A total of 76 Egyptian companies specializing in building materials are participating in the Big 5 exhibition, held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, from 15 to 27 February 2025. This participation is part of Egypt's intensive efforts to boost its exports of building materials to Arab and regional markets, particularly Saudi Arabia, which is considered one of the most promising markets in the region. The exhibition is organized by Expo Consultant in collaboration with the Export Council for Building Materials, the Egyptian Commercial Service, and the Egypt Expo & Convention Authority (EECA). This event is part of a broader Egyptian strategy aimed at strengthening trade relations and increasing the volume of trade exchange between the two countries, which has witnessed significant growth in recent years. It also marks Egypt's largest participation in the building materials sector at an international exhibition. The exhibition aims to showcase the latest products and technologies in the building materials sector, including cement, steel, glass, ceramics, and sanitary ware, in addition to modern and sustainable construction technologies. It also provides an ideal platform for Egyptian companies to connect with key investors, contractors, and buyers from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. The participating Egyptian companies represent various segments of the building materials industry, including leading producers of cement, steel, ceramics, glass, and heating and cooling systems, as well as companies specializing in modern and sustainable construction technologies. This participation aligns with Egypt's ongoing efforts to boost its non-oil exports, particularly in the building materials sector, which is considered one of the country's most promising industries. Saudi Arabia remains one of the most important markets for Egyptian building materials exports. The Export Council for Building Materials continues to work on overcoming challenges faced by exporters and providing them with the necessary support to strengthen their presence in international markets. In 2024, Egyptian exports of building materials to Saudi Arabia surged to reach $1.5bn. The exhibition was inaugurated by Mohammed Alajlan, Chairperson of the Saudi Contractors Authority, who highlighted the wide participation of major investors and buyers in the construction and building sector. The participation of Egyptian companies in The Big 5 exhibition comes at a time when economic relations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia are experiencing significant growth. Both countries are working to strengthen cooperation across various sectors, particularly in construction and infrastructure, which is witnessing a major boom in Saudi Arabia driven by Vision 2030—an initiative aimed at diversifying the economy and stimulating investment in infrastructure development. The exhibition reflects the economic synergy between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, with Egypt providing high-quality products at competitive prices and Saudi Arabia offering a large and promising market for these products. The Egyptian participation is expected to boost building materials exports to Saudi Arabia, with a targeted increase of 10% by the end of 2025. The Big 5 exhibition presents an opportunity for Egyptian companies to expand their presence in the Saudi market, which serves as a key gateway to the Gulf and Middle Eastern markets. Through this participation, Egypt aims to solidify its position as a leading exporter of building materials in the region and support the government's economic development efforts to increase exports and attract foreign investment.
