fb.com/asianlite @asianlitemedia
NEWS
NOV 15 - NOV 28 2017
Website: www.asianlite.ae Email: newsdesk@asianlite.ae
3
Dubai Gears Up for 15 Air Show th
The 15th edition of the Dubai Airshow, beginning Nov 12 through Nov 16ht be the biggest ever, with over 160 aircraft and 1200 exhibitors… writes Bikram Vohra
I
t has come a long way from that first valiant effort in 1986. Those days the two names on the aviation marquee were Farnborough and le Bourget with Singapore bringing up the also ran position. Today the Dubai air show ranks right up there with the best of them. In fact, it can be said that the fourday air-fest now considered the benchmark for the industry’s biannual get together. The 15th edition of the Dubai Air-
show, beginning Nov 12 through Nov 16ght be the biggest ever, with over 160 aircraft and 1200 exhibitors. The exhibition, to be held from November 12 to 16 at the Dubai World Centre, will have more than 1,200 exhibitors - including 100 taking part for the first time - and over 160 aircraft on display during the show. Among the new dimensions given to the show are the Space Conference and the display of the Unmanned Aerial Systems.
Besides aircraft, the fresh emphasis is also on space exploration and keeping in mind the UAE involvement in the Mars mission this aspect is being given precedence this year. Between that new dimension and the Airport Solutions segment as well as the cargo conference things are certainly going to be exciting. Of great interest to fans of the Apollo missions will be the presence of Captain Al Worden who piloted Apollo 15 and will be addressing a select audience on his experiences along with an audio visual presentation. With a high of 75,000 visitors expected as against the 66,000 in 2017 the sales may not touch the high of 2013 when major orders fuelled the bottom line but will probably rise higher than the 20125 billion edition which saw over $37 billion in orders. If one recalls, the major carriers in the region had placed huge orders in 201 and these are still being completed so there would be a natural slow down
until the deliveries have been done. One of the major points of interests will be the air taxi concept in which Dubai held a trial run in September. These autonomous air vehicles will be introduced into service sooner than one thinks and will transport passengers at will through short distances. According to the official data from the organisers the “Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Summit, a two day dedicated conference taking place within the Dubai Airshow, has released its agenda for the event on the 14 and 15 November 2017. Cov-
ering the past, present and future of UAS within the aerospace industry, the conference will be moderated by Air Marshall Philip Sturley CB MBE RAF (Retd).” Among the 160 aircraft on display will be the offerings from Boeing and Airbus, the Bombardier bizjet fleet, the Hondajet, the Gulfstream family, Embraer’s Legacy 500, a select choice from Cessna and the top seven fighter aircraft from the Sukhois to the Rafale to the perennial F16 Block 60 and the Mirage 2000. There will be a daily air display in the afternoons.
EXPO 2020:
‘THREE YEARS TO GO’ BY ASIAN LITE NEWS
E
xpo 2020 Dubai launches its search for more than 30,000 volunteers who will be the ‘face’ of the largest global gathering ever to be staged in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. Expo 2020 promises to be a transformative and lasting landmark in the history of the UAE, as well as the wider region. The volunteers will play a crucial role in Expo, building on the UAE’s global tradition of hospitality by welcoming up to 25 million visits during the six-month event. Of these, 70 percent are expected to come from outside the UAE, an unprecedented proportion in the 166-year history of World Expos. The registration portal to join the Expo 2020 Dubai Volunteers Programme was launched at the ‘Three Years To Go’ event held at The Beach, JBR. The registration portal will be run in collaboration with the Ministry of Community Development and Emirates Foundation. While the doors open on 20th October 2020, preparations for Expo are already well underway, and UAE-based adult volunteers of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds have the opportunity to be involved in the journey. Volunteers can participate in Expo events leading up to 2020, as well
as brainstorming sessions that could see their ideas included in the plans, in line with Expo 2020’s central theme, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. During Expo, there will be more than 45 volunteering roles, from welcoming guests and guiding them around the Expo districts to managing events, with more than 16 million volunteering hours across 173 days. Volunteers will gain unrivalled hands-on experience, exposure and work-ready skills as they help to put on one of the world’s largest events. Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau, said, “Expo 2020 is a global event for everyone to learn, innovate, create, and have fun by sharing ideas and working together and we are proud to include opportunities for more than 30,000 volunteers from any age, nationality or background, reflecting the diversity of our Expo and our nation. “Youth are at the core of Expo 2020 and volunteering with us will be an incredible opportunity for them. We already have many on board, and they have had the exciting opportunity to represent Expo 2020 and the UAE at Expos in Astana and Milan, as well as events held in Dubai, such as the launch of District 2020 at Cityscape,” she added. “We have created strategic roles to ensure vol-
unteers get the best out of their experience, including skills that they can go on to use in the workplace or their daily lives. They will be ‘face’ of the event since most of our visitors will have an initial contact to Expo through meeting a volunteer. “We look forward to welcoming anyone who wants to connect with fellow volunteers from around the world and gain an experience of a lifetime,” Al Hashimy continued. Commenting on the announcement, Najla bint Mohammed Al Awar, Minister of Community De-
velopment, said, “We believe a solid foundation for a nation is a society that understands the value of giving. Volunteering plays an important role in the UAE’s Vision 2021 as we strive towards a cohesive and inclusive society. This national Expo 2020 Volunteer Programme will provide opportunities to thousands of UAE citizens and residents from a wide variety of countries and backgrounds to act as ambassadors for the UAE, showcasing to the world our vibrant nation while strengthening partnerships and enabling social development.”
Got A Story? Contact us on newsroomdubai@asianlite.com