Major players are signing up for Morocco’s first ever business aviation show, which will be held in September this year.

Bell Helicopter has joined Gulfstream, XJet and Saudia Private Aviation as some of the major names already confirmed for MEBAA Show Morocco, with Bombardier/TAG announced as event’s gold sponsor.

MEBAA Show Morocco is the first show of its kind in the new destination of Casablanca, Morocco and is billed as a must attend event for anyone involved in chartering, leasing, selling, purchasing, operating and servicing business and VIP jets.

Organised by F&E Aerospace on behalf of the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), the show takes place on September 1 and 2 at Mohammed V Airport, Casablanca. 

The show expects to host 50 exhibitors and around 25 aircraft on the static display.

“We recognise the remarkable opportunities and friendly business environment MEBAA Show Morocco provides,” says Steve Suttles, Vice President and Managing Director of the Middle East and Africa at Bell Helicopter. “This important tradeshow will attract many key customers and government representatives, and provides us with a wonderful opportunity to exhibit our high performance, high value aircraft.” 

Key industry names such as Boeing, Safran and other leading aviation companies have invested in factories in Morocco. In recent years United Technologies and Bombardier unveiled investments with a combined value of $200 million. 

The Moroccan government has recognised the potential created by the business aviation industry and supported this by their own investment, including the creation of the Moroccan Aerospace Institute. 

MEBAA Show Morocco has the full support of the government, being held under the patronage of Morocco’s Minister of Equipment and Transport Abdelaziz Rabbah. 

Ali Alnaqbi, Founding Chairman of MEBAA, says: “Morocco has established itself as a hub for business aviation between Europe and Africa.” 

He continues: “Its potential for growth is huge, and many studies have shown that Morocco is the most important market in the continent of Africa.”

MEBAA is the official representative of the business aviation industry in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region and is a member of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC). 

It is a non-profit association established in 2006 with the mission to provide a platform for members of the business aviation industry in the Mena region to gather, understand and communicate the needs and benefits of the industry.

As part of its current growth strategy, MEBAA seeks to implement operational safety and efficiency by providing best in-practice training, lectures and conferences, establishing codes of conduct, and providing industry data. 

Today, MEBAA represents over 239 companies within the MENA region and provides a number of products and services to its members, including the MAIS (MEBAA Aviation Insurance Scheme) insurance scheme for operators. In addition to various networking events, MEBAA hosts the MEBAA Show in Dubai, UAE, which ranks as the third largest business aviation show in the world.