MEBA10: Industry in “excellent health”

That was the message from the organisers delivered at a special eve-of-MEBA press conference yesterday.

The result is that this year’s MEBA is bigger and better than ever, said Alison Weller, managing director of show organiser F&E Aerospace.

“The Middle East Business Aviation show, in its four short years, has achieved the hard-earned status of being considered the third largest business aviation show after NBAA in the United States and EBACE in Europe.

Right: Alison Weller with Ali Al Naqbi.

“We feel that MEBA is very much a complimentary event to the US and European shows. Both have grown this year in terms of exhibitors and the number of people visiting , and MEBA is continuing that trend here in the Middle East.”

Weller said that the growth of business aviation in the Middle East – the total fleet is up 25 per cent to 450 aircraft since the last show – had had an impact on MEBA. “The number of visitors and exhibitors has grown by 40 per cent,” she added.

Among the debut aircraft at this edition of MEBA is the first Embraer EMB Lineage.

Some exhibitors have asked why the MEBA show has remained in Dubai rather rotating throughout the region? The organisers said the reason was that few places were able to stage the unique blend of exhibition and static park display. However, they added that a venue for the next event has not been decided yet to enable potential other candidates to come forward.