Big 5 picks: Worth your money

Dubai : Surrounded by giant mac-hines at The Big 5 International Building and Construction Show in Dubai, which ends today, some firms stood for the saying "Good things come in small packages."

Rescue Tape

The silicone reel is not sticky and yet holds oily and wet things together. It was used in the US military before, but now UAE residents use it to fix leaky plumbing or their car's fan belts, said Beverly Elba, the show's Sales and Operations Manager.

The tape's layers fuse together in minutes or seconds into one piece. "If you're in a boat out in the sea and you need to seal a pipe right away, Rescue Tape may save your life," said Elba.

One layer can survive heat of up to 250°C and endure 8,000 volts. The Dh35-tape also works underwater and creates a ‘permanent' air- and water-tight seal.

Magnet Paint

This turns walls into magnet receptors, just like a kitchen door or an office notice board. The paint carries tiny iron particles that attract magnets, which are used to hold shopping lists, greeting cards or memos in place at home or work. The grey liquid is rolled or brushed on walls or curved surfaces — a layer (of around one litre) at a time. Three to four layers are enough to do the trick, said Rob van der Meer, the product's representative. "Young mothers are the first to see its possibilities," said Rob. "It's totally safe. You can turn a child's room into a play area where kids can attach magnet toys on the walls. Also, it doesn't affect any machinery."

The paint is patented in the US and is expected to cost Dh150-Dh175 for a one-litre can.

Glamour tap

Shaped like a fish and plated in 24-carat pure gold, this bathroom tap is studded with gems and costs $2,250 (Dh8,300). Its solid gold version is valued at Dh100,000. The toilet fixture is sold by Joller Toilettes de Luxo, a brand of fashion designer Juana Aznar, 85.

She said, "Bathrooms deserve attention, convenience and glamour as all the rooms of a house. Our product not only creates beauty, it's an investment too."