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Snapshots of convention center in the Middle East

April 9, 2013

Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Center – Bahrain

The Bahrain International Exhibition Convention Center (BIECC) was Bahrain’s first purpose-built, tradeshow facility.

Bahrain’s first purpose-built, tradeshow facility was constructed in 1991.

Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Center

It features more than 86,000 sq. ft. of pillar-free exhibit space and was inaugurated in November 1991 with the Rebuild Kuwait tradeshow, which occupied nearly 200,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor space.

To augment the center’s exhibition space, Hall 2 was opened in 1999 with nearly 65,000 sq. ft. of column-free space. In addition, a dedicated meeting space with a combined area of 15,000 sq. ft. divisible into four rooms was inaugurated in 2003 to address the country’s growing demand for conference facilities.

More than 400 hotel rooms are steps away from the BIECC. Also within close proximity are 4- and 5-star hotels with over 600 available rooms and suites. The center also features complimentary Wi-Fi access for attendees.

King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center – Jordan

King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center

The King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center (KHBTCC), managed by Hilton Worldwide, is a complete venue serving international and regional conferences as well as workshops, meetings and tradeshows. The center is only a few hours’ flight from most European countries and has hosted major events, including the World Economic Forum, the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations.

The three-story building features more than 46,000 sq. ft. of multi-use exhibition space on two separate floors. The Sea Floor consists of a 6,500-square-foot meeting room that is dividable into two sections with a capacity of 350 attendees per room. Two other meeting halls on the Sea Floor can also be divided into smaller halls, each with a capacity of 140 to 190 participants. The Ground Floor consists of a nearly 24,000-square-foot ballroom with a built-in stage and can accommodate up to 3,000 participants. The First Floor holds six meeting rooms that range in size up to 1,800 sq. ft. The center also has two helicopter pads for attendees wishing to arrive in style.

Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center – Saudi Arabia

The Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (RICEC) is a newly developed convention and exhibition facility owned by the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It was designed for national and international exhibitions, conventions and other special events. The land area of the center is more than 2,000,000 sq. ft.

The RICEC boasters over 161,000 sq. ft. of column-free exhibition space with a main exhibition hall that can be separated into four individual halls depending on the size of an event. Underfloor trenches with removable steel covers laid throughout the exhibition halls provide easy electric hook-up points for exhibitors.

The center has 50,000 sq. ft. of outdoor exhibition space that is directly connected to the covered exhibition halls. The RICEC auditorium in the conference center can seat 1,100 attendees. As it is located in Saudi Arabia, the 200 seats in the upper part of the auditorium are reserved for women. The conference center also has separate lobbies for men and women that, according to the center, are provided for more flexibility during events.

Oman Convention and Exhibition Center – Oman

Due for completion in late 2016, the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center is located in its own fully-integrated precinct less than three miles from Muscat International Airport. It will also incorporate expansive concourse areas to host large delegations.

Oman Convention and Exhibition Center

The center will feature a tiered auditorium to seat 3,200 people while the exhibition halls will feature more than 236,000 sq. ft. of column-free exhibition space. Halls 1 and 2 will have advanced lighting and rigging requirements to act as a multi-purpose space for plenary sessions, concerts, performances and gala events on a larger scale with up to 10,000 theatre-style seats.

The center will also include an additional 14 meeting rooms for between 70 to 360 delegates, two ballrooms to seat up to 2,360 people, a VIP Pavilion, a spacious food court and a multi-story garage with a 4,000 vehicle capacity.

One 5-star, two 4-star and another 3-star hotel will also be linked to the convention center, providing a combined total of more than 1,000 rooms.