With the inaugural Abu Dhabi Aviation and Aerospace Week (ADAAW) only one month away, excitement is building ahead of what promises to be a milestone international event.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, ADAAW is set to gather six aviation-focused business, commercial, industrial and leisure activities together in the UAE capital from 6-12 March 2016.

Abu Dhabi Aviation and Aerospace Week seeks to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a leading global hub of aviation and aerospace, business tourism and specialised events. It is expected to attract thousands of visitors to Abu Dhabi representing C-level executives, exhibitors, buyers and other relevant business. 

The UAE’s aviation industry according to the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) contributes 15 per cent, or $46 billion, to the GDP of the country. Led by organisations such as Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi Airports and Mubadala Aerospace and Engineering Services and its subsidiaries, Abu Dhabi has established an economic model through the development of promising sectors highlighted by the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, among which aviation and aerospace feature as a key pillar.

The emirate’s new Midfield Terminal Complex, a multi-billion dirham project commissioned for 2017, will effectively double the capacity of Etihad Airways’ home base to approximately 45 million passengers annually. Aircraft movements at Abu Dhabi International Airport alone went up by 11.6 percent in 2015 to 172,819 against 154,821 in 2014. Combined with Etihad’s expansion with Alitalia and Jet Airways that saw passenger figures climb to 17.4m last year - 18.4 percent up from a year earlier - and the new 700,000 square metre Midfield Terminal - a key strategic infrastructure project which is expected to handle 30 million passengers per year - aims to position the emirate as the coveted aerospace industry hub in the Middle East.

ADAAW is considered to be one of the largest events of its kind that focuses on the wide spectrum of the aerospace and aviation industry. It aims to reinforce Abu Dhabi’s status not only as a leading global destination for exhibitions and events, but also as a key international aviation and aerospace hub.

“We are extremely excited about the potential the first ever Abu Dhabi Aviation and Aerospace Week represents,” said Faisal Al Sheikh, Events Bureau Director of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), one of the event organisers. “We are looking to reinforce Abu Dhabi’s credentials as a key player in the aviation industry, and showcase the emirate as an ideal location for key decision-makers to come and meet. We want to create an event that will resonate globally in the aviation world, as well as showcase our Emirate as a tourist destination with a multitude of attractions and boundless potential.”

The core events held within the week across Abu Dhabi, includes the second Unmanned System Exhibition (UMEX 2016), a gateway for manufacturers and suppliers to build relationships with influential decision makers within the industry. Held from March 6-8th UMEX 2016 and Simulation Exhibition and Conference will be organised by IDEX LLC, an Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) Group company, in association with the UAE Armed Forces GHQ at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). UMEX platforms unmanned systems and technologies used in air, land and marine operations through 80 exhibitors and six aviation companies participating in its Al Ain live Air demonstration. The exhibition will provide a professional platform for manufacturers to meet operators and establish lucrative business relationships while promoting the ecological, environmental, civil and humanitarian benefits of unmanned systems and military simulation and training.

ADAAW will hold the first Simulation Exhibition and Conference in collaboration with the UAE Armed Forces. Simulation systems and technologies used in defence and civilian applications will be showcased, as well a dedicated corner for companies specialised in defence training and development.

Hosted by Mubadala Development Company, ADAAW will feature the third Global Aerospace Summit - an exclusive, invitation-only event for 1,000 C-level executives, senior decision-makers and government officials involved with the aerospace, aviation, defence and space industries. Held from March 7-8th with over 50 represented counties, 100 speakers (22 per cent from the UAE), 84 panelists and 499 delegates, the Summit, organised by the UAE’s Streamline Marketing Group, will debate the future of the sector under an overarching theme of innovation. It will see world industry leaders across the relevant sectors analyse challenges and trends within manufacturing, workforce, partnerships, connectivity, biofuels and many other topics affecting the industries and develop initiatives and tactics that support future development.

The fourth edition of the Abu Dhabi Air Expo will run from March 8-10th, alongside the first edition of the Middle East Aviation Career Exhibition & Conference. With an expected 15,000 visitors, the Abu Dhabi Air Expo is dedicated to general and business aviation and will see 250 exhibitors and 100 aircraft on static display this year. Hosted by Abu Dhabi Airports and held at Al Bateen Executive Airport, it brings together major players in aviation, enabling a demanding clientele to discover the industry's latest developments and innovations. The first Middle East Aviation Careers Conference and Exhibition (MEAC) will bring leaders from the airline, aerospace, airports and related logistics industries, under one roof, to discuss workforce related issues and draw the participation of more than 1,000 students.

Abu Dhabi Corniche will once again see the Red Bull Air Race World Championship take off from UAE soil, as it hosts the season opener of the world’s fastest motorsports series. The Abu Dhabi stop will bring high-flying adrenaline-filled aerial action for the ninth time since its inception, to around 20,000 visitors, on the 11th and 12th of March.  

The Abu Dhabi Aviation and Aerospace Week (ADAAW) is organised by a number of leading Abu Dhabi-based entities including TCA Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), Mubadala Development Company, Abu Dhabi Airports, and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and is being sponsored by Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airline. The week stands to have a direct and indirect impact on the emirate’s economy and aims to attract more sector-related exhibitions and events to Abu Dhabi.

For more information please visit www.adaaw.ae

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