The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation has selected Abu Dhabi as host city for the first Middle East Aviation Outlook Summit.

The event will be held at the prestigious Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers, Abu Dhabi, on February 27 and 28, 2008.

The summit, to be held annually, has been convened to address the growing influence of the Middle East on global aviation and tourism, and will consist of a high-level speaker programme and an accompanying exhibition, said an official spokesman.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company and Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority are the host sponsors of the Summit, and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, the official carrier.

“Abu Dhabi is the perfect venue for this landmark summit in light of the astonishing dynamism and vision of the aviation and tourism sectors in the emirate. We have also been highly impressed by the cooperative approach and support of the key industry stakeholders, most notably Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and Etihad Airways, and are very excited about bringing the Outlook Summit format to the Middle East for the first time,” said executive chairman of the centre Peter Harbison.

Over 250 industry leaders are expected to gather in Abu Dhabi for this crucial event, with participants including government ministers and CEOs from the leading airlines, airports, investors, suppliers and tourism/property developers with an interest in the region.

The summit will be organised by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation and the leading business media company, Terrapinn, who have combined resources to jointly stage some of the world’s most highly acclaimed aviation events, including most recently the Asia Pacific Aviation Outlook Summit which was held in Singapore earlier this month. – TradeArabia News Service