Proposed conference centre extension at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre

Every year around 12 to 15 exhibitions and trade shows are held at the centre providing latest information on products and services and new technologies for various industries.

As a first phase, Exhibition Hall 1 was built in 1991 at a total cost of over BD 4 million in order to create the best infrastructure for holding such important events. Due to this wise investment by the Bahrain government the exhibition business has seen a tremendous growth over the years and as a direct result Bahrain has been firmly put on the world map for world-class international exhibitions.

Due to substantially increased business activities and to cater for larger events, Exhibition Hall 2 has been added in 1999 at a total cost of about BD 2.6 million raising the total exhibition area to 14,000 square meters.

Today, most international exhibitions are driven by conferences and therefore need first-class conference facilities adjacent to the exhibition halls. This is particularly true for information technology, manufacturing and other high-tech events that need workshops and technical seminars to explain new products, services and technologies. In line with the government's drive to transform Bahrain into a knowledge-based business and services hub for the Middle East, there will also be a growing number of international associations and corporate meetings and more large-scale conferences.

Therefore, in order to preserve the competitive edge for Bahrain's convention and exhibition industry and to keep up with regional and global competition, the Bahrain government has now approved the addition of a world-class Congress Centre with a total seating capacity of up to 1,400 delegates. The proposed Congress Centre will conveniently link the existing Exhibition Halls 1 and 2 and will provide a Convention Hall for up to 800 guests and various other Function and Meeting Rooms with a total capacity of 600 guests.

With this latest addition, the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre is ready to host mega functions with 2,000 and more attendees.

The new Congress Centre will attract more overseas visitors and international delegates to Bahrain and therefore provide substantial fresh business for the travel and hotel industry. However, in addition to the travel expenses and direct cash spending by the delegates there will be much greater indirect economic benefits for Bahrain because convention and exhibition business obviously creates unlimited new business opportunities and therefore new jobs in commerce, manufacturing and in the services industry.