Dubai 2005 will be double the size it is today – that was the promise from HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and the UAE Defence Minister, speaking after he formally opened Dubai 2003.
The additional space will help organiser Fairs & Exhibitions cope with demand that has seen the show grow by more than 12% in two years and is expected to continue unabated.
"There is a lot of demand," Sheikh Mohammed conceded. "We have to be ready for the future."
Sheikh Mohammed has been credited with the vision that has pushed Dubai into the forefront of regional awareness and prosperity. Yesterday he gauged reaction to the show by speaking to international exhibitors during his tour of the site after cutting the ceremonial ribbon to open the show.
Phenomenal
Accompanied by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, president of the Department of Civil Aviation and chairman of the Emirates Group, Sheikh Mohammed spent more than two hours inspecting aircraft on static display and meeting exhibitors in the halls.
Virginia Kern, chairman of Fairs & Exhibitions, said: "Every two years the airshow gets bigger and better and so the walk gets longer and longer, but I think he was impressed by what he saw."
One of Sheikh Mohammed's early stops was to walk up the ramp of the Boeing C-17 and then visit the flight deck. "We were delighted to greet him aboard our aircraft and show him around – it really made our trip worthwhile," said US Air Force Lt Gen John Baiker.
Sheikh Mohammed took a special look at the newest addition to the Emirates fleet, the Airbus A340-500 which has started flying to Sydney and will be flying to New York next year.
Inside the halls, Sheikh Mohammed tried out the S-92 mock-up on the Sikorsky stand, part of the successful new Helicopter Pavilion. He also took great interest in the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Virginia Kern said she welcomed the news of the investment for the expanded show ground.
"We are seeing phenomenal growth," she said.
Source: Flight Daily News
