Dubai's Airport Build & Supply Exhibition attracts record response as suppliers aim to capitalise on $40 billion airport developments

Over 400 of the world’s leading airport and aviation suppliers are expected to descend on Dubai in June to capitalise on more than US$ 40 billion worth of airport developments currently taking place across the Middle East on the back of a booming regional economy.

Exhibition space sold for the event, now in its sixth year, is already up 30% compared with last year.

This comes at a time when regional airport growth is accelerating rapidly to cope with the huge projected increase in commercial air traffic, while record oil prices and booming regional economies have enabled Middle East governments to allocate billions of dollars for infrastructure development.

“Airbus estimates that Middle East and African airlines will require 1,016 new aircraft, worth US$ 124 billion, over the next 20 years,” said Nick Webb, director of the Streamline Marketing Group organisers of the Airport Build & Supply Exhibition. 

“Regional airport developments to cater for this increased traffic are estimated at well over US$ 40 billion, with US$ 20 billion in the UAE alone.

“With an expected budget surplus of US$ 50 billion and a current account surplus of over US$ 100 billion for the six Gulf states alone, spending is set to continue over the long term. Economists have estimated that there are currently US$ 650 billion worth of active projects in the Gulf, with another US$ 650 billion announced but not yet begun.”

Taking place from June 5 – 7, 2006 at Airport Expo Dubai, the Airport Build & Supply Exhibition is the only dedicated trade show for airport construction, operations, technologies and services in the region and an unmissable event for airport and aviation suppliers eager to profit from this major Middle East growth.

The event attracts a targeted audience of regional Civil Aviation departments, government officials, VIPs and consultants and contractors behind many of the region’s airport development projects. The 2005 edition saw over 40 regional Civil Aviation authorities represented as either visitors or exhibitors.

The event includes an exclusive programme of seminars giving exhibitors updates on the region’s most ambitious developments, including the US$ 8.1 billion Jebel Ali International Airport development in Dubai which will create the region’s first ‘Airport City’.

Among the other major projects attracting the attention of suppliers are the US$ 4.1 billion revamp of Dubai International Airport, the US$ 6.8 billion expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport and the building of the US$ 5.5 billion New Doha International Airport in Qatar.

Other important airport schemes include the US$ 1.5 billion expansion of King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and the new US$ 800 million airport in the UAE emirate of Ajman. In India a total of US$ 10 billion has been earmarked to construct seven new airports and modernise 30 existing ones.

Streamline Marketing Group is expecting more than 400 exhibitors - up from 322 in 2005 - and over 4,000 trade visitors. Dedicated pavilions will represent specific countries including Germany, UK, the Netherlands, France, Canada, Finland, China, Australia and India.

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