210 exhibitors from 32 countries at airport show

The Airport Show was opened yesterday at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center with 210 exhibitors from 32 countries, including China, Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland and the UK that have set up dedicated pavilions.
The event provides the global aviation industry players the opportunity to enhance their businesses by tapping into the unlimited growth potential of markets like the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), chairman of Dubai Airports, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, toured the show after its opening along with high profile officials from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Qatar and the UAE.
Organizers also have planned a series of seminars and a total of 25 presentations on new projects and initiatives along with latest innovations and technologies that will be conducted during the three-day annual B2B event.
Six presentations were conducted yesterday and there will be 12 other presentations today, including one on ‘Robots in baggage handling,’ a hot topic that will change the entire scenario of future airports.
“We have successfully put together a great show this year. We would like to thank both the government and private sectors for their invaluable support and cooperation in making it a successful event. The aviation industry in general and airports sector in particular is showing signs of strong growth in this region and how the aviation industry players from near and far are out to tap the business opportunities,” said Mohamad Bader-Eddin, show director at Reed Exhibitions Middle East, organizer of the Airport Show.
According to sources, with over 23 million domestic passengers in 2010, the Saudi domestic air travel market sets itself as the largest market in the Middle East, accounting for almost 30 percent of total domestic passenger traffic across the region.
With that in mind and projected growth, the General Authority of Civil Aviation, (GACA), announced expansion and construction plans of around 28 airports, estimated between $ 10 billion and $ 15 billion. These plans include building, developing and upgrading airports by 2020, in cooperation with the private investor companies.
Currently, there are 37 main civil airports in the GCC region. Of these, more than 30 are in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Saudi Arabia has four international and 22 domestic airports. Its international airports account for 85 percent of passenger traffic.
The region’s largest automotive aftermarket exhibition, Automechanika, also opened yesterday at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center.
“The UAE has become the regional distribution center for automotive parts and accessories not only to the Middle East but also to Africa and parts of Europe,” said Asad Badami, managing director of A-MAP, which specializes in the distribution of aftermarket automotive spare parts, automotive batteries, tires, and lubricants. More visitors than ever before are hailing from Saudi Arabia, largely due to the country’s development boom, he added.