The Big 5 Global exhibition and conference, taking place in Dubai from 24-27 November 2025, will once again gather key stakeholders from across the built environment to address the industry’s most pressing challenges and innovations.
Among the central discussions at this year’s event are two highly anticipated panel sessions that will delve into critical aspects of fire, life safety, and building standards shaping the region’s construction and HVACR sectors.
Fire safety
One of the headline sessions, titled Fire and life safety in HVACR: New mandates and technological developments, will focus on the evolving regulatory landscape in the GCC, particularly the updates to fire and life safety codes in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. The discussion will emphasise HVAC-related systems, including smoke control, fire-rated ductwork, and automated testing protocols, areas that have seen significant advancements in both regulation and technology. The panel will also explore how updates to US standards could influence the regional HVAC industry, reflecting the growing alignment between international and GCC safety frameworks.
Experts are expected to highlight the latest innovations in HVAC-related fire and life safety technologies, addressing how automation, smart monitoring, and integrated control systems are reshaping compliance and risk management strategies. The session will also examine compliance challenges specific to the GCC, such as balancing cost efficiency with the stringent demands of fire safety enforcement, while showcasing global best practices and future outlooks that could redefine regional standards in the coming years.
Building safety
Another key session, Benchmarking building safety: The role of SDOs in shaping regional standards and global alignment, will bring together leading representatives from some of the world’s foremost standards development organisations (SDOs). Moderated by Mohamed Amer, Managing Director – MENA at the International Code Council (ICC), the panel will include Engr Fouad Yazbeck, Global Cooperation Representative – MENA at ASTM International; Hassan Abou Jawhar, Director for Europe and the Middle East Regions at the Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA); Nabil Shahin, Managing Director of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI); and Dr George Borlase, Senior Vice President at UL Standards & Engagement.
The session will explore how international and regional SDOs are collaborating to harmonise standards, streamline compliance, and promote safer, more sustainable building practices across the Middle East. By benchmarking building safety and fostering dialogue among global and regional experts, the discussion aims to ensure that construction in the GCC aligns with international benchmarks while reflecting the region’s unique climatic and regulatory requirements.
