Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, and Abu Dhabi Airports have both signed up to officially support next year’s Global Aerospace Summit.

The event is expected to bring an international delegation of 1,000 aviation, aerospace, defence and space experts to the country’s capital to explore innovation within their sectors.

The Summit, which will run at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on March 7th-8th, has ’Innovation’ as its overall theme and next year’s edition of the biannual gathering will also feature, for the first time, dedicated sessions on the expanding aviation sectors of Saudi Arabia and Africa.

Abu Dhabi Airports has signed up to be a summit partner.

Chairman Ali Majed Al Mansoori said: “Abu Dhabi Airports is proud to be a partner for the Global Aerospace Summit 2016 and is committed to strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a global aviation leader.

“We are privileged to be a part of this one of a kind think-tank platform and look forward to demonstrating the excellent progress we have made in developing the aviation sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.”

Etihad Airways, meanwhile, is on board as the Summit’s official airline.
President James Hogan said: “Etihad Airways is proud of the role it has played in Abu Dhabi’s growing aviation and aerospace sector.

“Innovation is a significant part of our business and we are very pleased that it is the central theme of the Summit. We are happy to lend our support to the Summit.”

The 1,000 executives who will attend the Summit by invitation only will share their experiences of supporting industrialisation, improving supply chain standards, forging cross-border partnerships and creating value-added jobs for highly skilled individuals.

They will also hear a keynote address by one of the Forbes’ world’s most powerful women - Marillyn Hewson, chairman of global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin.