The massive airports expansion programs underway in the GCC countries have been attracting international aviation companies to the region as the airport operators look for technology and services to handle future growth volumes. Germany is in the forefront of the competition to get a bigger slice of multi-billion dollar business opportunities offered by the phased expansions of the airports in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. Against this backdrop, the upcoming Airport Show on May 22-24 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre will have the participation of over 200 multinational companies, including more than 20 German airport technology companies showcasing their latest products and services to the regional industry decision-makers whose search for innovative technology to meet the future growth demands remains unending. Jamal Al Hai, Executive Senior Vice President for Communications and International Affairs at Dubai Airports, said the Airport Show is taking place at a time when AED500 billion is expected to be invested to increase capacity of the UAE airports to 250 million passengers by 2020, including $8 billion for the Dubai International development. Dieter A. Heinz, President of German Airport Technology and Equipment (GATE), the German umbrella association for quality airport suppliers, said Dubai was the city of future and the UAE aviation sectors amazing achievements and plans offers tremendous growth opportunities for the global aviation industry at a time when it was grappling with uncertainties and challenges.
