Bahrain International Airshow 2014 Set to be Biggest Yet

Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation has announced that the Bahrain International Airshow 2014 (BIAS) is expected to be attended by 20,000 trade visitors, including around 100 companies and governmental, military and civil delegations, from over 25 countries, representing most of the key global markets.

The event, which will be hosted at Sakhir Air Base, Kingdom of Bahrain, from 16 to 18 January 2014 is organised by the Ministry of Transportation and Royal Bahraini Air Force, under the supervision of HM the King's Personal Representative and Head of the Supreme Organising Committee of BIAS, HH Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Chalet space for the expanded 3rd edition of BIAS is now sold out and amongst the high-profile industry participants are leading manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier, Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky Aircraft. Other international companies participating include Thales Group; France’s Morpho (Safron); Lufthansa Technic from Germany; India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and; Tawazun Holding, the Abu Dhabi-based strategic investment holding company focused on defence and specialised manufacturing.

A major delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be present, as well as strong Turkish participation, with eight aerospace businesses from the country in attendance, as the Airshow grows in significance on the international calendar.

Speaking about the upcoming event, HE Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation and Acting Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, said, “BIAS is a unique event, taking place in a commercially-focused environment that seeks to give aerospace businesses a personalised experience and offering easy access to high-level delegations. The significant level of support and attendance reflects the approach and offering it presents, and I am delighted that the third edition will be the largest one so far.”

The level of participation is also high in the newly introduced Airport, Security & Surveillance Pavilion at BIAS, with Rolls-Royce, ADB Lighting Technologies, Martin Baker, Safegate and Ultra Electronics being the most recent companies to take a stand within the feature area.

In addition, running alongside the Airshow will be GREAT British Week, exhibiting Britain’s tradition of world-class engineering and technology skills with companies such as Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems involved.

BIAS builds on Bahrain’s position as a mature, business environment with open, transparent regulation allied to a low cost base and a highly skilled workforce. It also provides an opportunity to showcase Bahrain’s unparalleled regional connectivity as a major logistics hub with the closest links between road, sea, and aviation in the region, making Bahrain a strategically attractive place to access the $1.5 trillion Gulf market.

As well as the commercial event, BIAS 2014 is set to offer its public visitors a festival of fun including a 4.5-hour flying display and a host of on-ground attractions and entertainment.

Highlights will include a heritage handicrafts village, children’s rides and games, flight simulators, a new Space Zone and interactive educational activities for all ages. Confirmed display teams include the Hawks from Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s Al Fursan.