Lockheed Martin signs sponsorship deal for 2024 Bahrain International Airshow

Yousif Mahmoud, director general of BIAS, and Craig Spyhalski, international air and show trade lead at Lockheed Martin. (Farnborough International)
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Updated 23 June 2023
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Lockheed Martin signs sponsorship deal for 2024 Bahrain International Airshow

  • The event, which will take place from Nov. 13 to 15 at Sakhir Airbase, will harness global expertise to provide crucial thought leadership and insight, organizers said
  • ‘A relationship spanning decades, Bahrain was the first country in the region to adopt Lockheed Martin’s F-16 aircraft, for the Royal Bahraini Air Force,’ they added

LONDON: Lockheed Martin on Friday announced its participation in and sponsorship of the Bahrain International Airshow 2024. The company will have a stand in the exhibition hall and a dedicated chalet at the event.

“A relationship spanning decades, Bahrain was the first country in the region to adopt Lockheed Martin’s F-16 aircraft, for the Royal Bahraini Air Force, and in early 2023 became the first country in the world to receive delivery of the first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet from the manufacturer,” UK-based airshow consultancy Farnborough International said.

The contract was signed at the Paris Air Show by Yousif Mahmoud, the director-general of the Bahrain International Airshow, and Craig Spyhalski, international air and show trade lead at Lockheed Martin. Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication Mohammed Al-Kaabi was also present

The airshow, which will take place from Nov. 13 to 15 at Sakhir Airbase in Bahrain, is organized by the Bahraini Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and the Royal Bahraini Air Force, in association with Farnborough International.

It is designed to reflect the demands of the aerospace and defense industry and will harness global expertise to provide crucial thought leadership and insight, Farnborough International said.

“Now in its seventh year, BIAS has cemented itself as a must-attend biennial event in the aerospace and defense industry, renowned for bringing the best and brightest of the aerospace industry in an intimate platform to do business,” the organization added.

The airshow is held under the patronage of Bahrain’s King Hamad, and under the supervision of Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad, the personal representative of the king and the chairman of the event’s Supreme Organizing Committee.


Mexico eyes trade expansion, targets Saudi market with premium rice exports

Updated 23 February 2026
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Mexico eyes trade expansion, targets Saudi market with premium rice exports

RIYADH: Mexico is preparing to expand its trade ties with Saudi Arabia by exporting high-quality rice to the Kingdom, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

They said Mexico has an export offer for three premium rice varieties that meet the highest international standards.

Saudi Arabia imports limited quantities of Mexican rice, mainly for use in Mexican cuisine and in restaurants.

The latest initiative reflects the Kingdom’s position as one of the world’s largest rice consumers, with per capita consumption averaging 45.77 kilograms annually, the highest among plant-based food products.

Around 70 percent of consumption consists of basmati rice, while total annual imports exceed 1.3 million tonnes.

According to information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a request from the Mexican Embassy in Riyadh conveying the interest of the Mexican state of Nayarit in exporting premium rice to the Saudi market.

The embassy said that three rice varieties are available for export, including Super Extra Whole Grain Rice, long grain, with a monthly supply of 120 tonnes; Milagro Super Extra Rice, polished broad grain, with a capacity of 30 tonnes per month; and Morelos rice, a premium-grade variety.

Saudi Arabia has previously taken steps to encourage private-sector imports of Cambodian rice in a move aimed at diversifying supply sources alongside imports from India, Pakistan, the US, and Egypt.

Strong demand for favored rice varieties in Saudi Arabia and across the Gulf, combined with challenges such as rising shipping costs and climate-related disruptions, has occasionally led to price fluctuations. These factors have prompted the Kingdom to broaden its supplier base to ensure the availability of this commodity and maintain price stability.

The government recently decided to increase Pakistani rice imports to account for 20 percent of total needs, reinforcing supply stability and food security.

Forecasts suggest that per capita rice consumption in Saudi Arabia could rise to around 50 kg annually in the coming years, up from the current 45.77 kg, underscoring rice’s central role in the Kingdom’s food industry and traditional cuisine.