Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum is due to open Sunday the Dubai 2001 Airshow, in which over 450 international companies representing the civil and military aviation industry are participating.
Sheikh Mohammad, who is also the UAE’s defense minister, earlier called the rapidly approaching 7th Dubai airshow a “source of pride to the nation.”
He called the event "a big moral, financial and cultural achievement for us. These huge quality and specialized exhibitions were previously monopolized by countries like the US, Britain and other superpowers for a long time."
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the chairman of Emirates Airline, has been quoted in reports as saying “this year’s show will offer a lot of surprises to the region's aviation industry.”
"I promise you, there will be big surprises during this year's airshow," he told the Air Force Magazine.
The five-day show will be distinguished from the previous shows by the huge contracts expected to be signed on the sidelines of the international event, he said.
The UK's Prince Andrew is expected to be among the VIPs attending the event to support the 45 participating British companies, according to the official Emirates news agency (WAM).
The visit will be the first for Prince Andrew to the UAE since he was chosen to lead the British International Trade Organization, a government authority that promotes British investments around the world, said WAM – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
