(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Millions of dollars worth of deals are expected to be initiated at the Airport Show that started on Tuesday, considering the focus of the global aviation industry on the Middle East region due to the massive investments planned by governments to turn their airports into global transport hubs.
The Airport Show is one of the world's leading B2B events devoted exclusively to airport construction, operations, technology and services. It is supported by leading international industry associations and local government authorities, such as Dubai Airports, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, Netherlands Airport Technologies, German Airport Technology and Equipment, British Aviation Group, UBIFrance, British Airport Services and Equipment Association, Danish Airport Group and Dnata.
With their eyes set on tapping the huge business prospects offered by the multi-million dollar expansions of airports in the Middle East region in general and GCC states in particular, the world's leading aviation companies have made a significant presence at the 12th edition of the Airport Show which was opened by Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), and Chairman of Dubai Airports.
Accompanied by a large number of dignitaries and top-ranking officials, including the CEOs of regional airports, civil aviation authorities and aviation companies, Shaikh Ahmed - who is also the Chairman of the Emirates Group and Chief Executive of Emirates airline - toured the three-day annual B2B event hosted over an exhibition space of 10,302sqm at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Prominent among those who visited the show were DCAA director-general Mohammed Ahli, Dubai Airports senior executive vice-president for international affairs Jamal Al Hai, Dubai Aviation City Authority CEO Khalifa Al Zafeen and Dubai Aviation City Corporation COO Rashid Buqara'a.
Kuwait was represented by a four-member delegation headed by Kuwait Civil Aviation director-general Fawaz Abdulaziz Al Farah. Top aviation officials from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar were also present at the show.
The aviation industry event is featuring a wide line-up of innovative technology products and services from 210 companies from 32 countries, including China, Denmark, France, Germany, Swiss and the UK, which have set up dedicated pavilions. More than 5,000 visitors from the aviation and other economic sectors are expected to attend the show over the three-day period.
Ahli formally opened the seminars programme and highlighted the importance of updating knowledge and skills for the aviation industry professionals in order to achieve excellence in every sphere of operations. A total of 25 presentations on new projects and initiatives along with latest innovation and technology will be conducted during the show.
On the opening day, six seminars were conducted, covering topics like the world's first mobile passenger terminal, integrated airport systems, King Hussein International Airport, multi-purpose airport sweeper and Cavotec E3 gate.
This year's Hosted Buyers Programme is seeing the participation of as many as 43 key airport and civil aviation decision-makers from 13 countries in the Middle East and South Asia. The Hosted Buyers are from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Turkey, Djibouti, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and Jordan, in addition to the hosting country, UAE.
For the first time, the show organisers introduced a Project Village which gathers all hosted buyers stands at a prime location at the exhibition venue. Hosted Buyers will have the opportunity to present their projects at the project seminar giving attendees valuable insights into the regions industry outlook.
"We have successfully put together a great show this year. We would like to thank both the government and private sectors for their invaluable support and cooperation in making it a successful event. The aviation industry in general and airports sector in particular is showing signs of strong growth in this region and how the aviation industry players from near and far are out to tap the business opportunities," said Mohamad Bader-Eddin, show director at Reed Exhibitions Middle East, the organiser of the Airport Show.
"With billions of dollars planned to be pumped into the capacity expansion of airports in the GCC region, the Airport Show provides the global aviation industry players the opportunity to enhance their businesses by tapping into the unlimited growth potential of markets like the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The GCC region holds immense hope to the global aviation industry with its airports expansion programme and the Airport Show has proved once again that it is the ideal platform to bring the buyers and sellers under one roof," he added.
