Global Aerospace Summit set to fast-track aviation investments

Representing the aerospace, aviation, space, and defence sectors, the premier thought leadership forum will aim to accelerate investments to drive greater sustainability, youth engagement and innovation for the industry.

The summit is a CEO-led, critical meeting of the world’s aerospace supply chain that brings together sector and government leaders at the highest level for strategy development and partnerships. The two-day event will take place on 25-26 September at the St. Regis, Saadiyat Island Resort in the UAE capital – Abu Dhabi.

Since its first edition in 2012, the Global Aerospace Summit has solidified the UAE’s position as a leading hub for aerospace, with the aviation industry becoming a major driver for economic growth.

The 2024 edition will centre on several objectives designed to drive the industry forward and address global aerospace concerns, exploring new ways to enhance technological and strategic capabilities, attract investment, strengthen domestic SMEs in the aerospace supply chain and emphasise environmental responsibility.

Panel sessions will focus on developing the country’s defence industry system, investing in the region’s thriving aviation sector, embracing environmental responsibility for a greener future and optimising airport infrastructure for future growth.

High-level speakers include Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security at the UAE Government, Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Chief Information Security Officer of Riyadh Airports, and Laila Odina, CEO of Riga International Airport.

With Abu Dhabi a hub for economic development, the summit will explore ways to build aerospace clusters and ecosystems, foster international partnerships, and invest in research and development to drive innovation and value across the UAE.

Other key themes include global business aviation trends, such as supersonic travel and sustainability initiatives, as well as critical issues in liquidity, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and supply chain resilience for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Alongside this, it will delve into advancements in space exploration and military space investments, the connectivity opportunity presented by satellite broadband, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, electric propulsion, hydrogen-powered aircraft, and more.

Inspiring and nurturing the next generation of aerospace leaders will be a primary focus for the event. The NextGen Leaders initiative will form a key part of the event, a programme that supports the UAE’s Emiratisation objectives. NextGen fosters talent development and magnifies the potential of the region’s brightest minds. Through this platform, the Summit will close the gap between young talent and industry leaders, ensuring the right level of skills, knowledge and capabilities are transferred to the next generation of aerospace specialists.

A few days earlier, the UAE, represented by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), has been re-elected as a member of the Executive Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Organisation (ACAO) by unanimous vote in the elections held during the organisation’s General Assembly, which took place in Rabat, Morocco, on 3rd July.

On this occasion, Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GCAA, remarked that the UAE, under the guidance of its wise leadership, has achieved a new milestone in the civil aviation sector with its re-election to the Executive Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Organisation.

This achievement underscored the strong partnership and brotherly bonds that bind the UAE with the Arab countries and serves as a testament to the trust in the strength and stature of the civil aviation sector as a global aviation hub.

He continued, “Civil aviation is undoubtedly a pivotal area in Arab cooperation, where significant progress has been achieved in several key areas. The UAE is committed to supporting all efforts to enhance and develop joint Arab action, raising it to more advanced levels. These efforts aim to serve the future developmental visions of Arab countries and bolster economic growth across the region.” On his part, Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the GCAA, expressed his pride in achieving this accomplishment, which resulted from the wise vision of the UAE’s leadership. It reaffirms the country’s status as a leading and distinguished force in this sector on both the Arab and international levels.

Last month, Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, has visited Sanad, the global aerospace engineering and leasing solutions leader wholly owned by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala).

Located on the campus of Zayed International Airport, Sanad is the region’s largest independent maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services provider, renowned for its 37-years of expertise and heritage in delivering world-class services and financing solutions to leading aircraft original engine manufacturers (OEMs) and global airlines.