Global Airport Leaders' Forum: Welcome Address by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum

Now to officially inaugurate the first Global Airport Leaders Forum, I have the great honor to welcome on stage the conference patron, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airport, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline Group. Your Highness.

Of a healthier Union, good morning everybody. Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the Dubai Aviation, today I welcome you all to the Global Airport Leaders Forum 2013. For those who are visiting Dubai and the UAE for the first time, I extend to you a warm welcome. I wish you a productive and enjoyable stay here in the UAE. And it gives me immense pleasure to see that so many industry representatives from all over the world have come together under one roof here. As a member of the aviation industry, we are all aware of the vital role we play as enablers in helping people to connect. I congratulate the organizers for this event for doing for the global airport industry what it does for millions of travelers each year. The coming together of great minds often gives birth to wonderful ideas and valuable solutions that benefit one and all. It's no coincidence that the UAE bid to host the Expo 2020 in Dubai is based on the theme 'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future'. I'm hopeful your participation will lead to far-reaching positive changes in the airport industry worldwide.

The role of the airport as a facilitator of business and economic development is well documented. According to a study conducted by Oxford Economics in 2011, aviation here supports over 250,000 jobs, representing about 19% of total employment and 28% of Dubai's GDP. This is the basis of our continued investment in airport infrastructure. Currently we are committed to over $8 billion for the ongoing expansion of Dubai International Airport. We are confident that this investment will pay huge dividends. In fact, by 2020, aviation's contribution to our economy will grow to about $44.5 billion US, and we will create more than 372,000 jobs.

Airport leaders therefore play a pivotal role in providing airlines with timely and cost-effective infrastructure that will support their growth and profitability. Passengers want and expect a seamless and pleasant experience. And our communities want us to connect them to the rest of the world. Ladies and gentlemen, going forward we have an opportunity to drive to deliver even more. We must cooperate more closely with stakeholders across the value chain, both on the ground — with customs, immigration, and ground handlers — and in the air, with airlines and air navigation service providers, to ensure our airspace is opened up to meet the growing demand. We must leverage new technology to enhance the customer experience. We must find ways to tap into renewable sources of energy to limit our carbon footprint. All of this will contribute to a profitable and sustainable industry. Aviation connects people, which connects businesses and cultures together, and lays the foundation for trade and commerce. Airports and the people who run them are a vital link in this chain. I urge you today to take advantage of this conference to exchange ideas and develop new solutions to age-old challenges. Thank you.