H.H. Sheikh Ahmed opens 16th Airport Show on strong upward growth in aviation industry

Sheikh Ahmed: Thriving Middle East aviation offers tremendous opportunities to global players

World’s largest annual event spread across 15,000 sqm, features 7 dedicated country pavilions

3-day show witnesses participation from 300 exhibitors from 55 countries, 150 hosted buyers from 30 countries

Over 7,000 aviation professionals to attend the three-day show

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, inaugurated the 16^th Airport Show at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) with 300 companies from 55 countries participating in the three-day show, expected to be attended by over 7,000 aviation industry professionals.

Accompanied by VIPs and senior government officials, Sheikh Ahmed toured the world’s second biggest B2B event spread over 15,000 square metre in Zabeel Halls 4, 5 and 6, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC).

He was accompanied among others by Jamal Al Hai, FNC member and Deputy CEO Dubai Airports; Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA); Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation; Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

Sheikh Ahmed said: “We are pleased to welcome the highest ever number of exhibitors from all around the world to the Airport Show this year. The Airport Show continues to grow year after year as leading industry players from across the world seek to tap into the tremendous opportunities offered by the Middle East’s thriving aviation sector. The growing interest in this show is a clear indication of its value to exhibitors and visitors alike. I am confident the event will be a resounding success.”

Sheikh Ahmed met with the exhibitors, who explained about their latest technology products and services being offered for the aviation sector. Among the stalls that Sheikh Ahmed visited were Banayat Airports and Engineering Supplies, Dubai Police, Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC), Smartworld, Siemens and Emirates Flight Catering.

Sheikh Ahmed also met with the representatives of Women in Aviation International and Middle East chapters. In line with the vision of the UAE’s leadership to empower women and enhance their participation across all sectors, Airport Show 2016 is supporting ‘Arab Women in Aviation’ which aims to inspire young adults to tap into a multitude of career opportunities in the aviation sector across the Middle East.

Billed as the world’s most dynamic airport show, the Middle East’s iconic aviation industry show features a wide line up of innovative technology products and services from over 55 countries, including Germany, China, Switzerland, USA, Canada, France, Italy and the UK which have set up dedicated pavilions.

Daniyal Qureshi, Group Exhibitions Director, Reed Exhibitions Middle East, organisers of the show, said: “The tremendous response to the Airport Show reflects the wider global interest in the region, as it pursues its ambitious airport expansion programmes and positions itself as the new travel hub of this century. There is a lot of enthusiasm among the exhibitors, who are eager to establish new business relationships as well as strengthen existing ties and tap into the multitude of opportunities in this region.”

The event is being 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 Airlines and Group.

Exhibitors said Airport Show is an ideal platform to showcase their products and services, strengthen their business presence as well as forge new business relationships.

George Hannouche, CEO, Banayat Airports and Engineering Supplies, which has been participating in the Airport Show for the last 14 years, said: “Bayanat has been participating at the Dubai Airport Show since 14 years as it is the most important airport related event in the Middle East and Africa. Every year, along with our international technology partners, we demonstrate our capabilities from design to supply, installation, project management and support of airport technologies in the Terminal, Airside & Air Traffic Control. We look forward to Airport Show every year as our international technology partners join us, under the Bayanat stand, to display their latest Airport innovations. Furthermore during the three days of the show we meet executives from Airports & Aviation Authorities, Airport Consultants and Contractors from the UAE and the Middle East & North Africa. We also participate to the various Airport conferences that take place during the show in addition to meeting with local and international media interested to report about the airport development boom that has been so vital to the success of aviation in the region.”

Sheikh Ahmed also visited Smartworld stand and was received by Abdulqader Obaid Ali, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Smartworld, an Etisalat and Dubai South joint venture company, offering a range of services are designed to meet the demands of aviation industry in the present day dynamic environment.  The company has successfully handled migration and phasing of solutions across some of today's leading airports.

Wesam Jammoul, Executive Director - Projects, Smartworld, said: “The Airport Show is world’s leading platform for aviation industry stakeholders worldwide. With the airports increasingly focusing on adopting new and smart technologies, the demand for such technology is growing rapidly in the region. We see the Airport Show as an ideal platform to showcase Smartworld’s latest portfolio of services, that can significantally contribute to enhancing efficiencies in terms of better services as well as cost effectiveness.”

Juergen Strommer, Chief Operating Officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Cavotec, said: “The Airport Show has helped Cavotec tremendously in featuring the unique technologies and solutions that it has for today's highly-demanding aviation industry. The B2B platform has allowed Cavotec to connect with airport operators and help them achieve optimum efficiency and profitability to remain competitive.”

Country pavilions

The 16th edition of the Airport Show has a strong international representation with seven dedicated country pavilions, with around 100 exhibitors, for global participants to showcase and launch their products, services and solutions.

Germany launched the largest participation with more than 40 exhibitors showcasing in the exclusive Germany Pavilion, in addition to pavilions dedicated to aviation players from France, Switzerland, UK, Italy, China and North America. 

The French Pavilion, which made its first appearance at the Airport Show eight years ago, will feature 14 exhibitors, the Swiss and UK pavilions will have 12 exhibitors each this year while there will be eight exhibitors in the North America Pavilion and six in the China Pavilion.

 The 16^th edition of the Airport Show is supported by Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Dubai Airports, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP),  dnata and Women in Aviation Middle East Chapter, amongst a host of leading regional and international associations backing the event.

 Strong backing has come from companies and trade bodies like German Airport Technology and Equipment (GATE), Danish Airport Group, British Aviation Group, British Airport Services and Equipment Association, Swiss Airport Suppliers, Swiss Aerospace Cluster, SACE, Netherlands Aerospace Group, UBIFRANCE, UAE Contractors’ Association and Supply Chain and Logistics Group (SCLG) of Middle East.

The gold sponsors include emaratech and Bond Group, while other major sponsors include NEC, Boeing, DTP and Strata.