Dubai aviation events gear up for best editions yet
Two of Dubai’s biggest aviation events are on track to report record editions as exhibitors and visitors look to do business with some of the world’s most influential industry players.
More than 1,100 exhibitors have confirmed space at next month’s Dubai Airshow (November 8 to 12), which is expected to attract at least 65,000 trade visitors, according to show organisers.
“The 2015 Dubai Airshow is expected to be our biggest event yet,” confirmed F&E Aerospace managing director Michele van Akelijen.
“We have seen growth across a number of areas, including an increase in new exhibitors and increased investment from many returning ones.”
The show will include static and flying displays and new features such as the 3D Print pavilion and UAE Space Agency. More exhibitors from the UAE and US are taking part while Taiwan, Morocco and Latvia are countries that will be represented for the first time.
Now in its 28th year, the biennial event has grown five-fold since its inception, said Akelijen.
“We have a ten-year growth plan with our partners and are currently in discussions regarding a planned extension of the DWC Dubai Airshow site for the Dubai Airshow 2017,” van Akelijen explained.
The 2016 instalment of the Dubai Airport Show (May 9 to 11, 2016) looks set to achieve year-on-year growth of 15 percent as more than 300 exhibitors from 30 countries confirm their participation.
Exhibition space at the 16th edition of the show will cover some 15,000 square metres as participants showcase their products and services to key aviation industry decisions makers from across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) aviation industry.
The B2B show will witness larger participation from Germany, France, UK, Italy, Switzerland, USA and China, said organiser Reed Exhibitions Middle East.
The Middle East reported the highest passenger and cargo growth rates in the world in 2014 at 10.8 per cent and 9.2 percent respectively, according to the latest World Airport Traffic Report of Airports Council International (ACI-World) statistics.
This compared to the global averages of 5.7% and 4.7% respectively.
“The Middle East continues its impressive double-digit growth and has embarked on a massive airport expansion and development programme,” said HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), chairman of Dubai Airports and chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group.
“Airport development continues to play an important role in our strategic plans, creating thousands of new jobs and providing an engine of economic growth vital to the growth of Dubai.”