The first edition of the Global Investment in Aviation Summit (GIAS 2019) is set to take place in Dubai on 28th and 29th January, 2019, with the participation of the largest ever gathering of aviation ministers and heads of civil aviation authorities from around the world.
GIAS 2019 will see the attendance of Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy and Board Chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA); Sheikh Salman Al Sabah, Chairman of Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation; Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication; Abdul Hakim bin Mohammed Suleiman Al Tamimi, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation; Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, President of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO); Hadi Sirica, Nigeria’s Aviation Minister; Blade Nzimande, South Africa’s Minister of Transport; Volodymyr Omelyan, Minister of Infrastructure in Ukraine; Monica Azuba Ntege, Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport; Captain Sameh El Hefny, President of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority;and Ricardo Fenelon Junior, Director-General of Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency; along with other decision makers.
Speaking on the occasion, Al Mansouri said, "The summit coincides with the remarkable achievement of increasing the number of passengers through Dubai international airport to reach over one billion, as the milestone was announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who expressed his delight over holding the event in Dubai to exchange experiences and information between international experts in aviation sector, as well as holding partnerships that would support investment in aviation. The Global Investment Aviation Summit in Dubai highlights UAE’s leading regional role in aviation sector which is a key pillar in enriching the national economy".
He also confirmed that UAE attaches great importance to the aviation field in terms of using the latest developments in modern technologies and specialised studies and the holding of many specialised events and active participation in local and international conferences, stressing that the summit contributes to the promotion of the UAE's efforts to attract investments in the aviation sector and to lineup with the state’s strategic position.
Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of GCAA, said, "The participation of aviation ministers and heads of air transport agencies and airline companies, as well as industry leaders and businessmen from all around the world, is a testament of the importance of GIAS. It also emphasises the prestigious stature occupied by the UAE in the aviation industry, which is a key driver of economic growth in the country."
He added,"The UAE’s aviation and air transport sector has made unique jumps during the past few years, where the state managed to reach milestones on a par with the leading countries in this sector, whether in terms of the number of flights taking off or landing every day at Emirati airports or the number of passengers."
Highlighting the importance of the aviation sector, Al Suwaidi said, "The aviation sector has contributed significantly to cementing the UAE’s position as one of the leading countries that provide the highest quality air transport services, by harnessing the latest technologies and smart services in the aviation industry."
The UAE is also ranked among top countries in the ease of doing business, in addition to its accumulated expertise in increasing the capacity of its international airports that achieved phenomenal growth rates in passenger traffic. All this has coupled with a massive expansion in its infrastructure and the fleets of its national carriers, use of the latest technological equipment and provision of quality of services, among others.
The UAE is one of the leading countries in the world’s aviation and air transport sector, where aviation is one of the most prominent sectors that contribute to creating a sustainable economy, which ultimately leads to the country’s overall future sustainable development. The country seeks to become first globally in the airline service quality index after it achieved a unique shift in the size of its air transport infrastructure projects over the past few years The UAE focuses on the aviation sector, which contributes 15 percent to the country’s GDP, and is expected to reach 20 percent over the next few years. The national carriers are continuing their expansion in various foreign markets, thereby reinforcing the UAE’s position in the global air travel industry. Dubai has increased the capacity of its airports, in terms of the number of passengers and flights taking off and landing, in addition to its ongoing expansion plans to reach new destinations across the world.
GIAS 2019 will offer an ideal platform for ministers of aviation, airline companies and professionals in the air transport sector to keep them up-to-date with the latest developments on the airline industry, and allow them to gain insights into investment opportunities available in local, regional and global aviation markets The event will focus on guiding investments towards six sectors, including aircraft maintenance, manufacturing and supply, aircraft engineering and technology, defence aviation, duty free markets and airline catering industry.
