Major deals are expected to be announced over the coming two days at the Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) conference and exhibition being held at Airport Expo Dubai on January 31st and February 1st.
A number of exhibitors at the B2B event have signalled their intention to unveil substantial regional developments which will reflect the growing importance of the business aviation sector in the Middle East’s expanding aerospace mix.
“MEBA 2007 has expanded from 2005’s one-day conference format into a two-day conference and exhibition complete with aircraft display,” said Virginia Kern, Chairman, Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E).
“The exhibition will take up the entire Central Hall at Airport Expo Dubai with many companies also booking hospitality chalets, which front the static park, to entertain their VVIP guests. This evolution is very much at the request of the industry, which believes that business aviation in the Middle East is a sector whose time has come”
MEBA 2007 has been organised by F&E on behalf of the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA). The event has received strong international support attracting over 90 exhibitors from 20 countries promoting a range of products from aircraft to interiors and chartering services. The show will feature a static park display of 30 aircraft, a media corps of over 60 journalists and an anticipated industry-visitor turnout of over 2,000. Visitors from 52 countries have pre-registered their attendance.
Aircraft on display range from a prototype of the Kestrel – which will be the first plane to be manufactured in the GCC, the rotary wing of MD Helicopters 902 Explorer, the Beechcraft Turboprop, the light jets of Cessna, the mid size of Brazilian plane maker Embraer and Hawker, to the larger business jets from Dassault, Gulfstream, Airbus and Boeing.
“Some aircraft will be used for customer demonstration flights and all will be open for visitors to tour and assess what is available in all shapes, sizes and fittings,” said Alison Weller, Director Aerospace, F&E.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Dubai, will deliver the keynote address on Day One of the MEBA 2007 conference which will cover major aspects now impacting Middle East and international business aviation.
Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister for Economy, will present the keynote address on the second day discussing how the world of business aviation reflects the region’s economic progress.
The conference programme features panel discussions with input from international and regional business aviation players who will outline their respective challenges and opportunities. Key topics up for discussion include training, the need for unified regulation and the finance and purchase options available for operating business aircraft.
Dubai World Central, the huge aviation community now taking shape at Jebel Ali, also intends to unveil its planned executive jet centre which has been designed as a new industry benchmark.
MEBA 2007 is open from 09.00 hrs to 17.30 hrs to business aviation professionals or corporate/individual parties who are interested in purchasing or leasing business aircraft.
Meanwhile, the MEBAA has revealed that it is now seeking membership of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), a non-profit, non-governmental organization which represents, promotes and protects the interests of business aviation in international policy and regulatory forums.
“IBAC will vote on MEBAA’s membership at its next Governing Board meeting in Geneva in May but we are highly optimistic our application will be accepted,” said Ali Al Naqbi, MEBAA’s Founding Chairman.
“Membership will ensure the Middle East takes its rightful place centre stage on the international business aviation landscape.”
MEBAA membership now stands at over 30 with another six applications under process following a recent road show around the GCC states.
“Members currently enrolled are from Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and the UAE,” said Ammar Balkar, President, MEBAA. “We believe this week’s MEBA event will act as a catalyst for further membership growth and assist us in our aim of a membership tally of over 300 by 2012. This is a realistic forecast given the projected growth of business aviation in the Middle East which is expected to double over the next six years.”
The Association was established last year to express the needs of operators currently responsible for approximately 320 business aircraft currently based in the Middle East – with a considerable fleet increase anticipated. MEBAA has estimated that the region’s current business aviation fleet generates revenues in excess of US $500 million annually across various industry segments such as aircraft charter, maintenance, Fixed Base Operations (FBO) and refurbishment.
MEBA is sponsored by Execujet Middle East, GulfJet, JetEx Flight Support, Lufthansa Technik, National Air Services, Royal Jet, and Shell Aviation.
