Dubai, May 27th, 2008 (WAM) -- Dubais status as a growing international aviation hub will be highlighted next week when the Airport Show, the largest airport construction, operations, technology and services exhibition, to be staged anywhere in the world this year, opens for business.

With a record line up of more than 600 suppliers from 40 countries, and over 6,000 visitors expected to attend, the show has grown by 12 per cent this year in line with the ongoing aviation boom across the Middle East, South Asia and Africa.

Manufacturers and suppliers heading for Dubai from around the world have major incentives. According to research conducted by the shows organisers, Streamline Marketing Group, airport projects and expansions across the region are currently valued at more than US$68 billion, with the Gulf countries accounting for US$43 billion of this growth.

The Airport Show is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman, Dubai Airports.

The show has become a well established forum for the selection and pre-qualification of suppliers and contractors for airport developments across the region and this year more than 100 civil aviation authorities and airports will be represented.

Taking place at Airport Expo Dubai from 2-4 June, this years show features four specialist conferences, Future Airports, Air Traffic Control Middle East, Aviation Security Middle East and Ground Handling Middle East, giving aviation officials the chance to discuss and debate pertinent issues affecting the aviation sector such as increasing air traffic and the requirements of future airports.

The growth of the Airport Show and the scale of airport development in the region was highlighted at an official press conference held Tuesday, addressed by Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai World Central, and Louisa Theobald, Group Exhibitions Director, Streamline Marketing Group.

Major expansion is underway in the Gulf countries and in Jordan, Iraq, India, Sri Lanka and across the African continent.

Heading the list at US$10 billion is the new Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International Airport to become the largest airport in the world and handling 120 million passengers annually followed by the development of Abu Dhabi International Airport at US$6.8 billion and Qatars US$5.5 billion New Doha International Airport.

Other major developments include Saudi Arabias King Abdul Aziz, Madinah and Tabuk Airports at a total cost of US$11.3 billion, along with the modernisation of smaller airports in India at US$4 billion, and further projects worth US$3.5 billion and $US2 billion respectively in Libya and Baghdad.

We are delighted that the Airport Show continues to grow in line with the strong demand for airport suppliers and contractors in this region, said Streamline Marketing Groups Louisa Theobald. The four specialist conferences on the exhibitor floor will add a new dimension to the show and provide the worlds leading airport representatives with a chance to debate important industry issues.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2008.