FEATURE
the middle east vape
show makes its debut
BAHRAIN’S GROUNDBREAKING VAPE EXPO MAY BE THE BOOST THE REGION NEEDS
- BY LEO FORFAR -
The Middle East Vape Show
(MEVS) will not only be the first
industry expo for Bahrain, but the
entire region when it takes place
in January. Show organiser Ahmed
Fathallah gave Vapouround the
inside track on what to expect.
Q: How did you get involved in the
industry and come to launch this
event?
A: We have been involved since 2015,
when the vape industry started booming in
the Middle East. Since then, we dreamed
of making Bahrain the center of the vape
market in the entire region. We saw its
potential and did our very best in making
this dream a reality. We didn’t just want to
start a vape show that will lead the Middle
East, but the entire world. Based on that,
we’ve worked hard to get all the licenses
to proceed, and we’ve coordinated with
the biggest global expos to make our
event the very best.
Q: The consumption of tobacco is
very high in the Middle East, how is
e-cigarette use perceived?
A: Middle Eastern consumption of
tobacco is very high, which has made
the vape industry so successful in the
region. With rising awareness of tobacco-
related disease made possible by the
campaigns of the government and health
institutions, vaping grew on very fertile
land for marketing opportunities.
Q: Why did you pick January 2019 to
launch?
A: We did research on all the major vape
shows and found out that January 17-19
126 | VM18
has no main show. Plus, the weather is
great at this time in the month.
Q: What level of attendance are you
hoping for?
A: We expect the number of visitors to
exceed 10,000, with over 270 exhibitors
from the wider vaping world.
Q: How is the show beneficial for
manufacturers and distributors and
why should they attend?
A: It’s the first show of its kind in the
Middle East, which makes it so important
to be in on from the start. It will unite
representatives from over 25 countries
and will enable wholesalers and retailers
to meet and network with all kinds of
potential partners.
We did a VIP Programme where we invited
representatives from the most prominent
vape companies in the Middle East to visit
the show at our expense. We will have
a scheduled programme during the show
to meet representatives one-on-one in a
special onsite VIP room.
Q: How is the preparation going?
A: We have received approvals and
licenses from the government to make this
event happen – all within only a month of
announcing it. The show will be divided
into three zones, and we have almost sold
the first. We’ve also opened the second
under ECC Events management for the
companies to register. We will open the
third soon, under one of the biggest vape
show promoters in China. There will be
11 sponsors.
Q: What’s next?
A: I don’t want to give too much away,
but Sawa Services Co, organiser of this
event, will bring many positive surprises to
the Middle East vape market which will
surely be beneficial to the companies and
the buyers.
Vapouround is official media partner
to MEVS. The expo will run from 10am
to 10pm across January 17-19 at the
Bahrain International Circuit, Gate 255,
Gulf of Bahrain Avenue, Umm Jidar 1062,
Sakhir, Southern Governorate.