UK Airport Sector mission to UAE & Saudi Arabia
Dubai – Abu Dhabi – Riyadh - Jeddah
2 – 7 November 2013
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) has commissioned BAG to coordinate an Airport Sector mission to UAE &
Saudi Arabia which will take place from 2 – 7 November 2013 visiting Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh &
Jeddah. The primary objective of the visit is to promote British skills and technology in the airport
development sector but it will also provide the opportunity for participants to develop existing, and
establish new, relationships with key UAE & Saudi airport sector contacts and to learn about the
opportunities for their products/services at UAE & Saudi airports.
UAE:
According to a report by the Centre for Aviation (CAPA), published in November 2012, the UAE has
experienced a decade of relentless aviation growth. Willie Walsh, head of International Airlines Group,
parent of British Airways and Iberia, recently warned the UK’s House of Commons Transport Committee
that Heathrow would be overtaken by Dubai as the world's biggest international airport "within two to
three years".
The aviation industry also plays a key role in diversifying the emirate's economy contributing more than
Dhs145bn ($39.47bn) or 14.7% to the national GDP. That is why the UAE - a country with a population of
less than eight million, is expected to spend $19bn on new aviation infrastructure, while the country’s
airlines have $118bn in new aircraft orders of the 2012-20 period.
At the end of March, Dubai Airports; the operator of the emirate’s two airports, announced it was
preparing a proposal to increase DXB’s passenger-handling capacity from the 100m it is expected to
reach by 2020, to 200m by 2045. Current capacity at the airport is around 75m passengers per year.
Dubai is currently executing its planned investment of $7.73bn (Dhs28.4bn) to implement the fourth
phase of Dubai Airport expansion and increase its capacity to over 90 million passengers annually to
meet future growth needs. Dubai's air passenger traffic has doubled in the last five years and its airport is
now the world's third largest.
Dubai’s other airport, the Al Maktoum International Airport (AMIA) is the cornerstone of the Dubai World
Central transport industry and logistics centre. The airport is already operational as an aviation cargo
centre. As planned, AMIA is to have a cargo-moving capacity of 12m tonnes annually, along with the
facilities to handle 160m passengers. In early April 2013, Dubai Airports announced that AMIA would
begin serving passenger flights as of the end of October. Saudi carrier, Nasair and Hungarian low-cost
airline, WizzAir are planning to operate over 50 flights a week from the airport.
In Abu Dhabi, the growth of the UAE’s national flag carrier Etihad Airways has in turn led to a rise in
passenger growth at Abu Dhabi International Airport (ADIA), part of the Abu Dhabi Airport Company
(ADAC) managed airports in the Emirate. To cope with the continuous increase in passenger numbers,
ADAC has commissioned a new terminal complex. Total investment in the project is estimated at $6.8bn
(Dhs25bn) to expand annual capacity to 40 million passengers
Even the smaller UAE airports are investing in order to boost facilities and expansion. Sharjah plans to
spend $136m (Dhs500m), Fujairah has set aside $43.5m (Dhs160m) while Al Ain has been designated
as the site for the development of an aviation and aerospace cluster with collaboration from international
partners Boeing, Airbus and Lockheed Martin.
Everything is supersized in the UAE and to be built to the highest standards – interior fit out quality to be
no less than that at Burj Al Arab and Emirates Palace hotels. UK companies dealing in lighting, visual
effects, AV equipment, baggage handling equipment, access control, airport security services. In
summary, A-Z supply chain companies should take notice and position appropriately to become part of
these developments.
Saudi Arabia:
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) manages a US$ 15 billion civil airport budget.
Its master plan of airport development and expansion encompasses the majority of the 26 Saudi airports.
The drivers behind this significant investment in airport development are economic (increased demand
for international and domestic business travel), social (a fast growing population forecast to increase
from 28 million today to 47 million by 2030) and geographic (long distances between major towns).
Umrah and Hajj pilgrims (accounting for 8 million passengers per year) are placing increased pressure
on Jeddah and Madinah airports.
There are 4 international, 7 regional and 15 domestic airports. Significant projects are under way at
Jeddah, Madinah and Riyadh international airports. Several regional and domestic airports are also at
various stages of development.
GACA has embraced a modern approach to managing its own organisation, developing and running the
countries airports, the Saudi aviation industry. The corporatisation of GACA, the trialling of a BTO model
at Madinah airport and GACA’s desire to draw on best practice and technology including from leading
international architects, designers, regulators, suppliers and operators. GACA has established a number
of strategic partnerships, for example in airport operations and management.
Saudi airports market offer on-going opportunities for both long-term partnership and project-based
contracts of services and equipment. As well as airport planning, design, construction and equipment
supply, these areas include regulation, safety and security, financing, training, air navigation services,
consultancy and design. UK companies have had recent successes in winning design, PMC and supply
contracts on GACA projects. GACA is undertaking a major strategic security review which will form one
of the elements of this mission
Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) is the main airport serving Hajj & Umrah pilgrims
visiting Makkah and Madinah. It is also Saudi Arabia’s busiest airport hosting over 30 airlines and seeing
in excess of 15 million passengers per year. A new terminal is being built at KAIA under a 3-phase
NACO master plan which will increase annual passenger capacity to 30m, 60m and eventually 80m over
the next 20 years. Phase 1 is expected to be completed in 2014. Saudi Binladin Group (SBG) was
awarded the US$ 7.2bn contract.
A US$ 2.4 billion budget was allocated in 2009 to expand Madinah airport and convert it into an
International airport. The expansion is intended to take some of the pilgrim passenger traffic away from
the heavily-used Jeddah Hajj Terminal. GACA appointed the International Finance Corporation (IFC) as
lead advisor to assist in structuring and implementing the project, the first set-up as a PPP project. A
consortium, led by Turkish company TAV Airports Holding and its local partners Saudi Oger and Al Rajhi
Holding was awarded the BTO contract in October 2011.
Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) is a major hub in the Middle East. Plans to expand,
renovate, and modernise the four passenger terminals, along with the private aviation and air cargo utility
zones, have been approved. GACA has also authorised the construction of a “Terminal 5,” expected to
be completed in 2016. The project aims to increase the current capacity of 8m passengers a year to 25m
by 2015.
The mission programme has been developed to enable participants to find out more about opportunities
in their specialist sub-sectors and to introduce them to the relevant counterparts in GACA as well as
Saudi and international airport contractors and sub-contractors.
BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION
 Organised and accompanied by BAG – your sector body with a high reputation for past trade
missions.
 Find out at first hand about future airports opportunities in the market.
 Opportunity to meet potential Middle Eastern partners and investors in the airport sector.
 Specifically targeted to the airports sector.
 Opportunity to present your products and services directly to the key organisations.
 Start to build your personal relationship with key decision-makers, and fully understand their
needs.
 Specially negotiated travel and accommodation package.
 Accompanied and supported financially by UK Trade and Investment.
VISIT FORMAT
The visit programme will involve 2 days of meetings in UAE at numerous airports. The following two days
will be spent having meetings with GACA and the Saudi Binladen Group in Jeddah before the group
transfers to Riyadh for meetings with KKIA and SAGIA. Networking events will also be held in each of
the countries.
DRAFT ITINERARY
Saturday 2 November
Evening
Arrival in Dubai
Sunday 3 November
Morning
Briefing at British Embassy Dubai and meeting with Dubai Airport
Lunch
Meeting with Fujairah Airport
Afternoon
Meeting with RAK Airport
Evening
Informal curry supper at British Embassy Club
Monday 4 November
Morning
Meeting with Abu Dhabi Airport
Afternoon
Meeting with Al Ain Airport
Evening
Fly to Riyadh
Tuesday 5 November
Morning
Meetings with GACA / KKIA
Afternoon
Meeting with SAGIA
Evening
Fly to Jeddah
Wednesday 6 November
Morning
Meeting with GACA
Afternoon
Site visit to KAIA Media Centre
Evening
Networking reception
Thursday 7 November
Morning
Meeting with Saudi Binladen Group
Afternoon
Meeting with Al Mabani contractors and Safari (Jizan Airport contractor)
Evening
Fly to Riyadh
Friday 8 November
Morning
Fly to UK
Please note: the above meetings are a guide and some are subject to re-arrangement.
MISSION COSTS
UKTI has commissioned BAG to coordinate the mission programme and will therefore be covering all
administrative costs for the visit. Delegates will therefore not be charged a management fee to
participate in the visit. However, the British Embassies in Dubai and Riyadh will be charging BAG an
OMIS fee to help set up the group element of the programme. This amount split equally between
participants and based on an assumption of 10 companies participating in the mission is anticipated to
be in the region of £390 per company, per country.
MARKET ACCESS PROGRAMME (MAP)
If you are an SME you may be eligible for a UKTI Market Access Programme (MAP) grant for this
mission. Saudi Arabia only: £600, UAE only: £450, both countries: £710. Please contact BAG if you wish
to apply for a MAP grant. Your departure to participate in the mission and to qualify for the grant must be
from a UK airport.
MISSION BROCHURE
BAG will produce a brochure detailing all participants for distribution during the mission programme.
Please complete the attached form and return it with your application to participate in the mission
together with an electronic copy a passport sized photograph of your delegate and of your corporate
logo.
TRAVEL PACKAGE
Participants will also need to cover all their flights, accommodation and personal expenses associated
with the mission programme. BAG will appoint a travel agent to prepare a package of flights and
accommodation to fit with the above programme. Also, if your company is a member of the British
Airways On Business loyalty programme, then you may qualify for a 25% discount off the flights for this
mission. A detailed flyer will be sent upon receipt of completed registrations forms.
VISAS
British nationals do not require a visa to enter the UAE. British Nationals, however, do require a visa to
enter Saudi Arabia. Alan Buddle at BAG will provide advice on the visa process but delegates are
responsible for obtaining their own visas.
LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES
Representatives of UK companies based in the region are very welcome to participate in the mission.
TO PARTICIPATE
Please return the attached registration form by Friday 11 October 2013.
ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FROM OFFICIAL SOURCES
(for which charges may be made)
1. UK TRADE & INVESTMENT
UK Trade & Investment has a head office in London, regional offices throughout the UK and some 200
offices in Embassies and High Commissions around the world. It provides practical assistance to British
firms doing business in other countries. UK Trade and Investment has teams in UAE and Saudi Arabia
dedicated to this market. It also has a team in London dedicated to airports business.
Whether your company is new to this market or not, you can enlist the help of UK Trade & Investment.
They can provide advice on the political climate for international trade, market information and advice from tariffs and regulations to local marketing methods. They will give you a general idea of the
prospects for your product or services and advise you on the best way of tackling the market. Any
participants wishing to take advantage of these services (some of which may be chargeable) are
encouraged to contact UK Trade & Investment as early as possible before the visit.
Specific UK Trade & Investment Contacts
UAE:
Rashid Jkawaja (Dubai)
Trade & Investment Advisor
UK Trade & Investment
British Embassy Dubai, PO Box 65, Dubai, UAE
T: +971 4 309 4205
E: rashid.khawaja@fco.gov.uk
Saudi Arabia:
Michael Cockle (Jeddah)
Deputy Consul-General and Head of UK Trade and Investment
UK Trade & Investment
British Consulate-General, PO Box 393, 214111, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
T: +966 2622 5550
E: michael.cockle@fco.gov.uk
London:
Marcus Archer
Deputy Head - Airports Sector
UK Trade and Investment
Orchard 3, Level 1, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET
T: +44 (0)20 7215 4655
E: marcus.archer@uktradeinvest.gov.uk
2. THE BRITISH AVIATION GROUP
A representative of the British Aviation Group will accompany the visit and be available to help and
advise participants before, during and after the seminar. For further information on the visit programme
or administration contact:
Alan Buddle
Events & Exhibitions Manager
British Aviation Group
Salamanca Square, 9 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SP
T: +44 (0)20 7091 7807
E: alan.buddle@britishaviationgroup.co.uk
UK Airport Sector mission to UAE & Saudi Arabia
Dubai – Abu Dhabi – Riyadh - Jeddah
2 – 7 November 2013
Please return this registration form by Friday 11 October 2013 to Alan Buddle:
alan.buddle@britishaviationgroup.co.uk
**Please send a passport size photograph of your delegate***
***Please also send a copy of our corporate logo***
Name
Position
Company
Address
Tel
Fax
Email
Web
Description of Company, Products and Services for the mission brochure (100 words max,
electronically if possible). Please note that you will only be able to make minor amendments
(typos etc) to this text once it has been submitted so please ensure you are happy with it before
you send it back to us.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------UKTI statement - the Data Protection Act 1998
When you submit personal data to us, or a third party organisation operating in partnership with us or on
our behalf, you understand and agree that this data will be supplied to UK Trade & Investment (UKTI),
who will hold it securely and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the UKTI Information
Charter.
When you submit personal data to us, or a third party organisation operating in partnership with us or on
our behalf, you understand and agree that this data will be supplied to UK Trade & Investment (UKTI),
who will hold it securely and in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the UKTI Information
Charter.
I am content that the details above may be used by UKTI in accordance with the UKTI Information
Charter
Share information within UKTI
Share information outside UKTI
Share information outside EEA
Yes/No (delete as appropriate)
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