Released on Dated : May 19, 2021

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, said that the aviation sector makes Dubai a vital global hub, noting that the sector is a key driver of economic growth in the UAE and the world at large. His Highness explained that Dubai Airports is preparing for a boom phase after the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We are currently dedicating our expertise, infrastructure and technologies to facilitate this in conjunction with the Airport Show as we put the worst year in the history of the aviation industry behind us as we gradually emerge from the impact of the pandemic.

Airport Show Dubai, the world's largest inter-airport business exhibition, has received strong support in its twentieth edition from Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP), the engineering organisation responsible for master planning, design, infrastructure development and construction for Dubai's thriving dynamic aviation sector.

The organisation is primarily responsible for the development of the world's busiest airport for international passengers, Dubai International Airport, as well as the emirate's new airport, Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central.

The 20th edition of the exhibition, which has been rescheduled from May 24 to 26 this year at the Dubai World Trade Centre, promises a bright future after 2020 was a bad year for the aviation sector, with the International Civil Aviation Organization revealing a 60% drop in air travel and airline losses reaching $ 370 billion, while airports and air navigation service providers lost $ 115 and $ 13 billion respectively during the year.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed said: "Airport Show will remain the best place to select and bring the most advanced technologies and the latest innovative products to improve airport operations and restore lost business. Airport Show will be a good opportunity for all players in the airport industry in the Middle East and Arabian Gulf.

Return of communication and integration

Eng. Khalifa Al Zaffin, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Aviation City Corporation, said: "Airport Show is a dynamic space that signals the return of connectivity and integration to the world and reaffirms the importance of alliances with partners in seeking to build modern concepts and ideas.

Al Zaffin, who is also CEO of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects and Dubai South, said: "DAEP continues to ensure continuous collaboration with all its local and international partners and is making solid progress in terms of Dubai's aviation sector readiness for full recovery. Our wise leadership has been able to maintain Dubai's strong economic position and offer an optimistic outlook for the future of aviation in the UAE.

Last year, Dubai's aviation industry adopted its Strategic Plan 2030 to take Dubai International to a new level, with a wide range of projects aimed at ensuring the highest possible flexibility of airport operations and, most importantly, providing technologies that can be applied at all sensitive points of contact within the airport.

Eng. Suzanne Al Anani, CEO of DAEP, said: "DAEP's participation in Airport Show will be one of the most important platforms for effective communication to foster innovation and partnership in a post-pandemic world, as the long-awaited exhibition will provide us with opportunities to accelerate the sector's lost dynamism and momentum.

Strong signal

Daniel Qureshi, Group Director of Exhibitions at Reed Middle East, the organiser of the show, said: "DAEP has participated in the Business Interplatform from its first edition, and its participation in this edition sends a strong signal to the global aviation industry that Dubai is working to ensure that the recovery in the global aviation sector is spurred and the adoption of the latest innovations to remain the leading hub for intercontinental air transport.