Monday October 24, 2011
AED437 billion to be invested in airports expansion in the region
Reed Exhibitions sign deals and attract new exhibitors for Airport Show in Dubai in 2012
The ever-growing and fast-paced UAE’s aviation industry attracted aerospace professionals at the 18th edition of Inter Airport Europe Fair in Munich, held from October 11 to 14, where experts were informed of the Middle East’s ambitious AED437 billion airport expansion plans. This was announced by an official of Reed Exhibitions Middle East, one of the leading organisers of trade and consumer exhibitions, who was there to promote the 12th edition of the Airport Show, being organised at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center (DICEC) from May 22 to 24, 2012.
The Munich exhibition is a major trade exhibition for the global airport industry. This year, it attracted a total of 606 exhibitors from 34 countries to present their state-of-the-art products and services for terminals, technology, security, airport equipment, runways, aprons and hangars. The show has grown by more than 10 percent compared to the previous edition two years ago. This year's theme was 'Inspiring better airports' thus focusing more on the challenges faced by airport operators.
Mohamad Bader-Eddin, Show Director at Reed Exhibitions, said: "We were pleased to participate in this exhibition as it gave us the chance to liaise with aviation professionals, existing business partners and experts in the global aerospace market. We informed industry gurus of the upcoming Airport Show in Dubai and highlighted the thriving growth opportunities in the aerospace sector in the Middle East, thus making it the destination of choice. As the global crises set in a few years back, the airport industry went into a deep depression. However, we realised that the industry is catching up and has a positive prospects."
He added Reed's aim at the exhibition was to attract potential aviation clients to UAE, to signify Middle East's success story and showcase many aerospace projects that are underway in the region. Thus Airport Show's participation in Munich turned out to be very successful as the company signed a number of deals with international exhibitors and European companies who were excited about offering their latest technology and services for the expansion programmes of regional airports.
The UAE airports have announced billions of dollars investments in airport expansion and improvement programmes. Dubai Airports announced recently its 2020 strategy plan which includes investments worth over AED28.4 billion to implement the fourth phase of Dubai Airport expansion and increase the airport's capacity to over 90 million passengers annually to meet the future growth needs. Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) announced investments to the tune of AED24.8 billion to improve the Abu Dhabi airport and the capacity to 40 million passengers a year. The completion of the project is expected to be in 2015-2016.
Similarly, Sharjah intends to spend AED500 million and Fujairah AED160 million in airport facilities and expansions.
On the regional front, Saudi Arabia signed a deal to invest approximately AED27 billion on the new airport project. In Oman, the Muscat and Salalah airports are being developed at a total cost of AED1.2 billion to handle 48 to 10 million passengers, annually. Facing increase in cargo and passenger movements, Kuwait has put in a total of AED172 million in airport expansion programme, while Qatar is aiming to boost to its aerospace sector at a cost of AED4 billion.
Meanwhile, governments in the Middle East are expected to spend a total of nearly AED331billion, including AED86 billion in the GCC states, in the next few years. An additional AED106billion in various segments of this sector is under the consideration of industry experts in Middle East.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, the Airport Show is supported by leading international industry associations and local government authorities. The show brings together key buyers and decision- makers extending them a convenient access to the Middle East aerospace market. In 2011, the fair attracted nearly 5,000 trade visitors from 62 countries. The exhibition continues to generate interest and organisers expects at least 15 per cent growth in 2012 edition of Airport Show in terms of exhibitors and space.