The Dubai Airport FreeZone Authority (Dafza) is set to hold discussions with several international construction and engineering groups at The Big 5 construction expo inviting them to set up their regional bases in the leading freezone.

Over the next two days, it will aim to capitalise on the freshly formatted expo’s immense global popularity to showcase its competitive advantages as a regional base of operations for construction and engineering firms, said a statement from Dafza.

A team from Dafza’s sales, project and marketing departments will directly engage The Big 5 show’s participants at a dedicated stand. The freezone will also arrange special business-to-business meetings with select exhibitors, it stated.

During the discussion, it will highlight the numerous benefits of operating within its premises.

Jamal Bin Marghoob, the director of marketing and corporate communication, Dafza, said: "Each year, The Big 5 Dubai draws in thousands of global suppliers and buyers of construction products, technologies and services to explore prime opportunities within the dynamic Arab construction markets."

"It is an excellent platform for us to network with exhibitors, visitors, practitioners and experts and share Dafza’s highly influential role in helping construction and engineering companies establish a strong and highly productive presence within Dubai, the region’s commercial and hub, and from here pursue more lucrative prospects in neighboring Middle Eastern, Asian and European markets," stated Marghoob.

According to him, Dafza will take the opportunity to further expand its community of hosted multinational corporations (MNCs).

As of Q3 2016, MNCs from the Big5 sectors of engineering and building materials and engines and machines accounted for 12 per cent of the freezone’s newly registered companies.

Around 14 per cent of the hosted companies is related to the ‘Big 5’ sectors, 31 per cent of which are MNCs. These companies collectively occupy over 25,000 sq m area at Dafza, he added.-TradeArabia News Service