Airport Show 2017 from May 15-17, 2017, at DICEC

 

Dubai, September 21, 2016:  Buoyed by its remarkable success over the last 16 years, the Airport Show has announced further expansion in its next edition, which will take place from May 15-17, 2017, at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dubai. 

The show organisers confirmed that the huge interest of the global aviation industry in the Middle East and in the latest smart technologies showcased on this platform has led to an over 50 per cent increase in year-on-year space bookings for the 2017 edition. 

 

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 last year’s edition was the most successful so far with a participation of over 300 exhibitors from over 55 countries and occupied Zabeel Halls 4, 5 and 6 with a gross space of 15,000 square metres. 

 

“The success of the Airport Show reflects the strong interest and an unwavering global confidence in the Middle East, particularly in the UAE, which is making significant investments in the sector, actively embracing latest technological innovations, and opening doors of tremendous opportunities for global industry players,” Sheikh Ahmed said earlier during Airport Show 2016.

 

Airport Show, which is the world’s largest annual airport event, is organised by Reed Exhibitions Middle East and is supported by Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Dubai Airports, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) and dnata, amongst a host of regional and international aviation bodies and associations.

 

The 2017 edition will be collocated with the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo Middle East (WTCEME), the GCC’s largest dedicated exhibition for companies to tap into the opportunities presented by its booming aviation catering business.

 

The 17th edition of Airport Show will continue to serve as the best platform for companies to showcase their airport and aviation-related products and services.

 

With the spectacular rise in the number of air passengers worldwide, airports are actively investing in smart technology in a bid to ensure a comfortable passenger experience without compromising on security.  Airport Show 2017 will have world-leading companies showcasing the latest smart technologies. 

 

Major General Pilot Ahmed bin Thani, Deputy Commander-in-Chief for Ports Affairs, Dubai Police, said Airport Show 2016 provided immense opportunities to learn about international best practices and smart technologies in the field of security.

 

“The traditional methods of providing security are not effective in present rapidly changing aviation environment due to which we have a strong focus on adopting the latest technologies to ensure security at the airports. Participating in the Airport Show was highly beneficial for us as we were able to meet the top players in safety and security as well as well explore a number of smart solutions and technologies, which is well within our strategic plan to further enhance the standards of Dubai Airports security. We look forward to exploring further advancements and meeting leading players in security at the 2017 edition of the Airport Show.”

 

He added that smart solutions are an important component to keep up with record growth of passenger numbers, especially as Dubai International Airport expects over 85 million passengers by the end of this year and more than 100 million passengers by the end of the year 2020.

 

Airports in the Middle East, especially UAE, have been on the forefront when it comes to adopting the latest smart technologies.

According to the latest Middle East Aviation and Airports 2016 Report by MEED, there are more than $100bn-worth of airport-related projects planned and underway across the MENA region as governments look to update and expand their infrastructure in order to meet their targets for developing their tourism and logistics sectors. 

 

The UAE is among the largest markets for airport projects and according to The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), US$30 billion worth of airport investments underway or planned in the UAE alone.

 

Worldwide, airports are keen on automating passenger processing while maintaining the highest security levels. 

 

According to a report by Frost & Sullivan, it is estimated that the global annual spend on airport security would surge to US$12.67 billion in 2023, up from US$8.22 billion in 2014.

Daniyal Qureshi, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Exhibitions Middle East, organisers of Airport Show, said: “The 2017 edition will be a milestone for Airport Show, especially as we bring the world’s latest and leading technologies to cater to the requirements of smart airports.  The growth of the Middle East’s aviation sector, and a focus on investing in smart technologies has generated a strong interest from global players in showcasing the latest technologies and tapping into the opportunities the region presents. Airport Show 2017 promises to be the platform which will offer not only the latest technologies to meet the requirements of regional decision-makers to source their requirements at their doorsteps but also offer them numerous options as it will have an outstanding international participation.”