Abu Dhabi: Al Bateen Executive Airport, the Gulf’s first and only dedicated private aviation airport, on Monday announced a 30 per cent increase in aircraft movements in the first quarter of 2010 versus the same period last year.

Airport owner and operator Abu Dhabi Airport Company (ADAC) said a multi-million-dollar redevelopment is under way at Al Bateen, which will cover all aspects of operation from the upgrade of its airfield, hangar and aviation support facilities to the re-modeling of its passenger facilities including lounges and terminals.

The construction of a hotel and expansion of the parking and retail facilities is also part of the master plan.

The number of private aircraft in the Middle East and Africa is continuously increasing; in 2009 there were around 530 privately and company-owned jets operating or on order. This number is expected to grow to approximately 1,190 by 2018, ADAC estimates.

The UAE currently has the highest concentration of business jets (37.8 per cent) in the Middle East, followed by Saudi Arabia (34.4 per cent). The rest of the region makes up the remaining 27.8 per cent.