More than 900 companies from 35 countries are showcasing the latest in construction technology, material, machinery and equipment at the Saudi Build 2010, the biggest business-to-business construction event in the region.

Saudi Build was opened on Monday by Prince Dr Abdul Aziz Bin Ayaf Al-Muqrin at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The event, held under the patronage of Prince Dr Mansour Bin Miteb Bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Minister of Municipal & Rural Affairs, will run till October 21.

Also taking place concurrent to the main show are Saudi Stone-Tech 2010, the 13th international Stone and Stone Technology Show, and Saudi Build-The PMV Series.

The expo has built a reputation as a construction reference and the only show in the GCC that meets the professional expectations of the industry as a whole, said Mohammad Al Hussaini, deputy general manager, Riyadh Exhibitions Company, the event organisers.

'We had to significantly expand the exhibition space this year to accommodate the huge number of booking requests. This move reflects the generally positive outlook for the global construction markets as the world slowly moves away from recession,' he pointed out.

'This also affirms strong confidence for places such as Saudi Arabia where the construction and real estate sectors have managed to thrive within the downturn,' Al Hussaini added.

Saudi Build, he said, offers the most comprehensive lineup of construction industry exhibits and networking opportunities in the Middle East and 'so each year is a challenge for us to meet the needs and high expectations of our audience.'

As the Middle East's largest construction and building material exhibition, Saudi Build 2010 covers the full range of industry topics related to construction material and equipment, air-conditioning, electrical, mechanical and civil engineering, concrete and steel technologies, and “green” construction technologies, he added.-TradeArabia News Service