Dubai looks set to retain its aviation crown by staging one of the biggest international air shows next week as the organisers and experts are confident of replicating the remarkable success of 2013 edition at the biennial event scheduled to start on Sunday.
Preparations are under way and final touches are being given to the five-day event, which is expected to be another record show in global aviation industry in terms of international participation, static aircraft display or trade visitor attendance.
Now in its 28th year, the premier international aviation show has grown over five-fold since its inception in 1989. It is expected to host around 1,100 exhibitors, welcome more than 65,000 industry visitors and showcase 160 plus aircraft on static display this year.
The biennial business event, which registered record $206.1 billion commercial deals in 2013 edition, so far recorded 506 per cent growth in trade visitors, 482 per cent surge in numbers of static aircraft display and 423 per cent increase in exhibitors since the first edition in 1989.
The airshow is expected to surpass its 2013 record performances when it hosted 1,046 exhibitors from 60 countries and drew more than 60,000 trade visitors, but the experts are sceptical about exceeding commercial deals record this year.
"The Dubai Airshow 2015 will be our biggest event yet as we are expecting over 1,100 exhibitors and 65,000 trade visitors from 123 countries to the airshow during November 8-12. There will also be over 160 aircraft on the static display and the flying display will include aerobatic demonstrations from Al Fursan and Italy's Frecce Tricolori," said Michele van Akelijen, managing director of F&E Aerospace, the organiser of the show.
He said Dubai has played a key role in the development of the aerospace industry in the Middle East and the airshow has helped lead this change by creating a world class exhibition showcasing the latest and greatest in military, generally and commercial aviation.
"Since the Dubai Airshow started, its growth, prominence and relevance to the global aerospace and airline industries cannot be emphasised enough," Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research, told Khaleej Times.
He said Dubai now sports the two fastest growing airlines Emirates and flydubai. It is also home to the world's busiest international airport - Dubai International - and developing the world's biggest airport - Al Maktoum International - for further growth and passenger demand.
The aviation sector contributes 27 per cent to Dubai's gross domestic product (GDP) and supports more than 400,000 jobs annually. According to latest report from Oxford Economic, aviation contribution to the emirate's GDP is expected to reach $53 billion and $88.1 billion by 2020 and 2030, respectively.
"The tectonic shift to Dubai has meant that the airshow is a vital instrument to the wider UAE economy. And if we look at the growth in military activity here in the GCC, not least because of the quagmire in Syria, the Dubai Airshow has also diversified its business proposition beyond commercial aerospace," Ahmad said.
The organiser of the show F&E Aerospace has promised a larger exhibition area and new industry sector displays including the 3D Print pavilion. The biennial event will also welcome newly-formed UAE Space Agency and include new conferences to broaden its appeal to all sectors of the aerospace industry.
"We are looking forward to both new and returning exciting exhibitors, such as the UAE Space Agency and Aerion from the USA. In addition, we have added new sectors including the 3D print pavilion and new conferences - the Airport Safety and Security Conference and the Offsets Conference," Van Akelijen told Khaleej Times.
"We are looking forward to the return of several popular features, such as Gulf Aviation Training Event, Futures Day and the public grandstand Skyview," he added.
