Arab Aviation Summit 2021 takes off in Ras Al Khaimah

Business Bureau, Gulf Today

The Arab Aviation Summit  2021 (AAS), the region’s leading aviation and tourism industry event, opened at the Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah on Sunday.

The eighth edition of the two-day summit brings together experts to discuss the impact of the pandemic on the industry, the aftermath, and the road to recovery for a stronger future, under the theme, ‘Arab Aviation in the New Normal.’ The summit will feature a number of workshops on to discuss the various aspects of the region’s aviation and tourism sector.

Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia, said: “We look forward to this edition of the Arab Aviation Summit, which serves as an ideal platform to discuss the status of Arab Aviation and the role the industry will play in the broader economic recovery. Through open sessions and constructive dialogues that brings both public and private sectors together, we are confident the outcome will help unify efforts in supporting a vital and resilient industry.”

Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said: “We are delighted to host the Arab Aviation Summit as the first in-person event to take place following the onset of the pandemic. We value the immense contributions made by the aviation industry to highlight destinations such as Ras Al Khaimah and look forward to working closely to ensure all guests are extended a warm welcome, reflecting the authentic Arabian ethos of our Emirate.

 As the first city to be certified as safe by both Bureau Veritas and the World Travel and Tourism Council, participants at the Summit can rest assured that their health and wellbeing remains our utmost priority, as they focus on the discussions to identify strategies and set a strong roadmap for navigating the new normal.”

Mikail Houari, President, Airbus Africa Middle East, said: “The aviation industry has always remained resilient in bouncing back from crisis particularly in the Middle East. Airlines in the region have proven to be agile and adaptable to changing environment and they will be key actors in driving economic recovery. At Airbus we foresee a strong recovery for the Middle East aviation sector.

We look forward to attending the Arab Aviation Summit, to engage with all stakeholders on the road to recovery of the industry and economies at large. By working together, we can build a more resilient and sustainable aviation sector for generations to come.”

Endorsed by Arab Governments and previously held across the Arab region, the 2021 AAS is hosted in collaboration with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and supported by global industry partners such as Airbus, CFM, Air Arabia, Alpha Aviation Academy, and others.

Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah, the location of the 2021 AAS, offers state-of-the-art, elegantly designed meeting facilities, and is the first safe meeting facility in the world, as certified by Bureau Veritas, the international leader in testing and inspection services and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travel Stamp. The certification follows the implementation of stringent safety and security protocols by Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, offering hospitality and event providers access to global best practice, supportive policies and professional guidance on safety and hygiene.

Ras Al Khaimah recently launched new weekly flight routes to eight cities in Kazakhstan in partnership with SCAT Airlines and welcomed expanded operations from SpiceJet, bringing in guests from six key cities in India, spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Cochin, Amritsar, Lucknow and Jaipur. Further discussion is underway with partners to open additional routes across Europe and Asia.

Delegates’ safety and wellbeing remains Ras Al Khaimah’s utmost priority. In addition to becoming the first city in the world to be certified as safe by Bureau Veritas and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), all 45 of its hotels have also received Bureau Veritas certification. RAKTDA is working closely with all hotel partners to ensure they are strictly adhering to all government and public health guidelines and complying with all social distancing advisories. A series of protective measures have also been implemented across all aspects of the Summit that have been designed for everyone’s safety.

The Arab Aviation Summit is an industry initiative committed to improving the state of Arab aviation and tourism by facilitating a constructive dialogue for public-private cooperation. Referred to as the ‘voice of the industry’, this initiative attracts the largest assembly of Arab media together and top executives from the aviation and tourism sector.