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Families and friends are flocking to the popular Autumn Fair to shop till they drop and pick up bargains in time for festive celebrations and Bahrain National Day parties.
The nine-day shopping bonanza, held under the patronage of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed Alzayani, opened its doors to shoppers early in the week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by chief executive officer of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, Dr Nasser Qaedi.
Like most major events, Covid-19 thwarted plans to hold last year’s event. Informa Markets, the event organisers, say they are thrilled to see the fair back in full swing and hope visitors enjoy the array of goods on show.
“We have around 600 exhibitors from 18 countries, with some exhibiting for the first with us such as Poland, Sudan and Indonesia,” said Abdulrazzak Ali, the company’s sales manager.
“The Autumn Fair has always been a part of our society, enjoyed by Bahrainis and expatriates alike. This year for the first time we will be featuring a Bahraini Farmer’s Market. There is also a gaming zone for youngsters as well as food trucks and performances from a traditional band in celebration of Bahrain’s National Day.
“People are welcome to share in the festivities with us.”
Some of the countries with stands and pavilions on display include Kuwait, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Poland, Sudan, China, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Oman, the UAE and Bahrain. They are selling an array of items from specialty food to fashion, beauty, home décor, technology, toys, textiles and more.
War-torn Yemen even makes an appearance with stands selling a mixture of sweets, seasonings and spices, as well as a rich array of honey.
“Being here is very important to us because it allows us to showcase honey from different parts of Yemen all under one roof,” said Mohammed Al-Mahfadi from Al Wanoh for Yemeni Honey. “We have been participating for the past 12 years and are happy to be back.”
Palestinian pottery and glass products are also in demand as Al Salam glass and pottery factory located in Al-Khalil city, known as Hebron, were asked to return with more handmade goods this time round.
“There are 25 families that work on this including the drawing, painting and making of the products,” said the owner of the factory, Faris Al Natsheeh, also known as Abu Ramzi. “It took them three months to prepare all the products on show at the fair and every bit that we make in Bahrain will help these families.”
The Autumn Fair ends on December 21. The organisers are also planning for bigger and brighter things to come for the next Autumn Fair when it is moved into the new Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Sakhir, as reported by our sister daily newspaper, the GDN.
For more details, follow @autumnfairbahrain on Instagram.
