Airshow spending could hit $1tn

The Dubai Airshow has witnessed a spending spree on new aircraft that could total one trillion dollars, according to estimates circulating today.

The staggering figure makes it one of the most valuable exhibitions in the world, judged by the deals accounted for during its four days.

A $24 million acquisition barely registers as a blip on the Gulf aviation industry’s radar, but for the Dubai Air Show organisers it is the most important deal of all.

Fairs and Exhibitions (F&E), the organiser of Dubai Airshow since its inception in 1989, has been bought by UK-based Tarsus Group in a deal expected to be worth $25 million if performance targets are met.

Tarsus Group is an international business-to-business media group with interests in exhibitions, conferences, publishing and on-line media.

F&E was founded in 1958 and has been focused on the Middle East since 1976. It is one of the largest private sector exhibition organisers in Dubai with 8 events covering three principal industry sectors: aviation (including the Dubai Airshow, Middle East Business Aviation, Aircraft Interiors Middle East and Aviation Maintenance Repair Overhaul), printing & packaging (Gulf Print, Gulf Pack and Label Tech) and education (Gulf Education Supplies).

Douglas Emslie, Group Managing Director of Tarsus, says that the Dubai Airshow will be the largest event in the company’s portfolio, and expects it to continue growing in step with the Gulf aviation industry.

“This region, and in particular Dubai, is expected to benefit further in the future from new exhibition venues and infrastructure developments. We particularly look forward to working with the Department of Civil Aviation in Dubai to further strengthen the aviation portfolio to the benefit of the dynamic Dubai economy,” he said.

Virginia Kern, Chairman of F&E, said that the financial muscle of Tarsus would be put to use growing the F&E portfolio of events in the region.