Airport investment across the region reaches US$ 60 billion

Posted on: May 24, 2007

Written by Select Property

Major airport expansions and a booming aviation industry across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia will be reflected by a record gathering of suppliers from around the world at the Airport Show which opens in Dubai next week.

The event, the region’s only dedicated trade show for airport construction, operations and technologies, has grown by 25 per cent this year and, with more than 500 suppliers from 52 countries and an expected 5,000 visitors, will be Asia’s largest international airport industry exhibition.

The Airport Show is held under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group and Chairman of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise. It takes place at a time when, according to research by organisers, Streamline Marketing Group, airport developments worth nearly US$ 60 billion are taking place across the region with US$ 20 billion in the UAE alone.

For the first time the event, running from May 28 – 30 in Airport Expo Dubai, features three major conferences, ‘Aviation Security Middle East’, ‘Air Traffic Control Middle East’ and ‘Ground Handling Middle East’ at which international experts will give insights into the issues affecting the aviation sector.

Since its inception in 2001, The Airport Show has become established as a major forum for the pre-qualification of suppliers for airport development schemes across the region and this year more than 30 civil aviation authorities and airports will be represented.

Taking part for the first time is Dubai World Central, which is looking to secure suppliers for the US$ 8.2 billion international airport being built at Jebel Ali. The airport, set to be the largest in the world, is part of the 140-square-kilometre US$33 billion DWC development and is designed to serve the emirate’s passenger and cargo air transportation needs until 2050 and beyond, handling over 120 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of cargo a year.

Source; menareport.com