News DeskAbu Dhabi, UAE – The seventh edition of the Global Aerospace Summit is set to return to Abu Dhabi in September 2024. This premier thought leadership forum, representing the aerospace, aviation, space, and defense sectors, aims to accelerate investments to drive sustainability, youth engagement, and innovation within the industry. Scheduled to take place on September 25-26 at the St. Regis, Saadiyat Island Resort, the summit will gather the world’s top aerospace supply chain leaders and government officials for strategic development and partnership discussions.
Since its inception in 2012, the Global Aerospace Summit has established the UAE as a leading hub for aerospace, with the aviation industry serving as a significant economic growth driver. The 2024 edition will focus on enhancing technological and strategic capabilities, attracting investment, strengthening domestic SMEs, and emphasizing environmental responsibility.
Panel sessions will cover various topics, including the development of the country’s defense industry, investment in the region’s aviation sector, environmental sustainability, and optimization of airport infrastructure. High-profile speakers will include H.E Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security at the UAE Government, Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Chief Information Security Officer of Riyadh Airports, and Laila Odina, CEO of Riga International Airport.
Timothy Hawes, Managing Director of Informa Markets, highlighted the summit’s role in creating new opportunities and collaborations, stating, “Abu Dhabi is a global capital for aerospace, aviation, space, and defense, and is the preferred location for international industry leaders to align with global aerospace carbon net-zero strategies.”
Lynette Tan, CEO of Space Faculty, emphasized the summit’s focus on sustainability and innovation, saying, “The Global Aerospace Summit is a pivotal platform driving crucial investments and fostering essential conversations in sustainability, innovation, and the empowerment of the next generation of aerospace leaders.”
Key themes of the summit will include global business aviation trends, such as supersonic travel and sustainability initiatives, liquidity issues, mergers and acquisitions, and supply chain resilience. Additionally, advancements in space exploration, military space investments, satellite broadband connectivity, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, electric propulsion, and hydrogen-powered aircraft will be discussed.
A significant focus will be on inspiring and nurturing the next generation of aerospace leaders through the NextGen Leaders initiative, which supports the UAE’s Emiratisation objectives. This program aims to develop talent and bridge the gap between young professionals and industry leaders.
The VISTA platform will feature prominently, offering a dedicated space for start-ups to showcase innovative solutions and pitch to investors. This initiative aims to revolutionize the aerospace industry with cutting-edge technologies.
The 2022 edition of the Global Aerospace Summit saw over 1,100 participants, 159 high-level speakers, and representatives from 32 countries. The 2024 edition is expected to attract even greater attendance, addressing critical issues and driving the future of the aerospace industry forward.
