MEBA takes flight with over 30 aircraft due

Contracted exhibitors for the show, which will be held at the Airport Expo Dubai on January 31 and February 1 next year, reads like a "who's who" of the business aviation world and include mainframe manufacturers Bombardier, Airbus, Piaggio, Boeing Business Jets, Cessna, Gulfstream and Dassault.

"There has been intense demand from the industry 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 Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E), which is organizing the event in a strategic alliance with the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA).

"Interest has really taken off since our high profile presentation at Orlando's NBAA event when we literally had queues of industry executives looking for information on the Dubai event."

Up to 30 aircraft - from twin-engined turbo-props to the ultra-long-range corporate jets - are to go on display at MEBA's static park from where exhibitors will conduct customer tours and demonstration flights.

Aircraft already registered for show include: the Airbus A320 single aisle jetliner; the Boeing Business Jet, the Bombardier super mid-sized Challenger CL300 belonging to Royal Jet of Abu Dhabi; a range of Cessna aircraft including its single-engine version, top-of-the-line Grand Caravan, four Cessna Citations and its mid-size Sovereign; Piaggio's Avanti 2P-180 twin-engined turbo-prop; a Raytheon Beechcraft and Hawker belonging to Elite Jets; Brazil's Embraer super mid-sized Legacy; three Gulfstreams - the G550, G200 and 150; Dassault's long-range Falcon 900EX; Bombardier's Global 5000, Learjet 60, Challenger 605 and Challenger 850; a Dassault Falcon 20 belonging to Jet Innovations and an ultra-long-range Global Express from TAG Aeronautics.

Having evolved from a one-day conference held alongside the Dubai 2005 air show, MEBA has been quickly accepted on the global aerospace landscape.

"The exhibition will take up the entire Central Hall at Airport Expo with local, regional and international exhibitors, many of which have also booked hospitality chalets to entertain their VVIP guests," explained Alison Weller, Director Aerospace, F&E.

"The chalets look out directly onto the static park to give guests the opportunity of viewing the aircraft."

Meanwhile, the final touches are now being put to the two-day MEBA conference which will run alongside the show.

"The conference will cover a range of issues including safety, a separate section on interiors which has been identified as a huge market within the Middle East," explained Weller. In the main the first day will be for people at the back of the plane - the customers and address issues such as how they can own a business jet and the commercial viability of this increasingly popular mode of travel. Day Two will focus very much on issues impacting the industry in general both from the supplier and manufacturer stance."

F&E anticipates attracting around 300 delegates to the conference and an audience of around 2,000-3,000 industry professionals visiting the show.

MEBAA recently estimated the region's business aviation sector would double over the next six years. The Association's Founding Chairman Ali Al Naqbi said the Middle East business aircraft fleet currently generates revenues in excess of US $50 million annually across various industry segments and the figure could reach billions of dollars if the value of new aircraft deliveries and completions is taken into account.