JEDDAH, 11 January 2007 — Business aviation in the Gulf to boom with Saudi Arabia a major customer and contributor. In fact, according to a new regional association established to represent the sector both locally and internationally, the Kingdom is currently a major growth driver in the development of business aviation across the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is the largest market in the region, including North Africa, and has more than 160 private and publicly owned aircraft.
“The Kingdom currently accounts for 50 percent of the region’s business aviation and the figure is expected to double within the next five years,” Ali Al Naqbi, chairman of the Middle East Business Aviation Association, told a press conference at the Jeddah Hilton yesterday, on the sidelines of an announcement of a two-day Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) conference and exhibition scheduled at the Airport Expo in Dubai from Jan. 31. “Business aviation in the Middle East will be worth around $800 million by 2012‚ double its current level as people increasingly turn to ‘aviation-on-demand’ for privacy, safety and corporate efficiency,” Al Naqbi added.
Business Aviation’s share of the region’s overall aviation market will grow during the same period from its current 20 percent to 40 percent. The sector is currently producing regional growth of around 11 percent per annum.
The formation of the association is in line with a global trend of major economic centers having associations to serve their respective business aviation communities. Given the size of the Kingdom’s aviation industry, it is a business imperative that it be well represented within the association’s membership. “And the growth of business aviation throughout the region is holding out increased opportunities for a wide range of suppliers,” Abdulkhalig Alghamdi of Riyadh-based Alsalam Aircraft Company, said.
“Though the immediate impact will be on sale of mainframes and fleet deployment, the long-term benefits will be seen across a range of suppliers including maintenance, repair and overhaul, and electronics and avionics supply. This is now a sector no one can afford to overlook,” he added.
The Kingdom will have a strong presence at the MEBA show for which Riyadh-based aviation company, National Air Services, a founder member of the association, is a platinum sponsor.
MEBA was launched in 2005 by Fairs & Exhibitions, organizer of the Dubai Airshow, and hosted by Abu Dhabi-based Royal Jet.
