Dubai 2001, the seventh international aerospace exhibition, reported a highly successful five-day run at the Airport Expo Dubai with a disclosed on-site order intake of $15.48 billion, organisers said.
Another $25 million worth of sales were expected to have been transacted as a direct result of the show, exhibitors have said. Organisers also announced that Dubai 2003 would be held at the Airport Expo Dubai from December 7 to 11, 2003. They revealed high hopes for the largest Dubai air show in 2003. According to officials, the on-site contract intake at Dubai 2001 included aircraft acquisitions, engine orders, corporate jet charters and the supply of radio monitoring, receiving and recording systems and equipment. The show featured 450 exhibitors from 33 countries and 10 national pavilions. "Eighty per cent of those exhibiting this year have already reserved space for Dubai 2003," said Virginia Kern, chairman, Fairs and Exhibitions, which organises the Dubai air show. "Indeed the outlook is so positive that we are looking at the feasibility of having additional, indoor exhibit space built for the next show," Kern said. Initial assessments point to a turnout at this year's expo close to that of Dubai 2000, which attracted 30,000 industry professionals from 90 countries. First to sign up for Dubai 2003 was Russian aerospace giant Sukhoi, which has reserved 200 square metres, more than its Dubai 2001 participation. "We have had reservations from the German pavilion organisers and from Brazilian plane maker Embraer, which has reserved both a stand and chalet," said Fairs and Exhibitions chief executive Clive Richardson. "We are also processing exhibitor requests from several companies which visited the show this year. "In addition, market leading companies - Lockheed-Martine, Rolls Royce, Bombardier and Boeing - have requested that their chalet interiors be kept in-situ for the next two years, which is a cost-effective means of operating a chalet in 2003 and one we are happy to agree to," he said. Fairs and Exhibitions officials said Dubai 2003 would feature an Istar (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) pavilion and conference, as well as an information technology arena and conference. "The feasibility of a pavilion devoted to airport technology is also being reviewed," said Richardson. Canadian company, Star Navigation Systems entered into a deal during the event with Fujairah-based Veesem Raytech Aerospace to form a joint alliance within the next month. Under the agreement, Veesem Raytech will distribute Star's revolutionary new product, the In-flight Safety Monitoring System (ISMS), across the greater Middle East and Indian Sub-continent. "At the show this product won a lot of attention from the region and already we are in serious discussions with major Middle East carriers," said Star Navigation Systems chief executive Viraf Kapadia. "This new alliance will further enhance our ability to deliver a first-class product."