The MEBAA Show will return to Dubai this year. Following a successful edition in 2022 that saw a 56 per cent increase in visitors over the previous edition, the 2024 show is all set to feature a refreshed agenda packed with new concepts.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman of Dubai Airports, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, the 10th edition of the MEBAA Show will take place from 10-12 December at Dubai World Central (DWC), site of the Dubai Airshow.

The global business jet market continues to grow and is predicted to increase from $42.14 billion in 2022 to $62.66 billion in 2030. The Middle East and Africa region will be a key contributor to this growth. The private jet charter market is projected to expand from $566.46 million to $943.39 million between 2024 and 2029, and business aviation traffic in the Middle East is set to witness a 10 per cent year-on-year increase. While the persistence of the COVID pandemic during 2022 helped fuel growth, the prominence of HNWIs, particularly in large economies such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and growing aviation emission rules continue to influence the market.

Ali Alnaqbi, founding and executive chairman of MEBAA, comments: "The business aviation industry continues to see strong demand and as a result we are witnessing substantial investment in market infrastructure and ancillary products and services, along with the addition of new aircraft. The MEBAA Show aims to be a leader in the development of our industry, demonstrating innovation across the sector and gathering leading minds to uncover new pathways. We are delighted to be bringing local, regional and international stakeholders from across the business and private aviation landscape to Dubai, ready to chart the way forward and collectively shape the future of our industry."

A number of international companies have already confirmed their attendance, including Boeing, Dassault Aviation, Bombardier, Embraer, Empire Aviation, DC Aviation, Vista and Saudia Private. The show will gather industry leaders to gain market insights, uncover future trends and address some of the most pressing challenges facing the industry. Key themes include sustainability in business aviation, exploration of emerging technologies, market trends, future of flight, managing supply chain challenges, the role of startups in private aviation and enhancing the customer experience.

The BizAv Talks will return for a second year, featuring an extended programme to enable even more conversations on the pressing topics defining the industry, alongside the returning Operators Program, a valuable networking platform for business matchmaking and knowledge exchange. 2024 will also see the launch of BizAv Social; held on the evening of day two, it will facilitate networking in a relaxed social environment.

New for this year, VISTA at the MEBAA Show will be an extension of the successful startup hub launched during the Dubai Airshow 2021. Offering a brand-new platform for global startups to showcase their innovations and network with the business aviation industry, the hub will feature technologies ranging from crypto and AAM to sustainability. Further new and expanded features include a Next Gen Leaders forum, with a full day programme curated for students, and an advanced air mobility pavilion to display the latest eVTOLs entering the market.