Dubai 2007, the 10th international aerospace exhibition being held this November, is nearing sell-out following an influx of companies signing up for the event at the recent Le Bourget Paris Airshow. Over 98% of space at this year’s Dubai Airshow, which runs at the Airport Expo Dubai from November 11-15, is now sold with organisers, Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E), reporting that all the on-site chalets are sold out with a waiting list now in place.

“Response has been tremendous and we have lots of enquiries still coming in,” said Alison Weller, Aerospace Director, F&E. “There is no doubt that the international aerospace community, both civil and defence, is now convinced of the potential of the wider Middle East and that the region is now accurately perceived as one of the world’s fastest growing aviation markets.”

According to industry experts, three out of every five wide body aircraft delivered over the next 10 years will go to the Middle East and Asia, with the regional aircraft fleet expected to increase by 99 percent by 2024.

These forecasts have prompted record numbers signing up to exhibit at this year’s Dubai Airshow, with still another four months to go before the start of the biennial aerospace exhibition.

Compared with preparations for Dubai 2005, the amount of stand space already booked is way ahead, with organisers expecting to sell out of space shortly.

According to F&E this was only to be expected given the strong growth in aerospace activities across the region, with a US$ 10 billion order book being placed at the Paris Airshow from Middle East operators.

“In Paris we signed up 20 new exhibitors for Dubai 2007, and in the past month alone we have bookings from over 60 new exhibitors,” said Weller.

Among new exhibitor signings are major international players such as: World Airline Services – an aviation consulting and management specialist and Avtron, which provides aviation-related automatic test equipment and automation systems, both from the US; Global Aerospace – London-headquartered aerospace insurance provider; and Techfinity – a leading consulting and technical services provider for aerospace systems.

Also on the cards is the international aerospace exhibition debut of the UAE’s Mubadala Development Company PJSC, a strategic investment and development vehicle established and wholly-owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi and one of the industry’s fastest rising stars

“The Dubai Airshow, now ranked the third largest in the world, is no longer a purely regional event, and the fact that we are expecting international companies from more than 40 countries demonstrates the importance it has on the global aerospace landscape,” added Weller.

“The Middle East has emerged as a key business hub over the last decade and the Airshow has grown in proportion. The 10th Dubai Airshow will be the biggest yet, with over 900 exhibitors expected.”

F&E has faced challenges in accommodating demand for the final Dubai Airshow at Airport Expo Dubai. Space constraints have led to creative floor planning which will see up to 10 outdoor static park pavilions and narrower exhibition hall aisles.

“Future growth will be accommodated by a move to the new purpose-built site at Dubai Exhibition World in 2009,” explained Weller. Dubai Exhibition World is being built at Dubai World Central, the huge urban aviation complex underway at Jebel Ali, 30 kilometres outside Dubai city.