Business Aviation in the Middle East going global

MEBAA Show 2018 to Feature Exhibitors from Around the World

The business aviation market in the Middle East is attracting the industry leading companies and niche customers from around the world. When the MEBAA Show 2018 takes place 10-12 December at DWC, Airshow Site, around seventy percent of the exhibitors will have travelled from outside the region to be part of the largest business aviation show in the Middle East.

Almost one third of the companies already committed to exhibiting are from the USA, including industry behemoths Gulfstream and Boeing Business Jets. This figure includes some first time exhibitors keen to increase their share of the lucrative market in the region such as Citadel Completions and Tronair. 

Embraer’s Market Outlook 2018 predicted the Middle East and Asia-Pacific will be the fastest growing markets by 2037, and in 2017 there were over 30,000 private jet flights out of Dubai alone. As the emirate approaches Expo 2020 it is expecting a significant increase in private flights and is already increasing FBO, MRO and other ancillary services at Al Maktoum International Airport to accommodate these.

“It is wonderful to see the business aviation industry around the world recognise the growing importance of the MENA market,” says Ali Alnaqbi, Founding and Executive Chairman of the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA). “The MEBAA Show has grown every year since its inception, and again we are expecting an increase in both exhibitors and visitors. With the increased numbers in addition to our new features, MEBAA Show will again be the ideal platform for doing business in the region.”

The Middle East of course still represents the largest number of MEBAA Show exhibitors with companies such as Saudi Private Aviation from Saudi Arabia and Cedar Jet Centre from Lebanon, along with those from the UAE. In fact, this year’s MEBAA Show boasts a new platinum sponsor, UAE based Online Global Trip Support, who will be using the show as a platform to launch itself in the region and beyond.

“We have created something new and unique for the business aviation industry,” said Munir Khalifeh, CEO Online Global Trip Support. Khalifeh continued “We addressed the challenges facing Flight Operators today and created OGTS to provide them with a complete, one-stop online aviation service solution for any trip. The MEBAA Show is the perfect place to meet the key players in the business aviation market in the region and beyond, allowing access to the industry and potential for networking that simply cannot be found anywhere else in the Middle East.”

Returning to the show again from China will be Haeco Private Jet Solutions, while those travelling from Europe make up almost another third of the total and include Dassault from France, Sky Services from Italy and Comlux Aviation from the UK.

The entire business aviation industry supply chain is represented at the MEBAA Show, from OEMS to maintenance providers such as Jet Aviation, fuel providers like AvFuel, airports such as London Biggin Hill, catering providers such as Executive Gourmet and FBOs such as Execujet.