The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation announced that Abu Dhabi has been selected as the Host City for the 1st Middle East Aviation Outlook Summit, to be held at the prestigious Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers, Abu Dhabi on 27-28 February 2008.
The summit, to be held annually, has been convened to address the growing influence of the Middle East on global aviation and tourism, and will consist of a high-level speaker program and an accompanying exhibition. Abu Dhabi Airports Company and Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority are the Host Sponsors of the Summit, and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is the Official Carrier.
Peter Harbison, Executive Chairman of the Centre, stated “Abu Dhabi is the perfect venue for this landmark Summit in light of the astonishing dynamism and vision of the aviation and tourism sectors in the emirate. We have also been highly impressed by the cooperative approach and support of the key industry stakeholders, most notably Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and Etihad Airways, and are very excited about bringing the Outlook Summit format to the Middle East for the first time.”
"As we flagged in our recent Middle East Aviation Outlook Report, airlines and airports in the region have the potential to sustainably grow at levels which were previously unimaginable. It is a region that can no longer be ignored. The remarkable number of aircraft ordered at the Dubai Air Show last month only serves to confirm our suggestion that the Middle East will be at the forefront of the Next Generation Aviation evolution. This Summit will therefore be a vital networking and discussion forum for the industry to come together to understand the implications of these developments, which could rewrite the world aviation system,” continued Mr Harbison.
H.E. Khalifa Al Mazrouei, Chairman and Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) stated, “we are indeed honoured to be the first host city in the Middle East of this prestigious summit. This selection is welcome recognition of the extraordinary growth of the aviation sector in the UAE and the Middle East, of Abu Dhabi’s strong drive to build world-class aviation facilities and indeed of the Emirate’s full-fledged initiative to diversify its economic base into tourism, real estate and industry.”
An unprecedented assembly of up to 250 industry leaders are expected to gather in Abu Dhabi for this crucial event, with participants including government ministers and CEOs from the leading airlines, airports, investors, suppliers and tourism/property developers with an interest in the region.
The Summit will be organised by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation and the leading business media company, Terrapinn, who have combined resources to jointly stage some of the world’s most highly acclaimed aviation events, including most recently the Asia Pacific Aviation Outlook Summit which was held in Singapore earlier this month.
About Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation
The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) was founded in 1990 and has since built an international reputation as the leading specialist aviation consultancy in the Asia Pacific, the Indian Subcontinent and Middle East regions. CAPA Consulting’s strategic advisory services are supported by the extensive information and data services provided by the Centre’s Market Research Unit to aviation industry leaders every day. The Centre also holds regular Aviation Leadership Summits, which provide unique opportunities for the exchange of ideas and experiences.
