The Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) is eying growth in its upcoming MEBAA Show Morocco as aviation expands in the region.
The 2017 show, scheduled for September 12-13 at Marrakech Menara Airport, is attracting new sponsorships, including Gulfstream as a silver sponsor, and securing exhibitors such as Boeing Business Jets, Jet Aviation, and Africair. The show further will highlight local companies, such as Morocco-based Ocean Maroc.
Expected to attract more than 2,500 visitors and 65 exhibitors, MEBAA has moved to larger facilities to accommodate the growth that has occurred since the inaugural edition in 2015.
The show is beginning to take root as the business aviation fleet size has doubled in the region over the past 10 years. Africa is forecast to take deliveries valued at $7 billion over the next 10 years. Further, MEBAA pointed to reports that the country’s 2020 aerospace goals include bringing in 100 new investors, creating 23,000 new jobs and generating $1.6 billion in new revenues.
“The business aviation opportunities in Morocco are outstanding,” said Ali Alnaqbi, founding and executive chairman of MEBAA. “The industry is burgeoning at the moment, with major players investing heavily in the region and the government strongly committed to support infrastructure growth.”
As the Morocco show expands, the Dubai Airshow also is increasing its presence in the business aviation market. A number of business aircraft manufacturers already have committed to the November 12-16 event, including Gulfstream, Embraer, and Dassault. In addition UAE companies such as Sonic Jet and Falcon Aviation have committed to the airshow.
“The business aviation sector is always highly represented at the Dubai Airshow,” said Michele van Akelijen, managing director of show organizers F&E Aerospace.” With the sector predicted to be worth $1.3 billion by 2020, we are seeing a great deal of interest from exhibitors.”
Organizers point to Bombardier Business Aircraft's market forecast of 350 deliveries into the Middle East Region valued at $12 billion over the next 10 years. Boeing Business Jets has noted that the region accounts for about one-third of its business.
