Dubai – Mubasher: The first Global Investment in Aviation Summit (GIAS) kicked off in Dubai on Monday, 28 January.

Set to wrap up on 29 January, the event hosts up to 300 investors of industry leaders working in the field.

Carrying the theme “Linking Developed and Emerging Markets through Attractive Aviation Investment Opportunities”, the two-day will have a number of panel discussions for professionals, investors, and business leaders

The major aviation conference sees the participation of aviation asset managers, aircraft lessors, investors, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities and aviation logistics suppliers.

Participating countries include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan, the Us, the Uk, Hong Kong, India, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, Ireland, Ukraine, Albania, Brazil, Malaysia, Nigeria, and many others.

The UAE hosts the two-day event as being the central hub for airfreight and passengers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and due to its investments to meet clients’ demands.

The UAE’s investment in airport infrastructure currently stands at AED 85 billion, allocated for development and expansion that will raise combined capacity to more than 300 million passengers per year.

 The General Civil Aviation Authority’s (GCAA) previously said that the GCC nation is expected to invest up to AED 1 billion in the aviation sector over the coming two decades.

It is worth noting that the UAE has 14 airports, airstrips and airfields served by 113 airlines with a total annual take-off and landings exceeding 540,000.