DUBAI: The GCC countries continue to allocate large investments for developing new and existing airports with major expansions in the region's 1, 200 international, domestic and military airports. The new projects were estimated to cost around $90 billion over the next few years. According to statistics from Airport Council International (ACI), and the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), the sheer volume of current development activities in the Middle East indicates that growth rates will continue for the next decade. The two global bodies predict airports in the Middle East are expected to handle over 400 million passengers by 2020. In the UAE, allocated investments for the development of Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai is estimated at around $8 billion, while Concourse 3 at Dubai International Airport is expected to cost nearly $1.17 billion. Total investment for Abu Dhabi International Airport midfield is forecast to touch $6.8 billion. Other developments in the region include King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) Development Phase 1 in Jeddah with an investments equivalent to $1.5billion, New Doha International Airport around $11 billion, Expansion of Muscat International Airport $1.2 billion, Bahrain airport $335 million, and Kuwait International Airport $2.1 billion. The optimistic outlook comes at a time when the momentum gathers pace for the 11th edition of Airport Show Dubai that will be held from May 31 to June 2 at the Airport Expo. The event will reflect the magnitude of the region-wide developments and the business potential that exists for all industry stakeholders. Mohammad Bader-Eddin, Director of Airport Show, said: "The GCC countries and the wider region continue to register sustained growth in flight operations, as well as freight and passenger traffic. This growth has stimulated a continued flow of investments for the development and expansion of airport projects. This is estimated to be around $90 billion for airports alone, without taking into consideration developments that complement airport infrastructure such as free zones." Bader-Eddin added: "The favorable market conditions, the success of Airport Show Dubai 2010 and Reed Exhibitions' ongoing efforts to facilitate existing growth opportunities for customers have together contributed to an increase in the number of participants for this upcoming edition. "Airport Show 2011 will offer a combination of high quality networking and business development opportunities through a series of roundtable discussions, innovation and project seminars, in addition to the Hosted Buyer program, which in fact, represents the leading airports from the region. This program provides great opportunity for exhibitors to be associated with future investments and conduct on-the-spot business transactions." Airport Show 2011 will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group. The event will attract an array of suppliers of equipment and services covering all areas of airport development and operations. The Airport Show is supported by leading aviation authorities and trade bodies including Dubai Airports, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, UAE Contractors Association, British Aviation Group, British Airport Services & Equipment Association (BASEA), Danish Airport Group, UBIFRANCE (the French Agency for international business development), and the Netherlands Airport Technology Group.
