Organizers of the Dubai Airshow, which begins a five-day run at the Airport Expo Dubai today (Nov. 15) say they will this week welcome 73 delegations from 40 countries, with the Middle East and North Africa accounting for more than a third. Due at the show - the 11th in the biennial series - are 18 Ministers of Defense, 19 Air Force Commanders, 11 Chiefs of Staff, and four heads of military procurement and over 100 civil aviation leaders from 33 countries - more than a third of which are airline Presidents and CEOs. “The show has retained its potent delegations program delivering to exhibitors an audience of significant influence and purchasing decision-making,” said Alison Weller, director, F&E Aerospace, which organizes the show. “The geographic spread of the delegations is particularly interesting with over three quarters coming from outside the GCC and with the Middle East and North Africa, Europe and the Russian Federation accounting for more than half.” Dubai Airshow is being seen as a bellwether to signs of economic recovery within the aviation industry and with 890 exhibitors from 47 countries, an increase of over 7,000sqm in exhibition space and 13 dedicated national or regional pavilions - a 10 percent increase on 2007 - organisers are hoping the event will deliver a confidence boost to the sector. “There is talk of a number of orders coming out of the Middle East and North Africa region,” explained Weller. “The announcements may not be of the scale of previous years but will be indicative, perhaps, of where the emerging markets lie.” The 11th Dubai Airshow has followed the event's year-on-year growth pattern with the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority investing in a new exhibition hall - the Emirates Hall - increasing floor space by over 7,000 square metres. “The show layout - which has repeatedly been acknowledged as world class - has now raised the bar again,” said Weller. With 130 aircraft in its static park and 14 aircraft types due to take part in the daily flying display, the Dubai Airshow is a visible demonstration that the aviation industry is ready to climb out of its recent doldrums. “We are still managing to deliver new, and historic, dimensions to the show, particularly in the aircraft line-up which this year will see the US Air Force F22 Raptor, the Eurofighter Typhoon of Britain's RAF and the L-15 Falcon jet trainer from China's Aviation Industries of China, which will be the international airshow debut of a trainer from the Peoples' Republic and is likely to be keenly followed by all in the industry,” added Weller. Moreover, Dubai Airport Freezone, the leading Freezone among 13 in the UAE in terms of import and export efficiency per square metre, will be showcasing its new colors after undertaking a revamp of its brand image at the Dubai Air show. The Dubai Airport Freezone will also be welcoming visitors to its stand A 164 at Emirates Hall to inform them of newly constructed buildings constructed as part of the Freezone's expansion plan. “The Dubai Airport Freezone is home to 1,500 multinational companies. Its core mandate is to attract foreign investments and contribute to the economy of Dubai,” said Ibrahim Ahli, director of Marketing at the Dubai Airport Freezone. “Our presence at the Air Show is very important as we have 180 companies in the aviation industry based at the Freezone - international companies such as Boeing, Airbus, Jet Aviation and many more who provide the region's aviation sector with its technical consultancy, spare parts, and repair services. The industry will benefit in a big way by our presence at the show.” “Out of 13 free zones in the country, the Dubai Airport Freezone is No. 1 in terms of import export efficiency according to a study conducted in 2006 by Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), which belongs to the World Bank revealed that “Dubai Airport Freezone exceeded other free zones in the Middle East and North Africa by 5.45 percent in providing encouraging investment opportunities. The Dubai Airport Freezone contributed 1.28 percent to GDP in 2006 and the following year its contribution increased 2.15 percent according to a study by the Gulf Organization of Industrial Consultation.” Ahli said the Freezone has a lot to offer aviation firms participating at the Air Show this year: “The Freezone brand has undergone several changes to rebrand its position and created a number of innovative products that cater to the needs of aerospace sector.”
