Bahrain cancels air show amid pandemic

The next edition of the aviation event will now take place in 2022

The Bahrain International Airshow in 2016. It attracted around $5bn worth of commitments and orders in 2018, the last time it was held.  (Photo by MOHAMMED AL-SHAIKH / AFP)

The Bahrain International Air Show was cancelled due to coronavirus-induced challenges and travel restrictions that have affected commercial events, large gatherings, conferences and exhibitions around the world.

Organisers said the show, which was set to take place from November 18 to 20, will now be held in 2022.

The show, which is held once every two years, drew about 54,000 visitors and attracted about $5 billion (Dh18.35bn) worth of commitments and orders in 2018.

Bahrain, one of the first GCC nations to impose movement restrictions, had 51,113 coronavirus cases and 189 deaths as of Saturday, according to Worldometers.

The country suspended air travel early on as infections spread after the return of pilgrims from the Iranian city of Qom.

Covid-19 infections around the world stood at about 25 million on Saturday while the number of deaths was 842,495.

Bahrain also postponed other industry events such as the Middle East Petroleum and Gas Conference organised by London consultancy Facts Global Energy.

The organisers said the conference, which was originally scheduled for March 30 and 31, will now be held on November 16 and 17 this year.

Another energy event, GEO 2020, which was scheduled to run from March 16 to 19, will now be held from October 4 to 7, 2021.

The pandemic, which has disrupted global trade, supply chains and the travel industry, has also affected other large gatherings across various industries. The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, the UAE’s flagship energy industry event, will be held online this year.

The annual trade show attracts the world’s leading chief executives, government leaders and policymakers and is one of the largest energy industry events in the world.

The organisers said some elements of the conference will be held online from November 9 to 12 after a directive was issued by the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi.

Many global events have also shifted to digital meetings.

The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank held their annual spring meetings – typically conducted in mid-April – online this year.

Opec has also conducted most of its ministerial meetings online.