Dubai Airshow to be bigger, better

Dubai - UAE's investments in space technologies have exceeded Dh20 billion.

It's not confirmed about the aircraft orders to be made at the biennial Dubai Airshow, which is gearing up to take-off in a month, but its organiser assured on Wednesday it would be bigger in terms of exhibitors, trade visitors and new industry sector displays.
More than 1,100 exhibitors are expected to participate this year compared to 1,046 in the previous show. F&E Aerospace, the organiser, expects 65,000 trade visitors this year compared to 60,692 in 2013 show. A majority of visitors come from the Middle East followed by Asia-Pacific, Europe and Americas.
"The 2015 Dubai Airshow is expected to be our biggest event yet," says Michele van Akelijen, managing director of F&E Aerospace. "We have seen growth across a number of areas, including an increase in new exhibitors and increased investment from many returning ones."
Recently it was reported that Emirates is not planning major orders and this year is not expected to see a repeat of the multi-billion-dollar orders placed with Airbus and Boeing. Last Dubai Airshow in 2013 witnessed $206.1 billion orders.
"The Airshow "isn't only about orders but product launches, new innovations and platform for latest technologies," F&E Aerospace's managing director Michele van Akelijen told reporters at a news conference.
Despite open skies policy row with US big three carriers, Dubai Airshow 2015 has a large number of returning US exhibitors including Boeing, Engine Alliance, GE and Honeywell among others. The US Pavilion has doubled in size from 659 square metres at the 2013 show to more than 1,300 square metres for 2015, according to the organiser. The static and flying displays will also benefit from the growth, with over 160 aircraft expected on the static display, including a Boeing P-8 military jet, a Qatar Executive G650ER, and an Emirates Airline Airbus A380, plus aircraft from Bell Helicopter and Airbus. In a first for any international air show UAVs will be taking part in the flying display.
The addition of new sectors, such as the 3D Print pavilion, the inclusion of the newly-formed UAE Space Agency and new conferences have added to the value the anticipated 65,000 trade visitors will gain from attending. In addition, the return of the Gulf Aviation Training Event (GATE) pavilion and conference and the ever popular Futures' Day event continue to broaden the show's appeal to all sectors of the aerospace industry.
International exhibitors growing their presence represent all corners of the globe, from the USA to more locally based companies such as AAL from the UAE. New exhibitors are also coming from all around the world, including for the first time from Taiwan, Morocco and Latvia. At least 60 countries are expected to be represented in the exhibitor list, demonstrating the show's global appeal and the importance of the Middle East region to the aerospace industry as a whole.
Now in its 28th year, the biennial event has grown over five-fold since it began. If this year's figures are any indication, that trend is set to continue well into the future. "We have a ten-year growth plan with our partners and are currently in discussions regarding a planned extension of the DWC Dubai Airshow site for the Dubai Airshow 2017," van Akelijen explained. "This increased space will give the Dubai Airshow room to continue growing into the future."
Dubai Airshow organisers have announced an exciting new addition for the show - the newly formed UAE Space Agency, which was created in 2014 with the aim to regulate and support the UAE Space sector and contribute to the diversification of the national economy through providing a national advanced space industry. 
The global space industry is worth $300 billion, and growing at 8 per cent annually. The UAE's investments in space technologies have already exceeded Dh20 billion including UAE based companies who are now among major international players. The companies include Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) and Thuraya Telecommunications Company, all of whom will be exhibiting at the Dubai Airshow.
- abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai