The world’s aviation, aerospace, defence and space leaders have arrived in Abu Dhabi for this week’s Global Aerospace Summit, the third in the biennial series, which runs at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) from March 7 to 8.

This year’s summit is part of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Aviation and Aerospace Week, which is held under the Patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Getting the summit underway will be industry heavyweights James Hogan, president and CEO of Etihad Airways; Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, director general of the UAE Space Agency; Marillyn Hewson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Lockheed Martin; Bernard Charles, president and chief executive officer of Dassault Systemes; and Bertrand Marc Allen, president of Boeing International who will deliver keynote industry talks. Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Mubadala’s managing director and group chief executive officer, will also make a welcome address.

Former US astronaut and the second man to walk on the moon Buzz Aldrin and Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the first Arab to go into space, will attend to talk about their experiences and how to inspire youth into learning more about the space sector and its opportunities.

Around 1,000 C-level executives and 140 media from 59 countries will be at Adnec to discuss the most pressing issues and trends within the four industries. Organised by Streamline Marketing Group, the Summit is an invitation-only strategic forum that will cover a wide-range of topics including globalisation, workforce challenges, air traffic management, safety and sustainability. Industry leading speakers from companies in both established and emerging markets will share their experiences of supporting industrialisation, improving supply chain standards and creating value-added jobs for highly skilled individuals.

Hogan said: “The return of the Global Aerospace Summit brings fantastic opportunities to share concepts, practise and thinking with frontrunners from across the global industry. Abu Dhabi is well placed to host the summit and will offer exclusive outlooks on these deliberations. The emirate has become a lively centre for many components of the aviation and aerospace sectors, thanks to the vision and the dedication of government, and the commercial strategies of businesses such as Etihad Airways. We are delighted to be welcoming the industries’ leaders to Abu Dhabi for this significant Summit.”

Al Ahbabi added: “Events like these allow us to focus on what has been achieved in our industries so far and look ahead at where we want to go and what we want to achieve. The summit gives us the chance to propose solutions to common challenges faced around the world and only by getting together and discussing these issues can they be solved. In a short period of time, the UAE has built a space sector which is providing huge opportunities for economic development and diversification and this has only been achieved through collaboration and knowledge transfer. I am looking forward to addressing the world’s leading industry executives and updating them on the UAE Space Agency’s plans for the development of the UAE space sector. We also use the summit as an opportunity to build new business relationships and strengthen existing ones and to explore the possibilities of cooperation in the fascinating field of space exploration.”

Joe Anselmo, editor in chief of Aviation Week, who is moderating one of the key Summit sessions, said: “It will be an interesting two days of discussion. Airbus and Boeing are pushing ahead with plans to increase production rates, but face headwinds from falling oil prices, slowing economic growth in China and a more expensive U.S. dollar. I look forward to the opportunity of interviewing

Abu Dhabi Airports is backing the summit. – TradeArabia News Service