DUBAI, 8 March 2007 — Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E), the name behind the Dubai Airshow, is to stage a dedicated B2B trade exhibition serving the aircraft interiors sector.

Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) will debut at Airport Expo Dubai in June next year and will service the region’s rapidly developing commercial and business aviation fleets.

F&E said AIME, which will focus on aircraft interiors, airline cabin systems and in-flight entertainment, responds to growing demand from the Middle East’s rapidly expanding commercial and business aviation operators.

“The Middle East is now internationally acknowledged as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation regions with new airlines emerging and existing carriers expanding their fleets,” Virginia Kern, chairman, F&E, said. “The scenario is just as bullish for the business aviation segment with the region’s 300-strong fleet forecast to double within the next five years.”

“The region’s commercial aviation sector is buoyant with flag carriers Etihad, Emirates and Qatar on seemingly endless aircraft acquisition trails and new entrants, such as RAK Airways, which is to launch in April, setting targets of buying two aircraft a year to achieve its ambition of carrying 2.7 million passengers within five years,” Kern added.

“Adding to the equation is the emergence of non-government, private airlines. Kuwait’s low cost carrier Al-Jazeera is a prime example and has a no-compromise stance on interiors quality with leather seats and in-flight entertainment in its Jazeera Plus premium product. Another two private carriers in Saudi Arabia are readying to launch this November. It is an extremely vibrant market.” Kern said the region’s business aviation segment is also surging and is now said by the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) to be achieving 18 percent annual growth — outstripping that of Asia. MEBAA has predicted that the region’s charter airline industry alone will double over the next five years and account for 40 percent of the Middle East’s total aviation market.

AIME 2008 will run at the Airport Expo Dubai from June 16-18.