Heads of leading aerospace teaching and research facilities, as well as CEOs from the world’s leading airlines and aircraft manufacturers, will hold strategic level discussions at an upcoming summit in Abu Dhabi.
Hosted by Mubadala Aerospace, in partnership with Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), the Global Aerospace Summit will take place from 16-19 April 2012.
The summit is an exclusive, invitation only, international forum bringing together international and regional senior executives from across the aerospace, aviation and space sectors for the event that will promote cross industry thought leadership and discuss future growth strategies.
The format combines two days of high level debate-led discussions on aerospace, aviation and space, followed by two days of field trips to aerospace and aviation facilities.
There will also be closed door discussions, a private procurement meeting program, and a careers development program targeting vocational and professional development.
“We believe that this inaugural event will continue over time to become a cornerstone meeting for industry leaders within the global calendar,” said Homaid Al Shemmari, Executive Director of Mubadala Aerospace.
“The decision to create and hold a Global Aerospace Summit in Abu Dhabi demonstrates the growing importance of the Gulf Region to the industry as a whole, but also reflects the need for a dedicated, high level forum focused on the future of the overall aerospace industry.”
“There is already significant interest in the Summit from industry leaders such as Airbus, Boeing, Emirates, Etihad, and The Engine Alliance, which underpins the decision to hold such an important summit in the UAE,” he added.
Arab countries are expected to spend over $100 billion on infrastructure development and $200 billion on the purchase of new aircraft over the next 15 years.
Chief among these are developments in the UAE, which focus on using the region’s central location as a transfer point for passengers traveling between Europe, Asia and Africa.
Along with China and India, the Middle East is one of the top three fastest growing aviation markets.
Scheduled travel is expected to rise 4.6% per year to 2025; global air cargo capacity is expected to triple over the next twenty years compared to 2009 levels, growing at 5.9% annually, and the private plane business maintaining healthy sales in the region.
Jassem Al Zaabi, CEO, Yahsat, said: “The future of the space industry is exciting, both in terms of the rapidly evolving landscape for satellite communications businesses and the role that satellites can play in national economic development. We are in a new era for the commercial space industry and we anticipate high levels of interest in this area of discussion at Global Aerospace Summit 2012.”
For more information, check Al-Defaiya Issue # 5/2011
