Messe Frankfurt Middle East has announced that it will be further expanding its presence in the region with the launch of Automechanika Riyadh in 2018. The show will be held every two years and is scheduled to take place from 5-7 February 2018 at the Riyadh Exhibition Centre. The recently launched Automechanika Jeddah, which is also organized by Messe Frankfurt will also be transformed into a biennial event and the two shows will be held alternatively. The third edition of automechanika Jeddah will thus be held in 2019.
Automechanika Riyadh 2018 will be jointly organized by Messe Frankfurt and its partner for Automechanika Jeddah, the Saudi-based Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions (ACE). This is the 17th such global show that is part of the Automechanika franchise, which is the world’s most successful automotive aftermarket trade fair brand.
Speaking about the launch of Automechanika Riyadh, Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said that the dual platform of Automechanika Riyadh and Automechanika Jeddah will provide players in the regional automotive aftermarket with more business opportunities to cover automotive aftermarket in the vast Saudi market’s Western, Central, and Eastern regions.
On the basis of the encouraging feedback that was received for the first two editions of Automechanika Jeddah, he expressed his confidence that Automechanika Riyadh will allow Messe Frankfurt to penetrate the automotive market in the Central and Eastern regions, thus strengthening the footprint of the event.
He added, “The new exhibition is also another step in our carefully orchestrated plans of expanding the reach of the Messe Frankfurt family of shows across the Kingdom.”
Automechanika Riyadh will significantly extend the reach of international players into Saudi Arabia’s spare parts market, which is exhibiting excellent signs of recovery. According to renowned analysts Frost & Sullivan (F&S), the total revenues in Saudi Arabia’s automotive aftermarket, including Jeddah to the West, Riyadh Central, and the Eastern region of Dammam, Dhahran and Al Khobar, is expected to grow by 5.1 per cent in the period upto 2021 to reach SAR 33.62 billion (USD8.9 billion).
Most of the revenue is expected to be generated by parts needed for regular maintenance like tires (SAR 10.5 billion), batteries (SAR1.56 billion) and lubricants (SAR 6.01 billion). When it comes to the “other parts” category, brake pads are expected to account for almost 25 per cent of total revenue (SAR15.550 billion).
Michael Johannes, Automechanika’s Brand Manager, said: “Automechanika Riyadh will not only open up the burgeoning sales potential in Saudi’s Central region, but will also extend its reach to the Eastern Region and the main Dammam urban conglomeration, which is within a 3-hour drive of the Capital, and a 40 minute flight away.”
As in other Automechanika exhibitions, Automechanika Riyadh will be held with exhibitors being classified on product lines to create six sections covering Parts & Components, Electronics & Systems, Accessories & Customizing, Repair & Maintenance, Tyres & Batteries, and Car Wash, Care & Reconditioning.
Hadi Al-Harith, Managing Director of ACE, said that it gave him great pleasure to expand his association with Messe Frankfurt Middle East and thus extend the reach of the Automechanika brand into Saudi’s Central and Eastern regions.
Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the UAE-based subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt Group, is also involved with the organization of Automechanika Dubai, the wider Middle East and Africa’s largest automotive aftermarket trade exhibition.
The Riyadh Exhibition Centre has a total area is 15,000 sqm, and is a modern and easily accessible venue that is ideal for the show, with four halls of different sizes. Each hall has independent facilities for reception and registration services and security arrangements. On the eastern side of the complex, warehouses, temporary storage facilities and dedicated loading and unloading areas are available for the benefit of exhibitors.
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