- France is the most attractive country in Europe for foreign investment according to a study by Ernst & Young
France’s increasing commitment to sustainability
- A €1.2 billion stimulus plan for the decarbonisation of the French industry to help industrial companies invest in equipment that emits less CO2
- The residential energy efficiency market is worth €21.6 billion
- Energy savings of 28% are expected in the construction sector by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050
Stands to watch during the Show
BFL INTERNATIONAL the French company that has developed solutions to address issues of damp in all types of dwellings will introduce during the BIG 5 Show the I.P.E. device, a revolutionary solution to fix damp problems in buildings.
The device developed by BFL International called an I.P.E., which stands for “Electromagnetic Polarity Inverter” is a breakthrough solution that deals with problems of humidity resulting from rising by capillarity (via the foundations or buried walls) at source, without the need for any building work. The I.P.E. is a solution that is both curative and preventive.
The system is based on the polarity of water molecules (positive/negative), a very simple electro-physical principle. But someone still needed to have the idea!
For water to rise in the walls, its molecules must be orientated with their negative pole pointing upward.
To counter the phenomenon, the I.P.E. reverses the polarity of the water by sending very low frequency electromagnetic waves into the wall, thus preventing water molecules from collecting and rising by capillarity and causing them to move back downward into the ground.
Unlike standard resin injection treatment in walls, I.P.E. is non-invasive and very economical. It addresses humidity problems at source, without the need for any building work, and is noiseless and dust free. It is a lightweight, discreet and ergonomic solution that acts effectively as soon as the first signs appear and is not harmful to health (ICNIRP certified).
Novade the leading field management software developer for the building and construction industry across Europe and Asia, is now making foray into the Middle East. The company will showcase its digitalisation and predictive analysis technology at The Big 5 Dubai.
Novade is committed to investing in the Middle East, working closely with construction companies on the ground to improve safety, quality, and productivity. A new collaboration has begun with the Aquatic & Fisheries Research Centre in Ras Matbakh in Al Khor, Qatar; a project operated by the company “Gulf Engineering & Industrial Consultancy” – their mission is to digitalise all their maintenance processes using the Novade platform.
Construction and industrial companies stand to benefit from the Novade platform, a one-stop shop mobile application and platform offering six operational modules to digitalise and automate all site processes, and one powerful analytical engine to make smarter business decisions.
Site processes including quality, safety, progress monitoring, workforce management and maintenance are digitised and automated using mobile devices. The data captured provides insights to streamline operations and drive results.
Sodimas Lifts the leading independent French manufacturer of elevators, will participate in the upcoming edition of The Big 5. The four-day construction show offers an unmatched platform for the global construction community and business leaders to connect, explore opportunities, forge partnerships and strike deals, in efforts to boost the construction sector’s recovery in the post-COVID-19 era.
With over 45 years of experience in the elevator industry, Sodimas offers a full range of products, including complete elevators, escalators and elevator components that reflect the French elegance and uniquely human design that perfectly meets the expectations of prestigious buildings, hotels and shopping centres in the UAE and the GCC region.
Founded in 1975, the French company has left its mark on the history of the elevator industry, with its products are manufactured and designed in a manner that can be adapted to all architectural styles due to the quality of the materials used and their carefully designed finishing.
Sodimas seeks to make the best use of The Big 5 show to network with global construction industry leaders and promote its first-class products and distinctively designed lifts, elevator components and escalators using cutting-edge technology in compliance with the highest European standards and specifications.
Through its participation, the French elevator company aims to connect with industry experts and professionals to identify their needs in the upcoming period, so as to meet the growing demand for lifts and elevator equipment in the Gulf market in view of the overwhelming number of urban development projects currently under construction in the GCC countries.
ABOUT BUSINESS FRANCE:
Business France is the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy, responsible for fostering export growth by French businesses, as well as promoting and facilitating international investment in France. It promotes France’s companies, business image and nationwide attractiveness as an investment location, and also runs the VIE international internship program.
