Middle East business information

During the event, DACC will showcase to an audience of international industry stakeholders current and future developments at Dubai World Central (DWC), a multi-phase development with the world's biggest airport, DWC-Al Maktoum International, at its core.

In his recent address to international investors at a conference in Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, highlighted the importance of Dubai World Central's flagship project, the Al Maktoum International, to the city's long-term sustainable growth strategy.

"When completed, Al Maktoum International Airport will be the largest in the world, with a capacity of 160 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of goods and freight to be handled through it because it will be equipped to receive passengers and giant freight carriers,"

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed told the group of international investors

Phase 1 one of the DWC project will be fully completed and launched in June 2010, according to Khalifa AlZaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation. This will include Phase 1 completion of Al Maktoum International, with a capacity to serve 5 million passengers per year, AlZaffin said, as well as over 600,000 tonnes of annual cargo handling capacity.

"Based on a multi-modal logistical hub, Dubai World Central is an integral component of the emirate's long-term vision of sustainable growth in the transport and logistics sector. Located halfway between the time zones of London and Hong Kong, people and goods can now travel non-stop from Dubai to the entire world, including reaching a market of 4 billion people within an eight-hour flight," he added.

"Further, Dubai Aviation City's unique investment and business opportunities brings significant benefits to the entire value-chain of the global aviation industry, including aircraft manufacturers, executive aviation firms, maintenance, repair and overhaul centres and others. Housed within the Dubai World Central, the most ambitious projects in the history of the city, DACC aims to set new benchmarks for excellence in the region and across the globe. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to highlight significant developments at DWC to local and international stakeholders at the Dubai Airshow 2009," added AlZaffin.

The Dubai Airshow is expected to attract up to 900 exhibitors from nearly 50 countries, plus some 50,000 visitors, an overall 10% increase over the previous event in 2007. The event is organised by F&E Aerospace in conjunction with Dubai Airports and the Government of Dubai, in collaboration with the UAE Armed Forces.