MEBA Set To Open at Dubai’s New Al Maktoum Airport

The Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) exhibition’s first appearance at Dubai World Central’s Al Maktoum International Airport location is expected to see a record number of attendees. According to organizer F&E Aerospace, more than 7,000 trade visitors are expected at MEBA 2012, which opens tomorrow and ends Thursday. At press time, the number of pre-registered visitors had already exceeded 6,000, which is 35 percent higher than the pre-registration tally two years ago, when MEBA was last held.

Meanwhile, there are 385 exhibiting companies inside the new airport’s as-yet unopened, but largely finished, terminal building, which has been temporarily turned into convention center space for MEBA. In addition, there are more than 45 aircraft in the static park, the largest of which is a VIP Boeing 767 operated by Comlux.

New features for MEBA include a luxury pavilion where visitors can peruse and purchase valuables such as watches, cigars, jewelry and sunglasses, as well as a fully operational Dubai Duty Free shop. From the static park, attendees can view the under-construction exhibit center where the next MEBA show (in 2014) and other aviation exhibitions, including the 2013 Dubai Airshow, will be held.