Around 80 exhibitors have committed to participating in the Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) conference and exhibition to be held in Dubai from January 31 to February 1. According to organizers, the show–to be staged at the Airport Expo Dubai site at Dubai International Airport–will also feature at least 30 aircraft on display.
Among the manufacturers who have signed up for MEBA to date are Airbus, Boeing Business Jets, Bombardier, Cessna, Dassault, Gulfstream and Piaggio Aero Industries. The aircraft on display will include a Bombardier Challenger 300 operated by local charter group Royal Jet, as well as examples of the Canadian airframer’s Global Express, Global 5000, Learjet 60 and the Challengers 605 and 850; Gulfstream G550, G200 and G150; Embraer Legacy; Dassault Falcon 900EX; several Cessna Citations; and an as yet unspecified model from Raytheon’s Hawker line.
Fast-growing Market
“There has been intense demand from manufacturers, operators, facilities and service providers all lured by the Middle East’s increasing status as one of the world’s fastest-growing business aviation markets,” said Virginia Kern, chairman of MEBA organizer Fairs & Exhibitions. The UK-based firm is promoting the show in partnership with the new Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA).
The exhibition will fill the entire Central Hall at the Airport Expo facility, which also hosts the biennial Dubai Air Show. Exhibitors have also booked chalets in which to entertain VIP guests.
Running in tandem with the exhibition will be the two-day MEBA conference, consisting of two extended morning sessions followed by the chance for visitors to view indoor and static display exhibits. The agenda for the first day’s conference session will be aimed mainly at prospective new business aviation customers and will discuss various service options, safety and topics such as cabin interiors. The focus of the second day will be mainly on issues facing existing industry players.
Fairs & Exhibitions expects to draw up to 3,000 industry professionals to the show, and some 300 delegates for the conference. Alison Weller, the company’s director for aerospace, told AIN that the Middle East business aviation market has the potential one day to support a show the size of Europe’s fast-growing EBACE show.
