HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum lends MEAC patronage

An integral part of the Dubai Air Show - which this year celebrates its tenth event - MEAC 2007 will feature a powerful line-up with Major General Mohammed Al-Ghamzi, Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence Command, delivering the welcome address.

This year's conference - organised by the international trade magazine Defense News in association with the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis (INEGMA) - will concentrate on the 'Evolution of Air Power: Superior Defence Operations', focusing on a wide-range of cutting-edge systems which address the current needs of the Gulf, in line with the growing threat of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Other notable speakers will be General Mosely, Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, Chief Marshal Sir Glen Torpy, Chief of Air Staff of the UK's Royal Air Force, General Staff Pilot Stephen Arball, the French Air Force Commander, and Lt. Gen. Vincenzo Camporini, Commander of the Italian Air Force.

MEAC 2007 will be attended by regional and international air force commanders and VIP military delegations, who are being invited to Dubai 2007, which runs at Airport Expo Dubai from November 11th to 15th, by the Government of Dubai and the UAE's Ministry of Defence.

'The conference has become a world-class event which is closely monitored by defence officials and industry leaders. This patronage underscores the importance of this event in the continued development of the regional industry,' said Riad Kahwaji, General Manager, INEGMA.

This year's Dubai Air Show - which is organised by Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E) in conjunction with the Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Dubai and in co-operation with the UAE's Armed Forces - will be the biggest in the event's history with up to 900 exhibitors from over 40 countries taking part, including 70 new-to-market organisations and first-time representation from the Cayman Islands.

'Air defence continues to be a key element of the Dubai Air Show with the exhibitor line-up suggesting a 50/50 split between defence and civil profiles,'

said Alison Weller, Aerospace Director, F&E.

'This conference is a superb curtain raiser to the Dubai Air Show and often leads to agenda-setting discussion.'

'MEAC is also a great value-add to the Dubai Air Show programme in that its participants, whether speakers or attendees, go on to form powerful delegations to the show giving exhibitors access to a level of decision-maker that it would otherwise be extremely difficult to meet.'