His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Dubai and Chairman of the Emirates Group, will later this month officially open the first Middle East aviation industry pavilion at the Farnborough International air show in the UK.
The 50 square metre, island-style pavilion, an initiative of Dubai air show organisers Fairs & Exhibitions (F), is the first dedicated Middle East industry pavilion to be seen at any international air show. It will house seven participants in a bid to promote the region’s aerospace aviation industry to the global market.

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“This is a very worthwhile initiative,” said HH Sheikh Ahmed. “It will help ensure that the Middle East, more traditionally viewed solely as a buyer of aerospace and aviation technology and services, does in fact have a growing indigenous industry which can supply worldwide to international standards.”

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HH Sheikh Ahmed will inaugurate the Middle East aviation pavilion, in Farnborough’s Hall 3 on Monday, July 19th.

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Pavilion participants include: the Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Dubai; Saudi Arabia’s Dhahran-based Arabian Fuels Technology; Abu Dhabi’s GAMCO Small Engine Overhaul Division, the UK’s Air Charter International, which opened an office in Dubai two years ago, Middle East Aviation Journal; Arab Defence Journal and F.

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In the run-up to Farnborough, F is lobbying heavily to organise delegations to visit the pavilion.

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“The initiative has already grabbed the attention of the international trade media and we are hoping international industry response will be just as great so that the pavilion concept can be rolled out to other major events in the future,” said Alison Weller, Project Manager, Aerospace Group, F.

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Next year’s Le Bourget Paris air show is now being targeted for the second showing of an expanded Middle East pavilion.

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“I sincerely hope that the Farnborough initiative will be quickly followed by similar exercises at other major international events and the Department of Civil Aviation is keen to support a regional pavilion at Le Bourget,” said HH Sheikh Ahmed.

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F has disclosed that it is already in discussions with Jordanian companies interested in the Paris pavilion.

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“In addition, we hope that Middle East players visiting Farnborough will see for themselves how the pavilion can put the region firmly on the international aviation industry map and so enable us to recruit more participants,” added Weller.

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The regional pavilion initiative followed research which showed that Middle East companies were conspicuous by their absence at all international shows apart from the Dubai air show and IDEX in Abu Dhabi.

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“We have provided a cost-effective option for the Middle East aviation industry to have an international presence. The pavilion also makes it easier for individual regional companies to take part in major industry events.”

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The Middle East pavilion is a not-for-profit venture with revenue received by F covering the cost of hiring exhibition space as well as the construction and maintenance of the structure.

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During the six days of Farnborough, F will be using its pavilion participation to promote Dubai 2005 - the ninth international aerospace exhibition - which will be held at the Airport Expo Dubai from November 20-24.

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