KING Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) is nearing completion of the city’s first dedicated enclosed exhibition facility. Known as Bay X, the 7,000 sqm multi-use center will have the capacity to host conferences, exhibitions & trade fairs, entertainment and indoor seated staged events.

When completed by the end of 2017, Bay X will offer 2,800 sqm of hall space, 13 meeting rooms and an outdoor events zone capable of hosting multiple independent events concurrently. The venue features adaptable conference rooms, retractable exhibition hall divides, and insulated wall panels to reduce air conditioning requirements, especially during the summer months, to improve overall energy efficiency.

“The growth of the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry in the Kingdom is inhibited by the limited supply of adequate, dedicated event spaces, forcing domestic companies to look overseas to host their events,” said Fahd Al-Rasheed, Group CEO and Managing Director of KAEC. “KAEC is an emerging destination of choice for regional and local events. Bay X will be a highly competitive venue for all types of event and is one of the first steps in our strategy to expand our business tourism offer over the coming years.”

The city attracted 300,000 visitors in the first half of 2017, double the number of visitors recorded for the whole of 2016.

Bay X was designed and built Dutch company De Boer and is the largest structure of its kind that the company has built in the region. The advanced modular design and construction of the facility allows it to be dismantled and reassembled in a new location as KAEC’s commercial centers develop.

“This outstanding facility demonstrates De Boer’s renowned expertise in delivering turnkey venues for any need in months instead of years, while maintaining the highest levels of build quality,” said Edward Gallagher, De Boer Middle East’s Business Development Director.

Located in the heart of the Bay La Sun district, the vibrant, waterfront heart of KAEC, Bay X is directly adjacent to the Juman Park and the Promenade waterfront. The award-winning Bay La Sun Hotel & Marina and the soon-to-open Views Executive Residences are only steps away. Grouped together in one place, the facilities provide an integrated business environment in a strategic location close proximity to the city’s expanding retail and dining offerings.

“KAEC has established a strong reputation as a premier venue among event and conference organizers attracted by the city’s facilities and services, as well as the excellent accommodation of the Bay La Sun Hotel & Marina,” said Ramzi Solh, CEO of Commercial Development in KAEC. — SG