The inaugural edition of the Abu Dhabi Aviation & Aerospace Week is set to run from March 6th-12th, 2016, under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi.

The event will run concurrently in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain converging six trade, defence, entertainment, and sports components under its umbrella.

Set to become a biennial fixture in Abu Dhabi’s calendar of events, ADAAW is anticipated to attract a constellation of decision makers and international experts from the aviation and aerospace industry, along with a significant number of trade visitors and the general public.

The must-attend event for the global aviation and aerospace sector, which is sponsored by Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airline, will include the second Unmanned System Exhibition, first Simulation Conference & Exhibition, third Global Aerospace Summit, and fourth edition of the Abu Dhabi Air Expo, as well as the first edition of the Middle East Aviation Career Exhibition & Conference and the eighth Red Bull Air Race.

A number of leading Abu Dhabi-based entities including Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, Mubadala Development Company, Abu Dhabi Airports, and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council will join hands in organising ADAAW.

The event will seek to boost the status of Abu Dhabi as a leading global hub of aviation and aerospace, business tourism and specialised fairs and events in the field of aerospace and aviation.

Abu Dhabi has successfully established a unique economic model through developing a number of promising sectors identified by Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, among which aviation and aerospace feature as a key pillar.

Brigadier general, Rashid Mohammed Al-Shamsi, spokesperson for the UAE Armed Forces, said: “Our support to Abu Dhabi Aviation and Aerospace Week articulates the Armed Forces’ priority in creating a dedicated platform to converge international manufacturers and specialised companies participating in global aviation and aerospace exhibitions and conferences.

“Bringing specialised events such as UMEX Abu Dhabi and Simulation Conference and Exhibition under ADAAW’s umbrella will provide the UAE Armed Forces with an excellent opportunity to explore and acquire the latest technologies in unmanned systems and simulation techniques.

“We look forward to utilising the full potential of unmanned systems and their future applications in optimising civil, defence and security aspects by attending the live demonstrations to be hosted by Al Ain. Additionally, the platform will offer an excellent opportunity to expand our collaboration and strategic partnership with related industry partners.”

From March 6th-8th, ADNEC will host the second edition of Abu Dhabi Unmanned System Exhibition, which was held previously alongside the International Defence Exhibition & Conference.

Organised by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company in collaboration with the UAE Armed Forces, the inaugural edition of UMEX Abu Dhabi drew the participation of 33 international companies from 13 countries across seven national pavilions.

A gateway for manufacturers and suppliers to build relationships with influential decision makers within the industry, UMEX showcases unmanned systems and technologies used in air, land and marine operations.

The event gives visitors a chance to view equipment showcased on static display stands and examine unmanned systems capabilities at live demonstrations hosted by Al Ain Airport.

The 2016 edition of UMEX is expected to draw the participation of more than 5,000 experts and specialists from all over the world.

As part of its agenda, ADAAW will stage the first Simulation Conference & Exhibition in collaboration with the UAE Armed Forces.

The segment is set to showcase the latest technologies in simulation systems used both in defence and civilian applications.

The event will also include a dedicated corner for companies specialised in defence training and development.

On the second day of ADAAW, the third Global Aerospace Summit will lift off at ADNEC.

Organised by Streamline Marketing Group and hosted by Mubadala Development Company, the 2016 event, which adopts the theme of ‘innovation,’ will run from March 7th-8th.

The invitation-only event is an exclusive forum for C-level executives, senior decision-makers and government officials involved in the aerospace, aviation, defence and space industries.

Attendance is limited to 1,000 world industry leaders across the relevant sectors who discuss and develop initiatives and strategies that support future growth.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways president, said: “Etihad Airways is delighted to be named the official airline partner of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Aviation and Aerospace Week, an occasion which will reaffirm the UAE’s capital as a world leader in these two crucial industries.

“The week-long event will attract the many of the world’s leading aviation and aerospace figures to Abu Dhabi, as well as thousands of trade visitors and enthusiasts.

“Etihad Airways is immensely proud of its global reputation for innovation, hospitality, and service and we look forward to showcasing this as well as many more of the airline’s offerings to visitors to the Abu Dhabi Aviation and Aerospace Week in March next year.”