The GCC continues to allocate large investments for developing new and existing airports with major expansions in the region’s 1,200 international, domestic and defense airports
as well as new projects expected to cost around US$90 billion over the next few years, according to REED Exhibitions Middle East, Organizer of the 11th Airport Show 2011 (31 May – 02 June 2011, Dubai Airport Expo).
Statistics from Airport Council International (ACI) and the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) predict airports in the Middle East to handle over 400 million passengers by 2020.
Mohamad Bader-Eddin, Director of Airport Show, said: “The GCC countries and the wider region continue to register sustained growth in flight operations, as well as freight and passenger traffic. This growth has stimulated a continued flow of investments for the development and expansion of airport projects. This is estimated to be around US$90 billion for airports alone, without taking into consideration developments that complement airport infrastructure such as free zones.”
In the UAE, allocated investments for the development of Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai is estimated at around US$8 billion, while Concourse 3 at Dubai International Airport is expected to cost nearly US$1.17 billion. Total investment for Abu Dhabi International Airport midfield is forecast to touch US$6.8 billion. Other developments in the region include King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) Development Phase 1 in Jeddah with an investments equivalent to US$1.5billion, New Doha International Airport around US$11 billion, Expansion of Muscat International Airport US 1.2 billion, Bahrain airport US$335 million, and Kuwait International Airport US$2.1 billion.
Airport Show 2011 will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group. The event will attract an array of suppliers of equipment and services covering all areas of airport development and operations.
The Airport Show is supported by leading aviation authorities and trade bodies including Dubai Airports, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, UAE Contractors Association, British Aviation Group, British Airport Services & Equipment Association (BASEA), Danish Airport Group, UBIFRANCE (the French Agency for International Business Development), and the Netherlands Airport Technology Group.
