Airport show to focus on technology

Dubai - Dubai 300 firms from 55 countries to display diverse portfolio of innovative solutions

The biggest ever Airport Show is set to take off on Monday with more than 300 companies from 55 countries showcasing a diverse portfolio of technologies and innovative solutions.
The 16th edition of the show will further put energy into rapidly growing Middle East aviation industry and massive regional aviation infrastructure investments.
Reed Exhibitions, the organisers for the show, expect more than 7,000 aviation industry professionals to attend the show, which will be spread over 15,000 square metres of gross exhibition space in Zabeel Halls 4, 5 and 6, this year.
The world's top-league airport industry B2B event has the 4th edition of the Global Airport Leaders' Forum (GALF) and 3rd edition of World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo Middle East (WTCEME) as co-located events.
The show is supported by Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Dubai Airports, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP), Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans), dnata and Women in Aviation Middle East Chapter, amongst a host of leading regional and international associations backing the event.
Strong backing has come from companies and trade bodies like German Airport Technology and Equipment (GATE), Danish Airport Group, British Aviation Group, British Airport Services and Equipment Association, Swiss Airport Suppliers, Swiss Aerospace Cluster, SACE, Netherlands Aerospace Group, UBIFRANCE, UAE Contractors' Association and Supply Chain and Logistics Group (SCLG) of Middle East. Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, and chairman and chief executive of Emirates, said: "We are pleased to welcome the highest ever number of exhibitors from all around the world to the Airport Show this year. The Airport Show continues to grow year after year as leading industry players from across the world seek to tap into the tremendous opportunities offered by the Middle East's thriving aviation sector. The growing interest in this show is a clear indication of its value to exhibitors and visitors alike. I am confident the event will be a resounding success."
Daniyal Qureshi, group exhibition director, Reed Exhibitions Middle East, organisers of Airport Show, said: "The Airport Show 2016 will be the strongest on several fronts, it will showcase world's latest technologies in aviation, facilitate knowledge-sharing, in addition to being a unique meeting point for global experts. The tremendous response from international aviation industry players to participate in the Airport Show clearly reflects their keenness to tap into the growing opportunities in the Middle East and meets the requirements of regional decision-makers to source their requirements at their doorsteps." The show has recorded a 30 per cent growth in participants for the Business Connect programme with an all-time high participation of 154 buyers.
"Airport Show 2015 hosted 2,900 pre-arranged meetings between hosted buyers and exhibitors and this year we are confident of breaking the record with over 3,500 pre-scheduled on site meetings," added Qureshi. This year's show will see buyers from Algeria, Armenia, Bahrain, Botswana, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Zimbabwe and the host country, UAE.
The show will have a strong international representation with six dedicated country pavilions, with around 100 exhibitors, for global participants to showcase and launch their products, services and solutions.
Among the key attractions will be the free to attend Innovation Podium wherein more than 35 seminars will be conducted by industry experts on a variety of latest technologies and innovations as well as exclusive insights into some of the region's airport developments.
As a co-located event, the 4th edition of Global Airport Leaders' Forum (GALF), which will be held on May 10 and 11, will have more than 40 renowned international aviation leaders and experts sharing their professional insights, experiences and future perspectives on the aviation industry and its challenges.
In its 3rd edition, the World Travel Catering and Onboard Services Expo Middle East (WTCEME), will have exhibitors from the UAE, Spain, UK, India, China, Srilanka, Bahrain, Canada, Italy, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, France, Malaysia, Turkey, Egypt and The Netherlands, who will showcase a wide range of travel catering services and solutions, including food, snacks, beverages, food packaging, processing, preparation and preservation equipment, tableware and chinaware, accessories, toiletries and travel amenities. -  abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com