After several months of talks following a few years of incubation, six founding members have formed an association to further the interests of business aviation in the Middle East. Aptly named the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), the new not-for-profit organization, which is incorporated in Dubai, elected li Ahmed Al Naqbi, vice president of finance and administration for Abu Dhabi-based Amiri Flight, its first chairman. The association’s goal is to enhance the safety, security, efficiency and acceptance of business aviation throughout the region.

The initial founding members of MEBAA are Royal Jet, National Air Services and Bexair, as operator members, and Gulfstream, Jet Aviation and JetEx, as supplier members. The annual membership fee for operator and supplier members, which have voting rights, is planned to be $2,500. For nonvoting affiliate members (those with an interest in the association but who do not fit the other two groups), the annual fee is expected to be $1,000.

Because business aviation is growing quickly in the Middle East, Al Naqbi told EBACE Convention News he expects many more companies to join MEBAA. He said the association hopes to organize its next meeting before the end of June, and he encourages parties interested in becoming members to contact him via e-mail (aalnaqbi@emirates. net.ae). Meanwhile, the association is working to get its Web site (www. mebaa.com) online.