IT spending in the UAE aviation sector to touch AED 300 million by 2010

The announcement was made at the MEED Middle East Airports 2006 Conference being held 12-13, December, 2006.

According to Firas Al Jabi, General Manager of ITQAN, one of the UAE's largest integrated IT companies said: "The new projects being implemented in the UAE aviation sector, particularly those in Abu Dhabi and Dubai will contribute actively to the growth of supporting sectors such as IT".

Al Jabi said that spending on IT in the aviation sector will grow 20 percent annually to reach AED 300 million by 2010 thereby emphasizing the UAE's status as a leading investor in aviation.

"Since its establishment, ITQAN has been committed to improving the IT sector in the UAE. We have partnered with some of the leading IT companies in the world and have high expectations of the fast expanding aviation technology market",

said Al Jabi, adding that ITQAN has signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with INDRA International, Spain.

Alfonso Fernandez Rangel - ATM International Manager of INDRA International, Spain, commended the advanced IT infrastructure in the UAE and said that the future for the UAE IT industry was bright.

Commenting on the agreement between INDRA and ITQAN, Rangel said that INDRA had undertaken a rigorous evaluation process before partnering with ITQAN and envisaged a promising future with them.

"ITQAN is an expert in the IT field and we are confident that with the new IT applications that INDRA has developed, we will be able to make tremendous progress in the UAE market".

INDRA is an Information Technology company founded in 1921 and is focused on defense and air traffic management. It is the leading Spanish IT and Defence Systems company with revenues of 1,950 Million € (Euros) in 2006.

A sound technology base, focus on innovation, high quality standards, an outstanding management team and the technology expertise of more than 18,000 employees at INDRA has made the company a leader in the markets in which it operates. With partners in more than 70 countries across five continents, approximately a third of the company's annual revenues come from abroad.