Bahrain Convention & Exhibition Bureau

Bahrain’s prominence as a major regional centre for conferences, trade shows and conventions has been helped in large measure by the success of the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), which is an integral part of the Bahrain Convention and Exhibition Bureau (BCEB) that was formed under the umbrella of the Ministry of Commerce.

BCEB’s main objective is to substantially increase the number of international events held in Bahrain, and towards this end works in partnership with Bahrain’s hospitality industry to promote Bahrain’s international image as a viable destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions business.

Opened in 1991 and situated in the upmarket Seef district, the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre is a member of the Paris based Union Des Foires Internationale (UFI), an international organisation whose principal goal is in furthering global trade through its world-wide network of members.

BIEC offers a comprehensive professional service to organisers and exhibitors encompassing everything from event planning to its final implementation. This dedicated world-class purpose built facility covers an area of over 14,000 square metres of internal hall space, two column-free exhibition halls of 8,000 and 6,000 square metres space each.

Work is currently underway to expand and upgrade this facility to meet the most modern  standards. The 6,000 square meter hall, for instance, will be converted into a multipurpose hall with a capacity for 5,000 delegates for conventions and 3,000 guests for banquets.

The hall could also be used for concerts , entertainment, indoor sports, exhibitions and trade shows. The BIEC already has five conference rooms with a total seating capacity of 1,200.

Another new convention centre is also planned. It will connect the two exhibition halls and will have the capacity to accommodate 800 delegates for meetings, and 500 people for banquets as well as small, intimate and exclusive exhibitions. It will be equipped with the latest audio-visual and electronic equipment, multiple high-speed Internet access, satellite television connections and teleconferencing facility.

The center also provides ample free parking space, VIP reception areas, meeting rooms, exhibition lounge, press room, hospitality suites, restaurant and coffee shop, catering service, a foreign currency exchange counter, ATM machines, telecoms and post offices, speakers’ preparation room, reception hall, contractors’ site offices, travel agencies, official photographers’ office, prayer room and a host of other services.
 
The current expansion of the BIEC facilities will greatly help in enhancing its services to its clients and will further enhance Bahrain’s status as a premier destination for major regional and international events.