The inaugural edition of the Abu Dhabi Aviation and Aerospace Week (ADAAW) is set to take place in March next year.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the event will run concurrently in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain from March 6 to 12, converging six trade, defence, entertainment, and sports components under its umbrella.

Set to become a biennial fixture in Abu Dhabi’s calendar of events, ADAAW is anticipated to attract a constellation of decision makers and international experts from the aviation and aerospace industry, along with a significant number of trade visitors and the general public.

ADAAW, which is sponsored by UAE national carrier Etihad Airways, will include the second Unmanned System Exhibition (UMEX Abu Dhabi), first Simulation Conference and Exhibition, third Global Aerospace Summit, and fourth edition of the Abu Dhabi Air Expo, as well as the first edition of the Middle East Aviation Career Exhibition & Conference and the eighth Red Bull Air Race.

A number of leading Abu Dhabi-based entities including Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), Mubadala Development Company, Abu Dhabi Airports, and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council will join hands in organising ADAAW.

The event will seek to boost the status of Abu Dhabi as a leading global hub of aviation and aerospace, business tourism and specialised fairs and events in the field of aerospace and aviation. Abu Dhabi has successfully established a unique economic model through developing a number of promising sectors identified by Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, among which aviation and aerospace feature as a key pillar.

Brigadier General, Rashid Mohammed Al-Shamsi, spokesperson for the UAE Armed Forces, said: "Our support to Abu Dhabi Aviation and Aerospace Week articulates the Armed Forces’ priority in creating a dedicated platform to converge international manufacturers and specialised companies participating in global aviation and aerospace exhibitions and conferences.

From March 6 to 8, ADNEC will host the second edition of Abu Dhabi Unmanned System Exhibition (UMEX). A gateway for manufacturers and suppliers to build relationships with influential decision makers within the industry, UMEX showcases unmanned systems and technologies used in air, land and marine operations. The event gives visitors a chance to view equipment showcased on static display stands and examine unmanned systems capabilities at live demonstrations hosted by Al Ain Airport.

The 2016 edition of UMEX is expected to draw the participation of more than 5,000 experts and specialists from all over the world.

As part of its agenda, ADAAW will stage the first Simulation Conference and Exhibition in collaboration with the UAE Armed Forces. The segment is set to showcase the latest technologies in simulation systems used both in defence and civilian applications. The event will also include a dedicated corner for companies specialised in defence training and development.

On the second day of ADAAW, the Global Aerospace Summit will lift off at ADNEC. Organised by Streamline Marketing Group and hosted by Mubadala Development Company, the 2016 event, which adopts the theme of ‘innovation,’ will run from March 7 to 8.

The invitation-only event is an exclusive forum for C-level executives, senior decision-makers and government officials involved in the aerospace, aviation, defence and space industries. Attendance is limited to 1,000 world industry leaders across the relevant sectors who discuss and develop initiatives and strategies that support future growth.

Taking off on the third day of ADAAW is Abu Dhabi Air Expo alongside the Middle East Aviation Career Exhibition & Conference, hosted by Abu Dhabi Airports, which will run from March 8 to 10 at Al Bateen Executive Airport.

While Abu Dhabi Air Expo is expected to attract more than 13,000 visitors, the Middle East Aviation Career Exhibition & Conference is set to draw the participation of more than 500 students.

The Abu Dhabi Air Expo, the first of its kind in the UAE and Abu Dhabi, will specially focus on owners of private jets, as well as aircraft engineers and professional and amateur pilots, giving them an opportunity to explore a wide range of aircraft and related hardware, equipment and technologies.

The Middle East Aviation Career Conference and Exhibition, on the other hand, will offer valuable opportunities for those looking for careers within the aviation industry to meet and discuss with specialists opportunities within the industry.

The definitive industry event will conclude with the two-day Red Bull Air Race at the Abu Dhabi Corniche on March 11 and 12, organised by Abu Dhabi Sports Council. – TradeArabia News Service