When Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, crown prince of Dubai and the UAE’s minister of defence, cuts the ceremonial ribbon to open the Dubai 2005 air show this morning, it will be with a certain amount of satisfaction.
At the show two years ago Sheikh Mohammed stunned organisers and exhibitors by declaring that the show needed more space and that a new hall would be built before 2005.
With the industry in the doldrums after 9/11 and SARS, and with ongoing concerns about the Iraq war and international terrorism, there were doubts that it would work, be built in time – or most importantly, be filled with exhibitors.
But Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Emirates and the head of Dubai civil aviation (DCA), was ready to put doubters in their place when he announced that the show was a record breaker. “It is the fastest growing air show in the fastest growing aviation region in the world,” he said.
The new centre hall was built on schedule and has enabled Fairs and Exhibitions to meet the massive demand to participate.
Speaking at a press conference before the show, Alison Weller, F&E’s newly appointed director of aerospace, said the show had grown by 25% over the 2003 event.
“From advance registrations we are looking at probably 30,000 trade visitors from 110 countries coming to the show,” she said. “This year we have 730 exhibitors from 46 countries and will have 150 official delegations from 88 countries – a remarkable number that is directly due to the support and involvement of the DCA, the UAE’s ministry of defence and the UAE armed forces.”
F&E chairman Virginia Kern said Dubai 2005 was proof that the show had stepped up a gear from being a regional event to a true global affair. “We have visitors from the US, Australia, Europe and Asia. People come for Middle East customers but get to do business with people from all over the world,” she said.
Some exhibitors and visitors had expressed concern over security in the region and its effect on the show. But Mohammed Ahli, the DCA’s director of operations, said fears were unfounded.
Dubai has a committee for safety and security chaired at high government level, he said, and the emirate had been working with intelligence agencies throughout the region, Europe and the USA. The country has a number of security measurers in place both around the airfield and elsewhere in the country. “I want to reassure visitors that they are as safe here – if not safer – than anywhere else in the world,” he said.
ALAN PEAFORD
Source: Flight Daily News