The sixth edition of the Bahrain International Airshow 2022 has concluded its activities.
The airshow was held from 9 to 11 November 2022 at Sakhir Air Base, under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain, and supervised by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the king’s representative and chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee of the Bahrain International Airshow, organized by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication and the Royal Bahraini Air Force.
The airshow has seen remarkable public attendance, attracting more than 50,000 visitors over its three-day period.
On this occasion, Mohammed bin Thamer Al Kaabi, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications in Bahrain said, “The Bahrain International Airshow was launched ten years ago to highlight the importance and position of the aviation industry in the region in general and the Kingdom of Bahrain in particular.”
His Excellency added, “The exhibition continued to grow steadily, becoming the fastest growing in the region, with the sixth edition representing the culmination of previous successes and enhancing the position of the exhibition as a platform for the presentation of the latest technological innovations in the aviation industry as well as commercial gathering, as it continued to find new opportunities in the aviation sector and the aircraft market, commercially and militarily”.
He explained that: “The Bahrain International Airshow provides an appropriate environment for concluding deals and signing cooperation agreements, shedding light on Bahrain’s geographical location and the distinctive regulatory and commercial environment for business and attracting foreign investments”.
He continued, “The exhibition witnessed fruitful visits and discussions, and we hope to see the results of the deals concluded by the companies during the exhibition. We would also like to thank the sponsors, supporters, and all the participating delegations and companies for their confidence in the exhibition, and we look forward to their participation in the next edition of the Bahrain International Airshow.”
Furthermore, the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication announced the date of the next Bahrain International Airshow, which will be held from 13 to 15 November 2024.
Many commercial deals were made during the Bahrain International Airshow 2022, including one between the Asian Group “Cargo Network” and the “MENA Aerospace” company concerned with leasing and managing aircraft, with an estimated investment of $100 million.
In addition, several cooperation agreements were signed during the exhibition, including 4 by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, and Britain, and another agreement in the field of aircraft manufacturing between the Bahrain Defense Force and the Emirati “EDGE” group.
For its part, the Bahrain Airport Company signed an agreement with “Beyon Solutions” to provide round-the-clock integrated support for the basic network infrastructure at the Bahrain International Airport, in addition to signing a unilateral codeshare partnership between Gulf Air and Emirates Airlines.
Bahrain Airport Services Company (BAS) also signed an agreement with Al Sabah Construction Company – as the official contractor – to construct a catering facility for Sakhir Air Base on an area of 7,500 square meters.
Furthermore, the cargo airline company based in Bahrain, Texel Air, signed a memorandum of understanding to form a strategic alliance with the “Sierra Nevada” company to develop aviation industry opportunities in the Middle East and the world.
The Bahrain International Airshow 2022 saw the participation of more than 200 military and civilian delegations, in addition to 186 companies from more than 30 countries around the world, including 6 countries participating with dedicated pavilions, providing visitors with the opportunity to see the development of the aviation industry and the products provided by these countries in one place.
Around 100 exhibitors participated in the exhibition’s sixth edition, with international companies representing 73%, in addition about 100 different types of aircraft were displayed in the static display and air show, where prominent teams from around the world, including the “Red Arrows”, “The Saudi Falcons”, the Emirati “Al Fursan” and “Global Stars”, which presented air shows for visitors and fans of the exhibition over the three days.
The exhibition included discussion forums for thought leadership and knowledge exchange, a special corner for university students, as well as events and activities for individual and family visitors in the recreational area designated for them.
Coverage and Photography by: Razi El-Hadmi – Muhammad Hassan Al-Shaer and Abdullah Al-Suwaidi
