The Dubai Airshow started life as Arab Air in 1986 - a small civil aviation trade show which F&E organised at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Bill Kern, founder of F&E, is seen in the foreground.
Spurred on by substantial Middle East investment in civil and military aviation the first Dubai Airshow was held in 1989 at Dubai International Airport.
The show enjoyed rapid growth with the 1991 show already three times larger than the previous show. Due to the outbreak of the Gulf War the event was moved from January to November and had a strong military focus given recent events in the region.
The show’s rapid growth continued as was evidenced in the new, purpose built exhibition centre – Airport Expo – where the show has been held since 1999.
The 2001 show successfully rose to the challenge of the downturn in the aviation industry following the events of September 11th 2001, and closed its run with a confirmed order intake of a record US$15.6 billion.
Dubai Airshow 2003 was the fastest-selling in the event’s history, 550 companies from 36 countries participated along with 13 national pavilions.
In 2005 the Airshow hosted the debut of the A380 in the Middle East. It arrived in full Emirates livery for its largest customer and long queues formed to visit this state-of-the art aircraft.
The 10th Dubai Airshow was held in 2007 – by this time the event was firmly established as one of the top aerospace events in the world. The 2007 show smashed all previous records with more than US$155 billion worth of deals announced - the highest ever for any global aviation event.
By 2009 the show is now hosting 890 exhibitors from 47 countries; it has doubled in size in just 8 years. Coming just after the economic downturn, the air show proved that the industry is still robust and growing in the Middle East.
