Thales, the world leader in mission-critical information systems for the aerospace, defence and security markets, will be opening its new regional office at Abu Dhabi airport’s new Business and Logistics Park.

The company will operate both its international UAE liaison Office and its Middle East Support Centre Unit from the facility, according to Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC).

Thales will also provide training for ADAC staff, as part of the partnership agreed between the two companies, said a top official.
 
Welcoming Thales’s commitment to the region, ADAC chairman and managing director Khalifa Al Mazrouei said, 'Thales’s establishment of two clearly defined operational hubs working out of Abu Dhabi is a clear indication of the significant strategic advantage our location offers.'

'Equally, it demonstrates the confidence serious international companies have towards the world class gateway airport we are developing to support any number of business interests for our partners and customers,' he noted.

'Thales is likely to move into its new office by December 2009 and the already announced Service Centre should be operational within the year following that move (2010),' he noted.

This comes in addition to the recent announcement indicating the establishment of a regional service centre at Abu Dhabi airport’s new Business and Logistics Park.

The move is part of the agreement which recently awarded Thales a new $36.7 million air traffic control tower contract for Abu Dhabi’s International Airport.

“From our new offices, Thales will be perfectly placed to service the Emirates and the six or more partner countries in the region,” said Alexandre de Juniac, executive vice president of Thales, in charge of Asian, African, Middle Eastern and Latin American operations.

Thales’s immediate commitments to Abu Dhabi International Airport are concentrated around the systems and features they are integrating into the new air traffic control centre at Abu Dhabi airport, he added.

These systems will include the most advanced ATM automation features needed for world leading air traffic control, as well as airport ground control systems, aeronautical information systems (AIS) and messages switching (AFTN/AMHS).

The new air traffic control centre consists of a new 109 metres, 20-storey tower and will be situated in between the existing and the new second runway, which became operational last month.

It will take over the role as the nerve centre of the new airport development from the existing tower located over Terminal 1.-TradeArabia News Service