posted on March 13, 2011 11:02
Mid-East industry in “Excellent Health”
The MEBAA showcase – the Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) show demonstrated that there may be economic and political jitters around the world, but our industry in this region continues to power from strength to strength.
The fourth MEBA show took place at the start of December and MEBAA members came in their droves to help make the show a great success and achieve international recognition.
We also hosted the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) meeting for the first time and were able to demonstrate to our colleagues across the world that the business aviation industry in the Middle East is to be taken seriously.
“This year’s MEBA was bigger and better than ever,” said Alison Weller, managing director of show organiser F&E Aerospace who run the event in conjunction with MEBAA
“In its four editions, MEBA has achieved the hard-earned status of being considered the third largest business aviation show after NBAA in the United States and EBACE in Europe,” Weller said. “We feel that MEBA is very much a complimentary event to the US and European shows. Both have grown this year in terms of exhibitors and the number of people visiting, and MEBA is continuing that trend here in the Middle East.”
MEBA attracted 6,200 visitors from 77 countries, a 13 per cent increase over the previous show in 2008, and included 156 media professionals representing 76 media outlets from 14 countries.
More than 500 VIPS attended, including a number of influential families from the region, plus other key buyers and buying influencers.
MEBA displayed 53 business aircraft and a total of 338 exhibitors from 33 countries, including business aircraft manufacturers, service providers and suppliers to the industry, in addition to 15 Fixed Base Operations (FBOs) – a real indicator of the increase in business aviation usage from and within the region.
There were a number of agreements and contracts signed. These included an agreement the construction of an FBO facility at DWC’s Al Maktoum International Airport signed by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum while he was touring the exhibition stands as part of the opening ceremony.
That site along with others in the region are being considered for future MEBA events and details of the 2012 show will be given soon.
MEBAA founding chairman Ali Al Naqbi said: “Any plans for MEBA in the future need to take into account the potential for growth.
“This is a key area for business aviation and the take up this year indicates the level of influence and importance MEBA has now achieved, and is recognition of its status, in just five years, as the third largest business aviation show in the world. It is important that we continue drive that growth and the facilities and the access need to be right.”