Senior diplomats from many of the 60 different countries exhibiting at the show were there to see the ceremony by His Highness, the son of the Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Sheikh Maktoum was told that the show is the biggest in the history of The Big 5 in Dubai with more than 2,700 exhibitors this year, there was no room for more.

The Sheikh then toured the World Trade Centre much to the delight of many of the exhibitors whom he stopped to speak with. His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his entourage also visited the Spanish, French, Austrian, Belgian, Greek and Italian pavilions during his tour of the show.