MEBAA Dubai 2018, which is expected to see 10,000 visitors, more than 50 aircraft on static display, and over 500 exhibitors, has become one of the business aviation world’s top three shows, Ali Alnaqbi, founding and executive chairman of the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), told AIN in the run-up to EBACE.

“Of course, I have a plan to continue growth. We have new local companies, as well as from Europe, the U.S., and, of course, Saudi Arabia, coming. This year, the show’s [exhibition hall footprint] will be 15 percent bigger than in 2016.”

In 2016, MEBAA had 9,000 visitors, 43 aircraft, and 430 exhibitors, he said. “These numbers show the confidence people in the Middle East and North Africa have in the Dubai show. We are really going in the right direction.”

Citing information from the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Al Naqbi said he believes there are approximately 140 aircraft registered in the country.

“We expect to have 40 additional aircraft around Expo 2020. Some of them may remain here afterward. We are aggressively promoting the Expo and business aviation at the event,” he said.

“I think Al Maktoum International [DWC] is going well. They still have issues with five FBOs. I would like to see more, but for now, the market is well served. The FBO business is doing well here in the Middle East overall—and specifically here in Dubai. Dubai International [DXB] is a very busy airport. People love to be there. The prestigious part is not convenience, but actually landing there. I think movements should shift to DWC. I would say 90/10, or 80/20 [in DWC’s favor], is the right ratio.”

Alnaqbi said the GCAA is working to rationalize the local market and allow more foreign operators into the country without inadvertently promoting gray-market activity.

“People look at it from the perspective of the aircraft register under the A6 [UAE designation] only, operating business aviation charter. But there are many A6-registered aircraft which are privately owned. They are not under management, and they are not commercial. That is the discussion going on now within the GCAA; the foreign operators versus those registered locally in the UAE,” he said.

“You cannot stop foreign operators coming to the UAE. The problem is that this causes ‘gray market’ activity. We are trying, with the GCAA, to put regulations in place which support and respect the market but do not stop the foreign operators coming in. We need to get the balance right. GCAA has established a working group, with MEBAA and its members, and all the operators, FBOs, and flight support companies involved. Work will continue until we find a solution.”

Alnaqbi said many outside players were considering entry to the Middle East market. “Regional growth is high. Everyone wants to be here. MEBAA is playing a major role in easing rules and regulations. We bring everybody together. We are talking to the authorities [in several countries]. Everybody is excited to see us solving issues from country-to-country. This gives new players confidence to come to the region. It also encourages new standards as well.”

Alnaqbi said it is difficult implementing a regulation in one country and then transferring it to another. One example he gave was that of changes in flight duty time, which, after being implemented in the UAE, had been successfully transferred to Saudi Arabia.

“They canceled all Part  91 registrations in [Saudi Arabia] and have got foreign operator flights under [more] control. In Jordan, at the same time, those who request ‘gray market’ flights will not get permission to overfly. So everybody is looking at it. Tunisia said: ‘Send us the document you implemented in the UAE.’ They immediately implemented it. So did Morocco. MEBAA is the bridge to bring everyone together, and represents the whole industry.”

Alnaqbi added that according to the latest information he had received from the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA), there were about 180 to 190 aircraft registered in Saudi Arabia, but that, with the inclusion of aircraft registered outside, the total was around 400 Saudi business jets today.

“Saudi Arabia has been affected by the decisions we have seen from the beginning of last year. But in my opinion, this is in the best interests of the market. It used to be dominated by one or two players. Now it has opened up for everybody. It is positive in the long term for the market. But people have to be patient. We are watching Saudi Arabia,” he said.

“It is sorting itself out. I would be more than happy to help U.S. or European companies who want to enter the kingdom. The free zone concept has started there. The market in Saudi will open up. But people are [rushing]. They want to move to Saudi tomorrow. It takes time to change people’s mentality. The UAE did not change overnight. [But] things are going in the right direction with their new leader, no doubt about it,” he said.

In Morocco two years ago, there had been little recognition of the requirement for business aviation services at all. With two shows there under MEBAA’s belt, the authorities were now aggressively working to develop Tit Mellil as an executive airport, and licenses for nine FBOs had been awarded.

MEBAA (Booth T33) is evaluating maiden shows in several locations, including, Alnaqbi implied, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Egypt, a country where preparatory meetings took place last year. MEBAA Saudi Arabia is taking place on September 3, 2018, after the March conference in Jeddah was postponed due to Saudi government fire-safety regulations, he said.

The 2018 MEBAA show in Dubai will be on December 10-12, preceded by a conference on December 9. A MEBAA conference is also slated for Tunisia on September 17.