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Tourism and real estate development to be discussed at MEED conference

HH Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan to give details of new projects and outline his vision of the future
Abu Dhabi - Tourism will continue to be the key driver of Abu Dhabi's economic diversification, according to HH Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.

Sheikh Sultan, who is one of the speakers at MEED's Major New Project Opportunities conference, to be held in Abu Dhabi on November 20 - 21, pointed to new integrated developments such as at Al Raha Beach and Al Reem Island as driving new tiers of investment in the capital.

The emirate is looking to increase tourism numbers from almost a million in 2004, to more than 3 million by 2015.

Sheikh Sultan said: "Tourism has long been considered the driver of economic success. However, the infrastructure needs to be in place, which is why the new island and coastal projects are underway alongside the new airport terminal for example.

"The next few years will see us develop accommodation tiers, from the luxury hotels through to business hotels to accommodate the increasing business we are expecting from meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (the MICE sector).

"Within the next five to 10 years, Abu Dhabi will be a major business, commercial and tourism sector within Arabia, while still keeping close ties to its culture and heritage."

Alongside Sheikh Sultan, other confirmed speakers are Hussain AlNowais, chairman of Emirates Holdings, and Khaldoon Al-Mubarak, COO of Mubadala.

The growth of the emirate's infrastructure will be a focal point over the two days of the conference, including Abu Dhabi's main airport terminal, which is scheduled for completion in 2010.

The Supervision Committee for the Expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport (SCADIA) is overseeing the $5.7 billion redevelopment of the airport, and will discuss the changes being made to increase capacity to 20 million passengers a year.

In August, SCADIA delivered ADIA's two new contemporary interim terminals to increase the airport's annual capacity by 3 million to smooth passenger flow and relieve pressure of high density flights from the existing airport, until the Midfield Terminal Complex is complete in 2010.

As detailed by Sheikh Sultan, tourism will form the base of many of the conference's presentations, not least thanks to the emirate's 200 islands that have been earmarked for development. Major projects in the pipeline include the Al-Raha Beach complex and Abu Shuoom island.

Day two of the conference will include a keynote address from Ahmed Al Sayegh, chairman of Abu Dhabi-based real estate conglomerate Aldar. In addition, there will be a focused panel discussion on positioning Abu Dhabi as a regional tourist destination.

Speakers on the panel discussion, which follows on from Sheikh Sultan's day two opening address, are: Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority; Khalifa Al Mansouri, chairman of Abu Dhabi National Hotel Company ; Nasser Al Nowais, chairman of Rotana Hotels and Ahmed Ramdan, managing director of Roya International.

As capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi is a stronghold of much of the industry in the country. With the major projects in the UAE amounting to a total value of well over $200 billion across industries[1], Abu Dhabi is establishing itself as one of the world's major economic centres.

Up to 250 business leaders will hear discussions on new business opportunities in Abu Dhabi, across sectors such as petrochemicals, power and water and real estate.

The 2nd Major New Project Opportunities in Abu Dhabi conference, one of MEED's headline conferences, will be held at the Beach Rotana Hotel and Towers, on 20 - 21November.

The conference is endorsed by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and confirmed sponsors already are Al Jaber; ADCB; Mubadala; Arabian Construction Company ; Mushrif National Construction ; MEED projects; CH2M HILL; Contax; Gulf Extrusions; JR Knowles and Trowers & Hamlins.

A full agenda and additional information can be found on ww.meed.com/abudhabi.

-Ends-

MEED Conferences is part of the leading information brand in the Middle East working to provide delegates with the very latest business sensitive information. Over the past 10 years, MEED Conferences has organised events attended by senior government officials and thousands of international business people. The conference series is aimed at companies active or seeking business in the markets of the Middle East. MEED is well established as the source of strategic and accurate regional information placing it in a unique position to bring together high-calibre speakers.

About MEED
MEED (Middle East Economic Digest) is internationally recognised as providing essential information for anyone doing business in, or with, the Middle East and North Africa. With journalists and contacts across the entire Middle East and North Africa region, MEED provides reliable, up-to-date business news, facts and data in both print and online. MEED now attracts over 70,000 individual readers each week, across 70 countries world-wide.

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For more information please contact:
Kirstie Hepburn
Laura Scorza
Strategic Solutions for MEED
Tel: 971 4 3903030
E-mail media@strategicsolutionsonline.com

Katherine Jacques
Marketing Manager
MEED Conferences
Tel: 44 0 20 7505 6020
E-mail: katherine.jacques@emap.com

© Press Release 2005