Dubai Airshow set to break all previous records

Dubai: The 10th biannual Dubai Airshow, set to open proceedings on Sunday, is expected to break all previous sales records, according to Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai City of Aviation Establishment and chairman and chief executive of Emirates airline and group.

The 10th edition of the Dubai Airshow, featuring commercial, military and private aircraft, is completely sold out, organisers said.

Apart from the international presence, the sold out nature of the show is also thanks to several major homegrown exhibitors.

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise is the host sponsor this year. This year''s show will also experience a detailed unveiling of Dubai World Central, the $33 billion, 14-square kilometre aviation hub, currently under construction.

This year, the Dubai Airshow has grown by 17 per cent from 2005 in terms of exhibitors, due in part to the 130 newcomers from 24 countries that are showing. National pavilions at the show will represent Austria, Canada, France, Germany, India, Jordan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Ukraine, the UK and US.

Some of the 140 aircraft on static display will include several new-to-market models, according to organisers.

The 2005 edition of the airshow had seen roughly $21.3 billion in new aircraft purchases from Gulf airlines.