HE Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, emphasised Bahrain’s commitment, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to strengthening strategic cooperation with the United Kingdom across various domains, particularly aviation, space, and digital innovation, in support of mutual interests and sustainable development goals.
The Minister met in London with senior officials from Farnborough International to review key preparations for the eighth edition of the Bahrain International Airshow, scheduled to take place from November 18 to 20, 2026, under the patronage of His Majesty the King at Sakhir Air Base.
The event is organised by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and the Royal Bahraini Air Force, in cooperation with Farnborough International, the Ministry said in a statement.
HE Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed highlighted the ministry’s early preparations for the upcoming edition, guided by the directives of His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Personal Representative of His Majesty the King and Chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee of the Bahrain International Airshow. He noted that the event underscores Bahrain’s position as a leading regional hub in the aviation industry and a global platform for showcasing technological innovation, investment opportunities, and international partnerships.
The Minister said that Bahrain looks forward to delivering another successful edition of the airshow. The event will reinforce the kingdom’s global leadership and vital role in advancing international cooperation in civil and military aviation, transportation, research, communications, technology, and space sciences.
Senior officials from Farnborough International commended the ongoing collaboration with Bahrain and the minister’s commitment to enhancing the strategic partnership in organising the 2026 airshow. They emphasised their keenness to align with the latest innovations in global exhibition practices. They also aim to ensure the participation of leading manufacturers, operators, and investors in the aviation and space sectors.
The Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) was established in 2010 to create a truly distinctive event. BIAS offers the industry a platform for high-level corporate hospitality, unique access to military and civil delegations, and showcasing technological innovations to potential buyers around the world.
The success of the inaugural edition, which took place 21-23 January 2010, established BIAS as one of the most influential and prestigious hospitality events in the region, with the show returning every two years to provide a world-class networking and business opportunity.
Celebrating a decade of distinction, BIAS returned in 2022 offering an exciting programme of new features, industry-leading content, and a first-class networking experience with key regional decision-makers. The show welcomed more than 46,000 visitors, 186 participating companies and 222 delegations, representing 59 countries and marked $1.85bn deals agreed.
The show returned 13-15 November 2024 to continue its journey, providing an unrivalled platform for innovative and personalised commercial networking in an environment driven by a commitment to achieving excellence in everything we do. The largest iteration since launch, BIAS 2024 welcomed over 57,000 trade visitors from 83 countries and 226 civil and military delegations to Sakhir Air Base over three days. (Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT), Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS); Photo © MTT)
