• Home
• News Article

Gulf Bike Week to Return in October 2012

Popular Event Scheduled at the Start of the Biking Season to Benefit Visitors and Exhibitors

Dubai-UAE: 25 May, 2011 - Clarion Events Middle East today announced the fourth annual Gulf Bike Week will take place from 18 to 20 October, 2012, at Dubai Festival City promising bike enthusiasts and families non-stop action and incredible performances, guaranteed to surpass previous years.

Organized in Dubai by Clarion Events Middle East, the Gulf Bike Week is a much-loved annual festival of motorcycling in the region. Held under the patronage of His Excellency Mohammed Bin Sulayem, FIA Vice-President for Sport and President of the Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), the event has increased in popularity with each of its three previous editions and now draws participants and biking enthusiasts from across the region.

Christopher Hudson, Managing Director of Clarion Events Middle East, said: "Gulf Bike Week has been a consistent success since its initiation in 2009. In 2011, we had 80 exhibitors and over 30,000 visitors attend the show. After careful consideration, we have shifted the event to the end of the calendar year, October 2012, to coincide with the beginning of the biking season. With this, we expect more visitors than previous years, resulting in greater exposure for the exhibitors and we estimate that the total value of orders placed will exceed the previous year's event."

Marcel Bode, General Manager of Harley-Davidson of Dubai, said: "Gulf Bike Week has been a great platform for us to promote the Harley-Davidson lifestyle and its products over the last years, with a festival atmosphere, good music, great people and great bikes. With the AMD custom bike build affiliation it has also proven that the Gulf region's bike builders can compete with the best in the world. The new dates for 2012 will be more convenient for us as it is right at the start of the season, in time for us to launch our new 2013 Harley-Davidson models."

In its past three editions, the Gulf Bike Week was held in the month of February. Exhibitors are pleased with the event being shifted to October in 2012, as it would coincide with the start of the biking season and they are confident that they will establish profitable relationships, receive higher orders, and generate more revenue.

In 2011, Gulf Bike Week thrilled visitors with the AMD Official World Championship of Custom Bike Building, Red Bull FMX Stunt Arena, Street Bike Stunts, Rolling Stone Battle of the Bands, Super Moto Racing, Charity Bike Ride, 'In Show' Bike Park, Local Skateboarders and BMX riders, and an exhibition showcasing bikes from renowned companies such as Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, KTM, Kawasaki, Suzuki and many more.

James Drane, General Manager - Motorcycle Division, Liberty Automobiles, said: "Liberty Kawasaki have always been big fans of the Gulf Bike Week and we have contributed fully to every event in the past. It is 'the' biking event for bikers in the Middle East and long may it continue. The news that it may be brought forward more into the season can only be good news for all who show and attend."

Shivani Duseja, Managing Director of Duseja Motorcycles, said: "Duseja Motorcycles has been a major supporter of Gulf Bike Week since its inception three years ago and, as always, Gulf Bike Week has included all the major brands in any decisions that may affect the event. We are delighted that Clarion Events Middle East have decided to move the event from February to October, as it will now coincide with the beginning of the season. We view the event as the best possible platform to showcase our Piaggio, Vespa, Moto Guzi and Aprilia brands and look forward to introducing new motorcycles to the U.A.E. at next year's show."

The entertainment provided at Gulf Bike Week has been of the highest caliber since its first edition in 2009. It has successfully been able to draw in not just motor-biking and off-road enthusiasts, but families as well, making it the ideal place to launch new models and showcase extraordinary bikes.

Abdulla Mohammed Ali, Manager of Ducati, said: "2010 Gulf Bike Week allowed us to successfully promote the Ducati brand in the UAE market. At February's event we had the pleasure of being able to launch the Ducati Diavel before other countries in the region. We are looking forward to the 2012 event in October."

Samir Al-Ali, Marketing Manager, Al Yousuf Motors, said: "We at Yamaha and Suzuki are pleased that Gulf Bike Week is moving to October 2012. We have always used the event as a platform to showcase our latest models with the new date moving to the beginning of the season, it will provide us with a greater launching pad to showcase our 2013 models."

Gulf Bike Week, the Middle East's only dedicated urban bike festival, will offer exhibitors the best possible platform from which to showcase their products. The 2012 show will stand out like no other. The event offers an incredible selection of not just bikes but accessories and components; a wealth of interactivity, essential rider wear and exhibits to spark the imagination, whilst educating and enlightening visitors of all ages as to what motorcycling has to offer.

Tim Trenker, Managing Partner, KTM Middle East: "As the leading off-road motorcycle supplier in the Middle East, KTM has been heavily involved in Gulf Bike Week since 2009, and it is the only event where we get the opportunity to showcase the wide variety of models that we have to offer. We are very pleased that Clarion has decided to move the event to October as the season will only have just begun and it will allow us to take the opportunity of generating more sales throughout the season."

Prashant Sharma, Operations Manager, Honda Motorcycle, Marine and Power Products, said: "The advancement of the Gulf Bike Week to be held during October is great news for the Motorcycle Industry. The previous schedule was almost at the end of the riding season. The new schedule gives more meaning for companies to participate as it lets them to showcase their products & services at the beginning of the riding season allowing riders to make their choices for the immediate season.

"Most manufacturers receive their new models by October or November, thus offering more reason to showcase and participate in the Gulf Bike Week. Furthermore, the schedule is free of holidays, exams, financial closing times and several other factors that influence exhibitors and visitors alike."

Gulf Bike Week will bring the best the Middle East motorcycle industry has to offer at a three day exhibition at Dubai Festival City. The event supports a market that is worth over $1 billion regionally, with over 1.5 million registered bikes aside from ATV's and UTV's, and is ideally located to support the fastest growing All/Urban Terrain Vehicle market in the world.

-Ends-

Clarion Events Middle East
Clarion Events Middle East, a Clarion Events company, has grown into a highly successful business with offices in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. In 2009, over 800,000 targeted people visited their 200 exhibitions, conferences and seated events across Britain, Europe, North and South America, Africa, Middle East and Asia.

The business-to-business and business-to-consumer, serve 15 different market sectors that include; Defence, Energy, Construction, Retail, Leisure, Entertainment, Finance and Life Sciences.

Clarion Events employs over 400 people in twelve offices: UK (London Earls Court Exhibition Centre, and Birmingham NEC); Germany (Bielefeld); The Netherlands (Maarsen); South Africa (Cape Town); USA (Connecticut and Reno): Brazil (Sao Paulo); United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai); Singapore and Turkey.

More information on www.clarioneventsmiddleeast.com

Gulf Bike Week
For more information please visit http://www.gulfbikeweek.com

For media inquiries, please contact:
Clarion Events Middle East
Christopher Hudson
Managing Director
Christopher.Hudson@clarioneventsme.com
Tel: + 971 43356533

The Public Relations Company
Kay Braganza
Consultant
kay.braganza@tprc.ae
Tel: +971 50 7681684

© Press Release 2011