Mohammad attends Bahrain airshow

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, arrived in Manama to participate in the Bahrain International Airshow 2012. Upon his arrival aboard an Emirates Airbus A380, Shaikh Mohammad was welcomed by King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, and Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince. Inauguration King Hamad and Shaikh Mohammad inaugurated the reception hall at Al Sakhir Airbase. Other Bahraini Shaikhs and senior officials were present. Article continues below Shaikh Mohammad is accompanied by a dele-gation that includes Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and Group; Ahmad Abdullah Al Shaikh, Managing Director of Dubai Media Incorporated, and other senior officials. King Hamad hosted a lunch banquet in honour of Shaikh Mohammad and his guests. The international airshow held in Bahrain is so successful that organisers have already drawn up plans for the third edition in 2014, "The show has been a tremendous success and we are very pleased with the local, regional and international responses that consolidate confidence in our capabilities to organise and host such great events," Shaikh Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Head of the Bahrain International Airshow 2012 Supreme Committee, told Gulf News. Performance Shaikh Abdullah, the personal representative of King Hamad, said that the three-day show would outperform the maiden one held two years ago. Lucrative contracts are expected to be signed at the biennial event, opened by King Hamad, showcasing 69 aircraft in the trade area and 15 in the public arena. Civil aviation delegations from 18 countries are attending the show that features a selection of aircraft including vintage greats, civil airliners and helicopters.