The first B2B exhibition for Saudi Arabia's airport industry --  Saudi Airport Exhibition --  attracted 44 hosted buyers.

 

Saudi Airport Exhibition that concluded at Al Faisaliah Hotel after a two-day run focused on expansion, innovation and collaboration in one of the world’s top five airport growth markets.  The kingdom has 29 international and domestic airports.

 

The airports in the Kingdom are working their way to expand and upgrade while serving 330 million travellers by 2030, most by the mega hubs in Riyadh and Jeddah.

 

As the Middle East’s largest aviation market will see the fastest passenger traffic growth until 2040, the stakeholders have to work out the most head-turning services for passengers who will be travelling the world as the Kingdom's connectivity rise gradually to 250 destinations by 2030.

 

Saudi Arabia expects the contribution of its aviation sector to the GDP to more than triple, from $21.3 billion in 2018 to $74.6 billion by 2030. 

 

Matarat, a holding company that operates and handles the investments of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, stole the show by becoming the Platinum Sponsor of the exhibition that brought over 150 companies from more than 25 countries from the Americas, Europe, Asia and Arabian Gulf.

 

Goldhofer, SITA, Siemens, CCM Airports, Fraport, ADB Safegate, Egis, TLD, Serco, Swissport, Bechtel, IHSE and Nuctech were among those who put up pavilions. Saudi Ground Services, Saudi Air Navigation Services, PPMDC, Ground Handling Logistics, Nesma United Industries, AQESA, Trans Cities Trading, Hoshan Aviation & Defense, MAFA, made it to the only airports-dedicated show in the Kingdom’s history.

 

A good barometer of the airport industry’s high levels of enthusiasm to ensure a better tomorrow is the success of hosted buyers programme. In the very debut edition, the SAE logged the best results with unheard-of business success, remarked officials at Niche Ideas, a Dubai-based company that organised the Saudi Airport Exhibition.

 

Airports are among the largest investments in countries making for a cascading effect on their economic growth and infrastructure development. The Kingdom is a future-forward economy that offers untapped potential and unique business opportunities. 

 

The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) is undertaking the largest transformation of the aviation sector in the 21st century through targeting regulatory reforms, airport expansions, the launch of new airlines, connecting new routes and enhancing the passenger experience. The kingdom is slated to convert 22 airport operators into holding companies as part of a privatization process.  -TradeArabia News Service