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Business is booming at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre as thousands of shoppers continue to flock to the annual Autumn Fair.
The consumer product event features 750 local and international exhibitors offering a range of goods from food, clothing, perfume and furniture to gadgets … and so much more. In fact, the list goes on and on with toys, bedding, household appliances, spices, textiles and other knickknacks on display in a market bazaar-style over an area covering 15,400sqm.
The 28th edition of the event boasts items from around the world including China, Egypt, India, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Turkey, Thailand, Syria, UAE and Yemen and is attracting customers from across the region.
Many traders from India, for example, have flown in specifically for this exhibition including first-time participant Ramesh Bhoji, founder of R R Handicrafts in Gujarat. Gujarat, which borders Rajasthan, is renowned for its textile production such as weaving, dyeing and printing. Ramesh’s stall features sparkly, hand-made embroidered bed, cushion and table covers as well as wall hangings starting from BD1 to BD20.
“I’m so excited to be taking part,” he said. “My friends had told me so much about this exhibition and how Bahrain was a beautiful country that had friendly people, was safe and secure, and the buying power was good. Since day one the exhibit has been great and I’ve been getting a lot of customers.”
Meanwhile, exhibitor Jitendra Sankhla was thrilled to be back in the kingdom to showcase Rajasthan’s colourful clutches, embellished footwear including sandals, mojaris, jutis, and kolhapuri chappals.
Jitendra said: “I look forward to this exhibition every year and couldn’t wait to display our range of jutis and matching purses. I never miss this fair as I love the crowd, the organisers and the atmosphere. We receive around 350 shoppers per day during the exhibition because our prices are so reasonable.”
Aside from international traders, local exhibitors are also benefiting from the impressive footfall such as Nadia Ali who spends her days at home mixing herbs and spices to sell under the Bahrain Productive Families banner.
Nadia said: “This is my eighth time participating and it continues to grow bigger and better. “I really enjoy it because I get to meet so many people from different walks of life and it spreads awareness about my spices.
People love my Bahraini blends.” There appears to be something for everyone at the fair and rarely does anyone visiting leave empty-handed. Xeina Gailaina, 43, from Baghdad, who lives in Saudi Arabia, travels to the kingdom every year to join a group of friends for a day out shopping.
She said: “The fair is actually a lot of fun. My friends and I first sit down for breakfast at the food market located around the entrance of the exhibition centre and then we browse the halls for different spices and Egyptian cotton. “We usually spend around four hours at the exhibition. We also love seeing what the Moroccan and Tunisian vendors have to offer.”
Readers who haven’t yet attended the shopping bonanza still have time to visit as tomorrow is the final day. Fair devotee Roxana Kamal and her daughter, Suha, however, were glad they came early.
Roxana, from Sanad, said: “You may get cheaper items on the last day but it gets very crowded and that’s why I think it’s better to come over the first two or three days. You might pay BD1 or BD2 more for items but at least then you’re guaranteed to get the things you want!”
Al Hekma International School student, Suha, added: “This exhibition is a must for us, attending has become almost a family tradition. We crave this fair and save our money for it because we know we can get some great bargains. “We buy make-up, jalabiyas and bed sheets and blankets. My mum comes here nearly every day and we try to arrive early to avoid the mad rush.”
You have to be a hardy shopper though as parking can be a challenge and then you have to be patient standing in long queues with your purse burning a hole in your pocket, itching to get started.
However, once through those gates it’s easy going from there. The eight-day exhibition, which is organised by Arabian Exhibition Management, is open from 10am to 10pm and the entry ticket price for adults costs 800 fils.
The event is held under the patronage of the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani and the CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, Shaikh Khalid bin Humoud Al Khalifa. Both have been delighted by the numbers of visitors it has attracted to the kingdom
