The Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) show’s first appearance at the Dubai World Central aerotropolis Al Maktoum International Airport is expected to see a record number of attendees, “with over 7,000 trade visitors expected,” show organizer F&E Aerospace told AIN yesterday. Those visitors will have opportunities to meet with 385 exhibiting companies inside the airport’s terminal and view more than 45 aircraft in the static park, including the largest aerial visitor, a VIP Boeing 767 operated by Comlux. Major aircraft manufacturers and service providers can be found in the 24 chalets organized in a convenient courtyard shape.

The number of pre-registered visitors had already exceeded 6,000 by the time the MEBA show opened, which is 35 percent higher than the pre-registration tally two years ago. And the ranks of journalists doubled to about 250 this year, including a bevy of television stations covering the various regional royalty and sheikhs attending the MEBA show.

New features for MEBA include a luxury pavilion, where visitors can peruse and purchase valuables such as watches, cigars, jewelry and sunglasses and a fully operational Dubai Duty Free shop. Visitors to Dubai World Central at Stand 650 can see a detailed layout of the zone. And from the static park, attendees can view the under-construction exhibit center where the next MEBA show and other aviation exhibitions will be held, including the biennial Dubai Air Show.

“For three days you will see business aviation at its best,” said Ali Al Naqbi, founding chairman of the Middle East Business Aviation Association (see also full interview, page 9). “We look forward to welcoming a large number of visitors to MEBA, from high-net-worth individuals, regional royalty, VIPs and government representatives to corporate decision-makers and business people.”