Sheikh Ahmed opens region's leading airport suppliers exhibition

Sheikh Ahmed was accompanied by Joanne Evans and Laith Kubba, directors of Streamline Marketing, organisers of the event, as he cut the ribbon to officially inaugurate the three-day exhibition taking place at Airport Expo Dubai.

He then toured the exhibition hall where 100 exhibitors representing 23 countries are displaying a huge range of specialised equipment and services, including escalators, elevators, and moving walkways, security and lighting systems, telecommunications and automated baggage systems.

Also taking part are leading producers of fixtures and fittings, signage and graphics, first and business class lounges, aircraft hangers and fire stations.

Many of the products on display are being given their Middle East debut. Air navigation service provider Airways New Zealand, in association with two of today's premier industry leaders Lockheed Martin and Adacel Technologies, will offer a new and better way to make flying in radar and non-radar environments faster, safer and more efficient.

The new system uses communication, navigation and surveillance technologies to provide enhanced air traffic management through continuous information on aircraft positions and intentions, allowing for greater route flexibility, the company said.

Among the extensive line-up of exhibitors competing for lucrative Middle East contacts is also The Silver Shore Trading, Dubai-based suppliers of architectural hardware, who are launching a new range of access control products.

"With visitors including key players on regional airport projects, government departments, VIPs and UAE-based consultants and contractors, the exhibition presents superb opportunities for airport suppliers" said Joanne Evans, director of Streamline Marketing.

The Departments of Civil Aviation from Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, as well as leading airport consultants ADPI, Dar Al Handasah and Wiggins PLC have all taken dedicated stands to promote their expansion plans at the exhibition.

In addition, the DCA authorities in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and Bahrain, as well as Doha International Airport, Tanzania Airports Authority, Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Civil Aviation of India, have committed to sending delegations to the event.

Private meetings have been pre-arranged for each exhibitor with the relevant project manager, engineer or architect in the Dubai DCA, enabling suppliers to discuss Dubai International Airport's US $ 4.1 billion expansion, while representatives of the DCA authorities from neighbouring countries have also been encouraged to schedule meetings with exhibitors.

The event will spotlight the Government of Dubai's development plan to make Dubai International Airport one of the world's leading aviation hubs, at a time when other major airport developments are under way in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Libya, Kuwait, Tunisia, Algeria, Oman, Morocco, Ajman, Syria, Sharjah and Al Ain.