Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF) Opens

May 11, 2015
Over 300 delegates, including senior management representatives of airports, airlines, MRO operators, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), ground handling and technology companies, are expected to participate.

Dubai, May 10, 2015: The 3rd edition of Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF) will get underway tomorrow in the Sheikh Al Maktoum Hall at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) with a stellar line-up of aviation industry stalwarts as speakers including top decision-makers from the ICAO, IATA, ACI, SITA and EUROCONTROL.  

Organized by Reed Exhibitions Middle East with Nadd Al Shiba PR and Event Management as the Conference Producer, the two-day platform is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group.

The iconic knowledge-sharing platform is being sponsored by emaratech, Dynaflow, Hill International, Egis Avia, G4S and Abu Dhabi Airport Business City.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed said GALF has been bringing international aviation experts and leaders to Dubai for an unparalleled knowledge and expertise sharing experience which will contribute to our combined efforts towards the sustained growth of the global aviation industry.

He remarked: “The importance of airports as global travel hubs has been growing. The massive airport expansions are needed to accommodate the growth in air traffic and airport development continues to play a strategic role in our future growth agenda. The huge and consistent aviation investments will have a positive impact for all the industry stakeholders.”

Over 300 delegates, including senior management representatives of airports, airlines, Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul (MRO) operators, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), Ground Handling and Technology companies, are expected to participate. 

Daniyal Qureshi, Group Exhibition Director at Reed Exhibitions Middle East, said: “Regional aviation leaders are keen to develop the most technologically advanced, passenger friendly and operationally efficient facilities in the world. GALF has become an annual industry think-tank that presents global best practices, new ideas and a highly-essential opportunity for the regional aviation industry to cooperate with experts, innovators and industry leaders from around the world.”

Speakers from the UAE include His Excellency Sultan Al Mansoori, UAE’s Minister of Economy & Chairman of General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), Eng. Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman, Dubai Aviation City Corporation, Omar Bin Ghaleb, Deputy Director General,  General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Major General Pilot Ahmed Bin Thani, Assistant Commander for Seaports and Airports Affairs, Dubai Police, Sheikh Abdulla Zayed Saqr Al Nahyan, Chief Executive Officer, Dolphin Air, Thani Abdulla Al Zaffin, Director General and Board Member, emaratech, and Mohammed Al Rais, Middle East Regional President, Hill International.

The international speakers include Raymond    Benjamin, Secretary General, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Angela Gittens, Director General of Airports Council International (ACI), Hussein Dabbas, Regional Vice President, International Air Transport Association (IATA) and  Philippe Merlo,  Director of  ATM at EUROCONTROL.

The other speakers are Massimiliano Fuksas, internationally renowned architect of Shenzen Bao’an International Airport in China, Matthys Serfontein, Vice President of Airport Solutions, SITA, Dieter A. Heinz, President, German Airport & Technology Equipment (GATE), Charles E. Stallworth II, Assistant Commissioner of International Affairs for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Alan Corner, Director Middle East, Helios, and Andreas Wittmer, Managing Director of Switzerland-based Center for Aviation Competence.  

Dr. Faisal Hamad Al Sugair, Vice Chairman and Vice President of Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Mohamed Khonji, Regional Director of  Cairo-based ICAO Middle East Office, Jeffrey Johnson, President of Boeing Middle East, Kashif        Khalid, Campaign Manager for Gulf  at IATA, and Ahmed Ibrahim Al Jallaf, Assistant Director General, Air Navigation Services, GCAA, are among the speakers.

The other speakers include Georges Hannouche, CEO, Bayanat Airports Engineering & Supplies   (BAES), Nils Svans, Vice President, Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS), Alan Corner, Director, Middle East and Asia at Helios, , Waqar Mohamed, Regional Aviation Manager, Middle East, G4S, Yann Le Page, Senior Regional Vice President, ADPI, and Barry Lewis, Managing Director of ALEC Construction.