The massive airports expansion projects underway in the UAE and other Gulf states have been attracting international aviation firms to the region as airport operators look for technology and services to handle future growth volumes, said an expert.

Germany is in the forefront of the competition to get a bigger slice of multi-billion dollar business opportunities offered by the phased expansions of the airports in the UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.

Dieter A. Heinz, President of German Airport Technology and Equipment (Gate), the German umbrella association for quality airport suppliers, said Dubai was the ‘city of future’ and the UAE aviation sector’s amazing achievements and plans offers tremendous growth opportunities for the global aviation industry at a time when it was grappling with uncertainties and challenges.

Gate is gearing up for a major role at this year’s Airport Show, which runs from May 22 to 24 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The show will have the participation of over 200 multinational companies, including more than 20 German airport technology companies showcasing their latest products and services to the regional industry decision-makers whose search for innovative technology to meet the future growth demands remains unending.

Jamal Al Hai, Executive Senior VP for Communications and International Affairs at Dubai Airports, said the show comes at a time when the UAE is planning to invest Dh500 billion ($136 billion) into the country's airport projects to boost their capacity to 250 million passengers by 2020, including $8 billion for Dubai International development.

Mohamad Badereddin, Show Director, Reed Exhibitions, said the GCC region offers great possibilities of future growth and finances for the aviation industry given its investments in airports developments and purchase of aircrafts by fastest-growing airlines like Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia and Qatar Airways.

In the UAE, which has the highest number of international airports after Saudi Arabia, billions of dollar are projected to be pumped into the aviation domain, thereby supporting the local economy and the global aviation industry in the coming years, he said.

Badereddin said the participating companies are expected to sign deals worth millions of dollar during the airport show.