T
he 16th annual Airport Show took place in Dubai between 9 and 11 May at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) and it wasanother success
Over 7,000 people from 94 countries attended this year’s Airport Show in Dubai, while 300 exhibitors from 30 countries displayed their wares. The event also featured seven national pavilions – from China, France, Germany, Italy, North America, Switzerland and the UK – while more than 200 government buyers from 50 countries, including 30 CEOs and director generals from regional aviation authorities, visited the show.
According to Daniyal Qureshi, group exhibition director for show organiser Reed Exhibitions Middle East: “The event was very well attended and exhibitor satisfaction was recorded at an all-time high.
“The primary reason for this is the strong conviction that the Middle East still leads globally in terms of airport development spending, and that governments remain committed to ongoing expansion projects. Feedback from the other stakeholders (airports, civil aviation authorities, transport departments, media partners, conference speakers and delegates) was also very good in terms of higher quality of visitors this year compared to past editions,” he explains.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), chairman of Dubai Airports and chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, inaugurated the event and was joined by the biggest names in the regional aviation industry, Qureshi continues.
Al Maktoum spoke of the growth of the show and larger participation of regional buyers, signifying the importance of the region for international suppliers and how buyers from across the Middle East see the show as a one-stop-shop for their airport developments.
The co-located Women In Aviation exhibit and one-day conference drew hundreds of professionals to observe the role of women in aviation internationally and show their support for women choosing this traditionally male occupation in the region.
A Security Breakfast was held on the morning of the second day and was attended by 20 buyers and key global suppliers. Discussions were candid and attendees gave very positive feedback on wishing to attend similar sessions in the future.
Smart technologies continue to be a strong theme for airport buyers in the region – across all aspects of the airport operations, including security, automation, passenger experience, airside and even air traffic control. As passenger levels surge and airport construction seeks to catch up, the short-term solution lies in smart technologies helping speed processes – such as immigration e-gates, mobile check-ins, automated bag drops and so on, Qureshi observes.
Looking ahead
“The Airport Show continues to grow year on year as leading industry players from across the world seek to tap into the tremendous opportunities offered by the Middle East’s thriving aviation sector,” Al Maktoum says. “The growing interest in this show is a clear indication of its value to exhibitors and visitors alike.”
Moreover, Qureshi notes:
“All the indicators are positive for an even larger show next year. There were serious buyers at the show, some of them from new markets in the CIS region, Africa and Far East, and re-bookings were higher than the previous year. The region is spending upwards of US$100 billion in airport development and buyers are keen to explore global technologies to put the best products into their facilities.”
Particularly positive feedback was given in regards to themes of the show including aviation security, passenger experience technologies and air traffic management and Qureshi intends build on these successes to have a larger, dedicated presence devoted to them at the 2017 event. These segments will also have their own set of buyers and pre-scheduled meeting areas.
“The current venue gives us room for growth and we have blocked additional space for 2017,” he adds.
Quick stats
Over 300 exhibitors from over 30 countries attended the 16th Airport Show, displaying some of the most advanced products and technologies in ground handling, air traffic management, security and smart technologies that will help ensure efficient airport operations and a seamless passenger experience. There were also more than 70 new exhibiting companies at the show, reflecting the continued confidence of the industry in the region’s immense aviation growth.
The gathering of 7,000+ aviation professionals included more than 150 key buyers attending the event’s dedicated Business Connect Programme.
The Airport Show 2016 was supported by key regional and international aviation organisations, including the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, Dubai Airports and dnata.
An Innovation Podium featuring over 30 presentations from expert speakers highlighted regional airport expansion and the latest technologies and products available for airport operators.
Women in Aviation – a dedicated programme to support aviation education, training and careers for women across the Middle East – was well received.
