Automechanika Dubai has once again been postponed and will now take place in June next year.
The region’s largest trade fair for the automotive service industry was planned to take its traditional annual slot in June earlier this year, but following the introduction of measures to control the spread of the Coronavirus in the UAE, it had been re-scheduled to take place in October.
A representative for the organiser Messe Frankfurt Middle East said the decision to effectively hold back the 18th edition for 12 months was a logical decision that was in the “best interests” of both exhibitors and visitors to the event.
Commenting on the move to 7-9 June 2021, Automechanika Dubai’s show director said Messe Frankfurt Middle East had done its “very best” to hold Automechanika Dubai in October, “however we now have our sights set on 2021, when the show will take place just a few months ahead of the Dubai Expo.”
Automechanika Dubai remains a hugely influential event on the automotive calendar in the UAE. The three-day show in 2019 featured 1,880 exhibitors from 63 countries, with 32,750 trade visitors from 146 countries dropping into the Dubai World Trade Centre,
“We’ve been in regular contact with our customers, partners and supporting associations, and given the current situation, moving Automechanika Dubai to June 2021 is the logical decision,” said show director Mahmut Gazi Bilikozen.
“We’re responding to our stakeholders’ best interests, and we’re committed to delivering another successful exhibition next year. All existing exhibitors’ contracts are still valid and can be transferred to 2021.”
In the absence of the physical show, Automechanika Dubai is hosting a series of free-to-attend webinars. According to Messe Frankfurt Middle East the six events have brought in more than 2,200 attendees online
“While they cannot not replace the benefits of meeting face-to-face that a physical event provides, our webinars allow us to stay connected with our customers, and to offer them some means of business networking and knowledge sharing,” Bilikozen added. “We can also address any customer concerns, and to plan ahead for 2021.”
Organiser’s view: “A host of value-added events”
Automechanika Dubai covers the six major product sections of Parts & Components and Electronics & Systems; Accessories & Customizing; Tyres & Batteries; Repair & Maintenance; and Car Wash, Care & Reconditioning.
Next year’s event will showcase a number of exciting elements such as the Automechanika Academy, the Modern Workshop, and the Innovation Zone, which will keep the many thousands of trade buyers and industry professionals in tune with new market developments.
The Innovation Zone is a dedicated area at the centre of the show floor featuring presentations and product showcases from exhibitors that are steering the course for the regional and global automotive aftermarket.
Other features include the Truck, Agriculture, and Motorcycle Competence initiatives, dedicated to the entire value chain in the truck, motorbike, and agriculture sectors, from parts and accessories, to workshop equipment, body repair and care.
The Automechanika Academy meanwhile will feature key presentations such as Dubai’s auto parts and accessories trade in 2020 by the Dubai Customs, as well as AfriConnections, which explores rising opportunities in the African aftermarket.
