MEBA2012: Sheikh Ahmed proud that MEBA is a cut-above

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman of Dubai Airports and the Emirates Group, cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of MEBA.
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He clearly enjoyed the unusual use of the airport terminal.
 
“We have invested here to accommodate growth and to create demand – an approach we are known for,” he said. “We will press ahead with development of a dedicated show site here for next year’s Dubai Airshow and we could be seeing passenger aircraft arriving here before the exhibition opens.”
 
This year’s show has 385 exhibitors from 45 countries – 14% more participants than two years ago.
 
Sheikh Ahmed spent almost two hours touring the show accompanied by: HE Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister For Foreign Trade; Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways’ CEO; Ali Ahmed Al Naqbi, founding chairman of the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) and Khalifa Al Zaffin, chairman of Dubai World Central.