Big 5 Global 2026: Connect Construction Contacts to a Project Brief
Big 5 Global 2026 runs November 23–26 at Dubai World Trade Centre. A construction supplier meeting is more useful when the contact record identifies the project package, specification stage and technical documents still required. This guide covers the daily visitor timetable and shows how to keep that project brief with each contact in Habsy, so follow-up can support a specification or procurement review.
Habsy11 min read
Big 5 Global at a glance
- Dates
- November 23 to 26, 2026Monday to Thursday
- Exhibition hours
- Nov 23: 11:00–18:00; Nov 24–25: 10:00–18:00; Nov 26: 10:00–17:00Published visitor hours, Dubai local time
- Venue
- Dubai World Trade CentreDubai, United Arab Emirates
- Entry
- Visitors aged 21+; ticket requiredRegister through the organiser and check current ticket inclusions.
- Official website
- big5global.comConfirm details before you travel
Who exhibits and who attends Big 5 Global?
A consultant assessing a product for specification may need a different response from a contractor preparing a quotation or a distributor exploring supply. Record the application, project stage, requested technical information, delivery assumptions and decision owner. Agree which document or sample should be reviewed next; do not treat a catalogue exchange as product approval or a confirmed supply commitment.
Who exhibits
- Building materials and construction-product suppliers
- Mechanical and building-system providers
- Fit-out and architectural-product manufacturers
- Construction machinery and equipment firms
- Construction technology and service providers
Who attends
- Contractors and subcontractors
- Architects and engineering consultants
- Developers and project owners
- Construction procurement teams
- Building-product distributors
Group meetings by construction package and consult the current floor plan for the main show and co-located events. Monday starts later and Thursday finishes earlier than the middle days. Confirm the show or appointment location rather than assuming every meeting is in the same hall.
How to prepare for Big 5 Global with Habsy
Most of the work happens before you reach Dubai. Set up Habsy once and every conversation at the show ends with a saved contact, the context you need and a next step.
If you are visiting
Before you fly
- 1
Create your Professional digital card
Share your details by QR code, NFC or link instead of paper cards.
- 2
Add your Business digital card
Your company profile and brochures, for partners and suppliers you meet.
- 3
Create a Big 5 Global category
Plus the visitor intent signals below, to sort vendors by fit later.
- 4
Turn on Send my digital card back
Everyone you scan gets your card automatically.
If you are exhibiting
Before you fly, for every rep
- 1
Install Habsy on every rep's phone
Give each rep a digital card, plus one Business digital card for the company.
- 2
Set up intent signals and templates
Every rep qualifies and follows up the same way, by email or WhatsApp.
- 3
Add an enquiry form to your card
Print its QR code on the booth so visitors leave details when you are busy.
- 4
Create a Big 5 Global campaign
Bringing several reps? Every scan lands in one live list.
How to set up Habsy before Big 5 Global
Five steps, in the order the app walks you through them. Visitors need steps 1 to 3. Exhibitors should do all five.
1. Create your digital business cards
Every Habsy account includes two free digital cards under MyQR: a Professional digital card for you and a Business digital card for your company, with your services and brochures. Habsy's AI builds them from your LinkedIn profile and website, or from a photo of your own business card. Share them by QR code, NFC or link. The person you share with opens your card in their browser, with no app needed, and saves your contact in one tap. Add an enquiry form so visitors who scan your card leave their details and are saved as a new contact.

1Your Professional digital card

2Your Business digital card

3Share by QR code, NFC or link
2. Add intent signals
Intent signals are tap-to-answer questions you fill in for every contact, so every rep records the same details in seconds. In Settings, open Manage Intent Signals, then tap Create with AI to get suggestions from your website, or Create Manually to add the set below.

1Open Manage Intent Signals

2Review the signals Habsy suggests

3Tap the answers after each scan
- Contractor
- Consultant
- Developer
- Distributor
- Subcontractor
- Procurement manager
- Project manager
- Specification manager
- Technical director
- Building materials
- Building systems
- Fit-out products
- Construction equipment
- Construction technology
- Within 3 months
- 3 to 6 months
- 6 to 12 months
- Researching
- Book a demo
- Send a proposal
- Share a case study
- Introduce a colleague
- Building materials
- Building systems
- Fit-out products
- Construction equipment
- Construction technology
- Exhibit hall booth
- Session or reception
- Strong fit
- Possible fit
- Not a fit
- Book a demo
- Request pricing
- Share with my team
- No follow-up
Add them in Settings, Manage Intent Signals, with Create Manually, or start with Create with AI and adjust the options to match what you sell or what you are looking for.
3. Create a Big 5 Global category
Create a category called Big 5 Global and set it as your default for the days of the event, so every contact you scan at the show is filed under it automatically. After the show, use it as a filter to export only your Big 5 Global contacts to Excel, CSV or VCF in one step. Exhibitors on Habsy Platform can also use the Big 5 Global category to track how the event performed: contacts captured, companies reached, intent signals and each rep's results.

1Create the category

2Pick it when you save a contact

3Find it on every contact
4. Set up your email and WhatsApp templates
Connect your email account or WhatsApp Business account in Settings before the show. Then, with Send email or WhatsApp template turned on in your Card Preferences, your follow-up goes out from your own account the moment you save a scanned contact. The visitor often has your message, and your digital card, before they leave your booth. It shows you are organized and quick to respond, and it puts you ahead of every exhibitor who follows up next week. To write the template, open Email Templates or WhatsApp Templates in Settings, describe the message, and Habsy's AI writes it. Add variables such as the contact's name and company so every message is personal. Here is a template you can copy for Big 5 Global:
Hi {{recipient.name}},
It was good meeting you at Big 5 Global in Dubai.
I would be happy to share product specifications and available technical documents for the projects {{recipient.company}} is reviewing.
Would you prefer the documentation first, or a short discussion about the application, submission requirements and expected delivery timing?
Best regards,{{user.name}}{{user.company}}
Hi {{recipient.name}}, this is {{user.name}} from {{user.company}}. Good meeting you at Big 5 Global.
Would product specifications or technical documents help with your project review? Happy to clarify the application, supply requirements and the next submission or quotation step.
Words in braces are variables. Habsy fills them in from each contact and from your profile when you send.

1Let AI write the template

2Save your WhatsApp templates

3Save your email templates
5. Set your Card Preferences
Choose what Habsy does each time you save a contact, once in Settings or per save. It runs in the background while you move on to the next conversation.
Sara Mansour saved at Big 5 Global · 4 steps running in the background
Email, WhatsApp and CRM steps need the matching integration.
How to capture every contact at Big 5 Global
Use one app for every contact you make, wherever you make it: at the booth, in a session, at a reception or over dinner. Every rep and every visitor captures contacts on their own phone, free and with no scan limit, and every contact lands in one list with your category, intent signals and notes.

1Scan a business card

2Scan a badge QR code

3Type it in with manual entry
- Badges: point the Habsy scanner at a badge and Habsy reads the attendee's details from its QR code. If a badge holds only a registration number, scan the person's business card or type them in.
- Business cards: scan each card in seconds, or switch to Batch and scan up to 150 cards in about 5 minutes without leaving the camera. Habsy reads cards in 200+ languages.
- QR codes: scan digital business cards from any provider, LinkedIn QR codes and contact QR codes.
- NFC: turn on NFC on the scan screen, then hold an NFC business card or an NFC event badge to the back of your phone. Habsy reads the contact and saves it, with no camera needed.
- Manual entry: no card and no QR code? Choose Manual and type the details in.
- Offline: capture continues when the hall Wi-Fi is busy, and contacts process once you reconnect.
Many shows also sell official lead retrieval through the organizer. Habsy works on its own or next to it. For more, read lead capture vs lead retrieval.
How to add context while you talk
A contact without context is hard to follow up. Before the next conversation starts, add what you discussed and what you promised.
- Intent signals: tap the answers on the review screen after each scan.
- Voice notes: tap Add Voice Note and say what they need. Habsy turns it into a searchable transcript.
- Text notes: type a quick note, such as "Technical submittals for 3 projects".
- Reminders: in 1 hour, in 4 hours, tomorrow at 9 AM or any date and time, with a repeat and an alarm. All of them appear in My reminders.
Here is what a contact from Big 5 Global looks like with context added:
Sara Mansour
Procurement Manager, Palmstone Projects
Intent signals
- Contractor
- Procurement manager
- Building materials
- 3 to 6 months
- 3 projects
- Book a demo
Notes
Reviewing packages for 3 projects; needs specifications, submittal documents and delivery assumptions.
0:42 · "Send the technical documents and supply assumptions for our 3 projects before the review."
Reminder
Friday, 9:00 AM · Send specifications and submittal pack
Illustrative example: fictional person, company and buying requirements; not an actual attendee record.
Going to Big 5 Global?
Your digital card and lead capture in one app.
Unlimited scanning, text notes, reminders and exports are free. Categories, voice notes, intent signals and templates require Habsy Plus. Habsy Platform is separately priced for teams.
What to do in Habsy after Big 5 Global
The show ends on Thursday, November 26. What you do in the next 48 hours decides how many of those conversations turn into meetings, partners or deals.
If you visited: pick up the conversations you started
- See who looked at your card: open QR analytics to see how many people viewed and saved your digital card, how they engaged and where.
- Save and call back: save vendors to your phone contacts, and set a reminder to call back the ones you want to hear more from.
- Drop a message: Habsy writes a short email or WhatsApp message for any contact, mentioning where you met.
- Export and share: export your Big 5 Global category to Excel, CSV or VCF, by date range, with a copy sent to your email, and share the shortlist with your team.
Top locations
Example numbers.

1Export to Excel, CSV or VCF

2Set a reminder to call back

3Send a quick message
If you exhibited: follow up within 48 hours
- Thursday evening: batch scan any cards left in your pockets and check that every contact has a note.
- Friday: filter by intent signals, such as "Book a demo" and "Within 3 months", and send your Big 5 Global template to the hottest contacts first.
- Send at scale: select several contacts on the home screen, choose email or WhatsApp and a template, and send to all of them.
- Next week: work through the rest by reminder, sync qualified contacts to your CRM, and export the list to Excel, CSV or VCF.

1Write the follow-up with AI

2Pick a template for each contact

3Select several contacts and send
For more message ideas, see our follow-up email templates.
Exhibiting with a team? Run Big 5 Global on Habsy Platform
When several reps work the booth, the hard part is not capturing leads. It is knowing, during the show and after it, who met whom, who is hot and who follows up. Habsy Platform is the web dashboard for that, at app.habsy.ai. Reps keep scanning in the app, and the manager sees everything in one place.
app.habsy.ai

- One campaign for Big 5 Global: every rep's contacts land in one live list, by rep and by day.
- Clear ownership: assign contacts, set reminders, and get alerts when two reps meet the same person.
- Follow-up from one place: sync to your CRM and run email sequences, WhatsApp and LinkedIn outreach for the whole team.
The Big 5 Global post-event report
When the show ends, Habsy turns your Big 5 Global contacts into a post-event report: what your team captured, who you met, what they told you through your intent signals, and a dossier on every company with how well it fits your business. Use it to decide who to call first and whether the next edition is worth the booth. Here is what it could look like for Big 5 Global, with example data:
Post-event report · Big 5 Global
Overview: what your team captured at Big 5 Global, how complete it is, and what stands out.
Analytics: the kinds of organizations and the seniority of the people your team met at Big 5 Global.
Intent signals: what contacts at Big 5 Global are interested in, when they plan to buy and the next step your reps agreed.
Habsy Platform has one team price, with no per-event or per-lead fees. See Habsy for teams or explore the platform.
Bottom line
Record project stage, application, approval documents and delivery needs with each construction supplier so Big 5 Global follow-up supports a real specification or procurement decision. Visitors: create your digital card and scan every card and badge you collect. Exhibitors: set up intent signals and templates before you fly, capture every contact in one app, and follow up within 48 hours. See event lead capture with Habsy.
Bringing a team to Big 5 Global and other events this year? See how Habsy works for sales teams, or book a demo of Habsy Platform.
Habsy is not affiliated with dmg events. Event details come from the official Big 5 Global website and can change.
Keywords
- Big 5 Global 2026
- Big 5 Dubai
- construction supplier meetings
- Big 5 opening hours
- technical submittals
- construction supplier follow-up
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is Big 5 Global 2026?
The event takes place November 23–26 at Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Are the opening hours the same each day?
No. November 23 is 11:00–18:00; November 24 and 25 are 10:00–18:00; and November 26 is 10:00–17:00. These are the organiser’s published Dubai local times.
What is the minimum visitor age?
The official website says visitors under 21 are not permitted. Register through the organiser and check your ticket details before travelling. This guide does not assume a promotional price or complimentary-entry entitlement.
What should I record before requesting a technical submittal?
Record the project package, product application, specification stage, documents requested and the responsible reviewer. Clarify which requirements are still open and what delivery assumptions the supplier should use. These are meeting prompts, not confirmation that a product is approved for the project.
How should contractor and consultant follow-up differ?
A consultant may need the specification and technical evidence needed for evaluation. A contractor may need a scope, quantities and supply assumptions for a quotation. Keep the project stage and intended recipient clear so both receive the information relevant to their decision.
What should the first follow-up deliver?
Send the agreed specification, sample information or technical document pack, identify any unanswered project requirements and agree the next review or quotation owner. Use the channel and timing discussed rather than a generic demo invitation.
Can Habsy access the organiser’s badge database?
No. It can read supported QR codes that contain contact details. If a badge contains only a registration identifier or restricted organiser link, use the official retrieval option or exchange a business card. A separate contact app does not grant access to registration records.
How do I keep the Big 5 Global team’s contacts organised?
Use consistent qualification questions, agree a follow-up owner and save the next action with the contact. Categories and intent signals require Habsy Plus; free text notes and reminders can record the same discussion in a simpler workflow. Habsy Platform is separately priced for shared team campaigns, assignments and reporting.
Which Habsy features are free and which require a plan?
Scanning, text notes, reminders, exports and two digital cards are free. Categories, voice notes, intent signals, templates, enquiry forms, card analytics and integrations require Habsy Plus. Sending and CRM steps need the relevant account integration; offline capture is processed when the device reconnects.
Going to Big 5 Global?
Capture every contact you make in Dubai.
Record project stage, application, approval documents and delivery needs with each construction supplier so Big 5 Global follow-up supports a real specification or procurement decision.

