Abu Dhabi, UAE, 23 October 2008: Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) today confirmed its participation at the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum in London.  The forum brings together international investors as well as major Abu Dhabi institutions. It provides investors with an opportunity to share the economic vision and expansion of Abu Dhabi and explore trade and investment opportunities, including real estate projects, infrastructure, clean energy and sustainable development.

HE Khalifa Al Mazrouei, Chairman & Managing Director of ADAC, will sit on the  “Infrastructure, Transportation and Industry: Role of the Private Sector” panel session. He will brief the audience on ongoing and future plans of the comprehensive airport expansion and upgrade programme to support the wider integrated development plans of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. 

Abu Dhabi is experiencing rapid growth as global organisations look to the region for a strategic location with first class business infrastructure that allows easy connection between the east and west.  ADAC, sharing the Government’s common strategy to further develop the Abu Dhabi as a world class business centre for 2030, will outline its expansion programme which will increase air traffic capacity at Abu Dhabi International Airport to 20m per annum by 2012, a six-fold increase on current capacity.  The plans also include an expansion of freight terminals and business, logistics and maintenance facilities. 

Al Mazrouei added:

"The Abu Dhabi Airports Company is working together with the Abu Dhabi Government to achieve ambitious strategic goals. Upgrading the airport to the highest international standards is a significant step in advancing the development of the emirate in important sectors such as real estate, tourism, trade, health, education and industry.
 
“Abu Dhabi International Airport is currently being upgraded to the highest global standards with a long-term aim to increase capacity to more than 40 million passengers and 2.5 tons of cargo annually. 

“Our expansion programme is well under way with the construction and consequent opening of a second airport runway in October 2008, and a third terminal which is currently being phased into use. We are also in the process of developing a new air traffic control tower which is expected to be completed and in use early next year. By 2012, we expect our new Midfield complex to be fully operational”.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Forum will be held at the Dorchester Hotel, London on Tuesday 28 October 2008.  The one-day event is being hosted by the Department of Planning and Economy, Abu Dhabi, under the kind patronage of His Highness General Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The event will involve more than 150 international investors, key industry leaders, financial intermediaries and top-level policy makers.

-ENDS-

About Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC):

Abu Dhabi Airports Company, ADAC, is a public joint-stock company wholly owned by Abu Dhabi Government. It was incorporated by Emiri Decree number 5, of March 4th, 2006, to spearhead the development of the Emirate's aviation infrastructure. ADAC has officially taken over the operation and management of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain international Airports, as of 28/09/2006. Under its mandate is the re-development and expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport, which includes the new midfield terminal – a facility that will offer a 20 million passenger per year operational capacity when its first phase opens in late 2011.

For more information, please contact:

Press Office, ADAC – Abu Dhabi Airports Company 
P.O. Box:          94449, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E
Telephone:      +971 2   505 3482
Fax:                  +971 2   575 8300
Mobile:             +971 50 813 3145
E-mail:              achupeau@adac.ae
Website:          www.adac.ae 
Time Zone:     GMT/UTC +4