Dubai – Mubasher: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries and the wider Middle East region are standout opportunities recognised by a recent construction industry survey.

The majority of respondents, who are not already active in the region, see it among the top destinations when considering where their business may look for opportunities in the future, according to “The Voice of the Construction Industry Report,” published by The Big 5.

The research paper, conducted by GRS Research & Strategy Middle East, in conjunction with The Big 5, showed that for GCC countries, respondents felt there were the most opportunities to be found in the UAE (56%), followed by Saudi Arabia (44.4%).

Meanwhile, 36% of participants believe their business would enter the UAE within the next 12 months either directly or via a joint venture (JV).

The findings represent good news for the UAE and the Middle East, according to Andrea Piccin, Partner - General Manager, GRS Research & Strategy. “Economic growth is seen as a key factor generating business opportunities in the GCC. This is undoubtedly piquing the interest of international companies, which are now looking to expand in the Middle East for the first time. The increase in tourism, particularly in the UAE, is a major driver for business growth and one that many construction companies have already capitalised upon,” said Piccin.

“These trends reflect the UAE and Saudi governments’ recent focus on the development of smart and sustainable cities. According to the results, it is anticipated during the next 12 months governments from these two countries will place even greater emphasis in these key areas providing an additional boost for the industry,” Piccin added.

Prefabrication and modular construction, energy efficiency, and sustainability are the most important trends impacting all aspects of the construction industry, the survey further showed.

Moreover, advanced software, building information modelling (BIM), and digitalisation are identified as the top three technology disrupters of the sector, followed by the Internet of Things (IoT), smart technology, and 3D printing.

A total of 5,951 senior construction industry professionals were surveyed from 136 countries on the trends and outlook of the construction sector in the GCC, Middle East and Africa.

The Big 5 is the Middle East and Africa’s largest construction event, its 40th edition takes place on 25-28 November at the Dubai World Trade Centre, with the participation of 150 CEOs from the region’s industry leaders.