Held Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council, Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2018 hosted a press conference today announcing the prestigious line up of sponsors for its fifth edition, set to take off from 26^th to 28^th February 2018, at Al Bateen Executive Airport, the first dedicated business aviation airport in the region.

Abu Dhabi Aviation will return as Diamond sponsor of the biggest aviation event in the Capital, alongside Al Futtaim Automotive who also has chosen the Diamond ranking. Etihad Airways is the official Carrier for Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2018, and the Department of Department of Transport (DOT) is the Official Sponsor for the event this year. Etisalat will be the expo’s official Telecom Service Provider, whilst ADCB will be the Official Bank. Atlas Security and TAV-CCC-Arabtec joint Venture will be joining the show as Pearl Sponsors, and Profire Security Consultants as the Support Sponsor. With such strong support from key entities, the show is poised to be a major coup for Abu Dhabi as the emirate continues to transition into a diversified aviation hub in line with the Abu Dhabi economic vision 2030.

Building on the popularity and huge demand from key industry professionals, the Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2018 will set the stage with a new layout. The show will be divided into three main areas; indoor exhibition hall, chalets, and outdoor static display which will occupy nearly 60,000 square meters of space at Al Bateen Executive Airport. Leading private aircraft manufacturers like Dassault Aviation, Gulfstream, Embraer, and Boeing Business Jets will be back in the 2018 show, alongside key local and regional industry partners and stakeholders such as Abu Dhabi Aviation, Falcon Aviation Services and Royal Jet.

Nasser Juma, General Manager of General Aviation Airports at Abu Dhabi Airports and the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Air Expo organizing committee, said: “We are very excited to organize and host Abu Dhabi Air Expo in its fifth cycle, as the continuity of this event confirms the position the emirate of Abu Dhabi and Al Bateen Executive Airport have acquired as the key regional capital for general aviation. Air Expo is a dedicated platform where industry leaders, tradesmen, clients, hobbyists and the public can engage and gain insight, business leads and develop opportunities that will benefit both the end user and the entire industry.”

In addition, the Abu Dhabi Air Expo will serve as the venue of choice for Gulfstream who will display its highly-anticipated G500 aircraft for the first time in the Middle East and Africa region. Gulfstream’s decision to debut its flagship model at the Abu Dhabi Air Expo is tied to the increasing importance of Abu Dhabi’s aviation market.

Juma added, “Abu Dhabi Airports is honored that Gulfstream has chosen Abu Dhabi Air Expo as the platform from which to debut its latest aircraft, as it indicates that this symposium is a key opportunity for world-leading aviation companies to demonstrate their expertise and latest innovations.  Abu Dhabi Airports is glad to provide an efficient platform for aviation leaders to engage in dialogue with potential partners, which enables growth of businesses and an exchange of experience and knowledge”.

The three-day Air Expo event is set to welcome over 18,000 visitors from the aviation and aerospace industries. An exhibitor line-up of more than 300 manufacturers and suppliers will showcase the latest innovations and development in private jet aircraft, helicopters, executive charter services, airport equipment and services, avionics systems, insurance and financing. 

Yousuf Al Raeesi, Director of Government Affairs at Al-Futtaim Automotive, said “Our sponsorship of the Abu Dhabi Air Expo is an indication of how important the capital is to our business. We started our expansion in the heart of Abu Dhabi over two years ago with the opening of multiple facilities including, Toyota The Wave, the largest and most advanced flagship Toyota 3S (sales, service, spare parts) facility in the UAE as well as the Toyota and Lexus Madinat Zayed facility in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region. These are both important geographical areas for us in terms of business growth, and are a key part of our contribution to the development of the capital’s economy. Our presence at this year’s expo will comprise an expansive range of Al-Futtaim’s automotive brands including Toyota, Lexus, Dodge, Ram, Chrysler and Honda.”

A lineup of over 110 aircrafts, from ultra-light to heavy business jets and other aerial delights that defy the boundaries of modern technology, will take to the stage in a glorious display, comprising a haven for aircraft enthusiasts and businesses searching for the best airplanes and aviation-related services. It is anticipated that the event will welcome visitors representing the full spectrum of the business aviation sector.

Abu Dhabi Air Expo will also host Abu Dhabi Heli Expo for the second time, showcasing all that the helicopter industry has to offer. Attendees will be able to meet representatives from leading manufacturers, distributors and support companies, and get up close to a range of helicopters.