THE GCC continues to allocate large investments for developing new and existing airports with expansions at the region’s 1,200 international, domestic and defence airports as well as new projects expected to cost around $90 billion over the next few years, according to Reed Exhibitions Middle East, organiser of the Airport Show 2011.
According to statistics from the Airport Council International (ACI) and the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), the sheer volume of current development activities in the Middle East indicates that growth rates will continue for the next decade. The two global bodies predict airports in the Middle East are expected to handle over 400 million passengers by 2020.
The optimistic outlook comes at a time when the momentum gathers pace for the 11th edition of the Airport Show Dubai, which will be held from May 31 to June 2 at Airport Expo.
Show director Mohamad Bader-Eddin said: “The GCC countries and the wider region continue to register sustained growth in flight operations, as well as freight and passenger traffic. This growth has stimulated a continued flow of investments for the development and expansion of airport projects. This is estimated to be around $90 billion for airports alone, without taking into consideration developments that complement airport infrastructure such as free zones.”
In the UAE, allocated investment for the development of Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai is estimated at around $8 billion, while Concourse 3 at Dubai International Airport is expected to cost nearly $1.17 billion. Total investment for Abu Dhabi International Airport midfield is forecast to touch $6.8 billion. Other developments in the region include King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) development phase 1 in Jeddah with an investment equivalent to $1.5 billion, New Doha International Airport with around $11 billion, expansion of Muscat International Airport, $1.2 billion, Bahrain International Airport, $335 million, and Kuwait International Airport $2.1 billion.
Bader-Eddin added: “The Airport Show 2011 will offer a combination of high-quality networking and business development opportunities through a series of roundtable discussions, innovation and project seminars, in addition to the hosted buyer programme which, in fact, represents the leading airports from the region.”