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| Dubai plans to become leading aerospace production and maintenance center for Gulf region |
| 2006-02-24 |
| From Geostrategy Direct, subscription ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates' Dubai has begun a $15-billion plan to build an aerospace industry for both civilian and dual-use aircraft. The plan calls for the establishment of production and maintenance infrastructure that would first focus on passenger aircraft. In a future stage, the aerospace industry would produce air transports that could be used for military cargo or airborne early-warning and alert platforms, officials said. They said there were no plans to build fighter-jets. The plan, termed Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, or DAE, was designed for rapid implementation. Officials said that by 2015 Dubai would become a regional aircraft maintenance and production hub. "Within 10 years, DAE will become an integral part of the global aerospace industry," said Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai's Civil Aviation Department and chairman of DAE. "We are putting down a marker for the future. DAE signals our clear intention to become one of the driving forces of the global economy and reflects confidence in our ability to achieve this." DAE planned to acquire Western aviation technology for the Gulf region. The new industry, expected to generate 30,000 jobs, would produce components and fuselages for new aircraft models, including the Airbus A350. Better think about that before I get on an A350. DAE also plans to develop other aerospace sectors. Officials said this would include space services and launch and aviation IT systems. Pretty ambitious program, I'd say. "DAE expects to take this to the next level and establish an aircraft final completion facility in Dubai," DAE said in a statement. Mohammad Al Zarouni, managing director of DAE, said the project would focus on servicing the huge number of aircraft expected to arrive in the Middle East. Al Zarouni said more than 60 percent of global civilian aircraft orders would come from Middle East airlines. DAE would be located in the 140-square kilometer Jebel Ali Airport City in Dubai. Officials said DAE would enable Dubai to participate in major aircraft manufacturing programs. |
| Posted by:Al-Aska Paul |
| #2 Hmmm... Officials said this would include space services and launch and aviation IT systems. UAE is what 25 degrees north? Not great, but still better than Florida's 35-36 N. for launches. Wonder what Pakistan and India will say about it, they're down range. Kenya, now, would be perfect. |
| Posted by: mojo 2006-02-24 16:27 |
| #1 "Better think about that before I get on an A350." You might consider not flying on any Airbus Aircraft. |
| Posted by: Vinkat Bala Subrumanian 2006-02-24 16:04 |