There is an overwhelming response for next year's Dubai Airport Show, a leading event devoted to airport construction, operations, technology and services, with over 64 per cent of exhibitors of 2013 edition confirming their participation, said the organisers.

Organised by Reed Exhibitions with support of Dubai Airports, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, dnata and Middle East Business Aviation Association, the show will be held at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre for the third successive year.

Last year’s edition had seen remarkable growth in exhibition space and was held on a gross exhibition space of 11,000 sq m with 225 exhibitors and six country pavilions, the organisers stated.

Strong indications of wider and solid interest of the global aviation industry in the Middle East in general and Gulf states in particular have come to the fore with this response from exhibitors for 2014 edition, they added.

The upcoming show will be collocated with the 2nd Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF) and launch of Travel Catering Expo (TCE).

It is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, chairman of Dubai Airports and chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group.

“The aviation sector represents one of the region’s main economic pillars and involves multi-million dollars investments in existing and new developments. Airport Show enables decision-makers to convene in one venue for knowledge-sharing and procurement of products and services. The show is contributing to the success of a thriving aviation industry in the region,” remarked Sheikh Ahmed.

“We want to consolidate Dubai’s position on the world aviation map. We continue to expand Dubai International Airport facilities with an investment of $7.8 billion in order to keep up with the volume of expected growth," he stated.

"We strongly believe in the aviation sector as an engine of economic growth and will continue upgrading our services and facilities in order to be worthy of the global confidence posed in us. Our distinctive successes are the result of well thought-out investments in state-of-the-art infrastructure and the best use of modern technologies,” said Sheikh Ahmed.

Benchmarked as one of the world’s leading events and a vital link to the airport industry in the Mena and Indian subcontinent, the 2014 edition will be held from May 11 to 13.  

Airport Show, in a short span of 13 years, has become one of the world’s leading airport industry B2B events and the most-preferred platform for procurements and supplies for the region’s multi-million dollar airport developments.

Daniyal Qureshi, the show director said it is growing stronger in all parameters with 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.

"When one thinks of global aviation investments, the Gulf states are amongst the first ones that come to mind," he remarked.

“Exhibitors are very enthusiastic and confident about getting more business from the region. There is a strong resurgence in the aviation industry and this is reflected in terms of investments and developments. The show is a vital link connecting suppliers and buyers while showcasing the best of the global industry’s solutions and services,” he added.

Boeing, in its Market Outlook 2013-2032 report, stated that the growth of Middle Eastern aviation ‘outpaced’ the global average and will continue to do so, supported by a variety of growth strategies, including airports and airlines expansion.

The Middle East region is expected to handle 400 million air passengers by 2020, including 100 million passengers by Dubai alone.

Dubai’s second international airport, Al Maktoum International at DWC is due to start operations on October 27, helping take the annual passenger handling capacity of the two airports to over 80 million.

A survey of aviation industry professionals, carried out for the inaugural GALF last year, rated the Middle East as having the ‘highest potential’ for airport investment and expansion in the world over the next five years.

Business opportunities worth $7.9 billion were discussed between airport managements and exhibitors at Airport Show-2013, indicating the business potential of the region and the link that the show provides between regional airport development and global suppliers, he added.-TradeArabia News Service