The total HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) spend on construction projects in Dubai, UAE, has surged to $1.5 billion and is growing in line with the values of contracts awarded in the urban construction sector, said a report ahead of The Big 5 Dubai 2017 expo.

The Middle East’s largest and most influential construction industry event, The Big 5 will run from November 26 to 29 at Dubai World Trade Centre showcasing 360-degree building solutions clustered in five product sectors: MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) services, Building Interiors & Finishes, Building Envelope & Special Construction, Construction Tools & Building Materials, and Construction Technology & Innovation.

A key highlight of this year's expo will be a brand new HVAC dedicated sector, said the event organiser, dmg events Middle East, Asia & Africa.

The Big 5 will feature a variety of free-to-attend MEP talks, an entire day of which will focus on HVAC-related topics, with experts discussing the present and future of cooling and air conditioning solutions in the region, it stated.

The value of project investments in Dubai with HVAC applications in the early stages of construction has reached $59 billion, said a report by The Big 5 research partner BNC Network.

Among other demand drivers, the 'Dubai HVAC Market Outlook' report examines the Dubai government’s building specifications and smart city initiatives which promote efficient energy units, ultimately showing their impact towards a growth in the local HVAC market.

In order to meet this growing demand for smart, innovative and sustainable cooling solutions, and to support the local construction market in advancing industry best practices, The Big 5 Dubai is introducing a new dedicated HVAC hall this year, said a senior official.

"Boosted by government initiatives like the UAE Vision 2021 and the Dubai 2021 Smart City Plan, new green building specifications and energy efficient cooling technologies are gathering momentum,” remarked Josine Heijmans, the portfolio director for The Big 5 Dubai.

Last year’s edition of The Big 5 was the largest to date, attracting over 78,579 participants and 2,586 exhibiting companies from 59 countries.

Some of the major HVAC exhibitors at The Big 5 2017 include Fawaz, Leminar, Zamil, Hira Industries, Climatech, Fantini Cosmi, AAF, SKM, Trosten, and AirMaster, she added.-TradeArabia News Service