DUBAI is investing a total of Dh300 billion ($81.6 billion) in numerous aviation projects, according to Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation and chairman and CEO of Emirates Group.
The planned investments will change the face of civil aviation across the globe, he told the recent Routes forum in Dubai.
“To date our investment in Dubai International Airport is Dh19 billion. The second phase, which will be completed by end-2007, is worth Dh15 billion, and this will increase the capacity of the airport from 22 million passengers now to 70 million annually,” he said. An estimated Dh120 billion will be invested in Dubai World Central, he added.
The latest in Dubai’s long list of projects is the Dh55 billion Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, which will mainly involve aircraft spare parts manufacturers, aircraft leasing, airport management, aircraft maintenance, and an aerospace university.