Messe Frankfurt Middle East has announced the launch of Automechanika Riyadh 2018, as the region’s leading exhibition organizer expands its presence further in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s vast automotive aftermarket.

Automechanika Riyadh will take place from Feb. 5-7, 2018, at the Riyadh Exhibition Centre, and will take place every two years. The three-day event will alternate between the existing Messe Frankfurt-organized Automechanika Jeddah, which will now become a biennial event, with the third edition taking place in 2019.

Automechanika Riyadh 2018 is organized in partnership with Saudi-based Al-Harithy Co. for Exhibitions (ACE), and is the 17th global installment of Automechanika, the world’s most successful automotive aftermarket trade fair brand.

Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said the dual platform of Automechanika Riyadh and Automechanika Jeddah will provide more business opportunities spanning the automotive aftermarket in the Kingdom’s Western, Central and Eastern regions.

“Given the encouraging response to Automechanika Jeddah, we are confident that Automechanika Riyadh will enable us to successfully reach and engage with the significant markets of the Central and Eastern regions, which will strengthen the event’s footprint,” said Pauwels. “The new exhibition is also another step in our carefully orchestrated plans of expanding the reach of the Messe Frankfurt family of shows across the Kingdom.”

Automechanika Riyadh is set to significantly boost access for international players into Saudi Arabia’s spare parts market, which is well on the road to recovery, the event organizers have said. According to analysts Frost & Sullivan (F&S), the total revenues in the Kingdom’s automotive aftermarket, including Jeddah to the West, Riyadh Central and the Eastern region of Dammam, Dhahran and Al Khobar, will grow 5.1 percent annually over the next five years, reaching SAR 33.62 billion ($8.9 billion USD) in 2021.

Major revenue is expected to be generated by regular maintenance parts such as tires (SAR 10.5 billion), batteries (SAR1.56 billion) and lubricants (SAR 6.01 billion), while brake pads are expected to account for almost 25 percent of ‘other parts’ category (SAR15.550 billion).

Michael Johannes, Automechanika’s brand manager, said, “Automechanika Riyadh will not only open up the burgeoning sales potential in Saudi’s Central region, but will also extend its reach to the Eastern Region and the main Dammam urban conglomeration, which is within a three-hour drive of the capital, and a 40 minute flight away.”

Automechanika Riyadh will focus on the six main product groups of: Parts & Components, Electronics & Systems, Accessories & Customizing, Repair & Maintenance, Tyres & Batteries, and Car Wash, Care & Reconditioning.

Hadi Al-Harith, managing director of ACE, added, “It gives us great pleasure to continue our association with Messe Frankfurt Middle East and extend the reach of the Automechanika brand into Saudi’s Central and Eastern regions. This expansion is a result of dedicated teamwork and close interaction with various stakeholders as we continue to try and fulfill all our clients’ requirements.”

Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the UAE-based subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt Group, also is the organizer of Automechanika Dubai, the wider Middle East and Africa’s largest automotive aftermarket trade exhibition.

More information about Automechanika Riyadh is available at: automechanikariyadh.com.