Gulf Construction Online - $118bn airport projects to go on show

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$118bn airport projects to go on show

01 November 2011

THE Middle East’s ambitious Dh437 billion ($118 billion) airport expansion projects will be showcased at the Airport Show next year in Dubai, UAE, it was revealed at a Munich airport fair held recently.

Reed Exhibitions Middle East, one of the leading organisers of trade and consumer exhibitions, announced this at the 18th edition of Inter Airport Europe Fair held last month in Munich, Germany.

The 12th edition of the Airport Show to be organised at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) from May 22 to 24, got a head start at the Munich show with the conclusion of a number of deals with international exhibitors.

Mohamad Bader-Eddin, show director at Reed Exhibitions, said: “Our participation in Munich turned out to be very successful as the company signed a number of deals with international exhibitors and European companies who were excited about offering their latest technology and services for the expansion programmes of regional airports.”

The UAE’s airports are investing billions of dollars in expansion and improvement programmes. Dubai Airports announced recently its 2020 plan, which includes investments worth over Dh28.4 billion ($7.73 million) to implement the fourth phase of Dubai Airport expansion and increase the airport’s capacity to over 90 million passengers annually.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) announced investments to the tune of Dh24.8 billion ($6.75 billion) to improve Abu Dhabi airport and boost capacity to 40 million passengers a year. The completion of the project is expected to be in 2015-2016.

Similarly, Sharjah intends to spend Dh500 million ($136.2 million) and Fujairah Dh160 million ($43.5 million) in airport facilities and expansions.

On the regional front, Saudi Arabia has recently signed a deal to invest approximately Dh27 billion ($7.35 billion) on a new airport project.

In Oman, the Muscat and Salalah airports are being developed at a total cost of Dh1.2 billion ($326 million) to handle 48 million and 10 million passengers annually, respectively (see Regional News).

Faced with passenger and cargo growth, Kuwait has put in a total of Dh172 million ($46.8 million) in an airport expansion programme, while Qatar is aiming to boost to its aerospace sector at a cost of Dh4 billion ($1.08 billion).

Held under the patronage of 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 Airport Show is supported by leading international industry associations and local government authorities.

The Munich exhibition is a major trade exhibition for the global airport industry. This year, it attracted a total of 606 exhibitors from 34 countries.