Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Airports is set to redevelop an airport in Seychelles after the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday with the Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Transport.
Under the agreement, Abu Dhabi Airports, which operates airports in the UAE capital, is going to help fund the redevelopment of an international airport on the island of Mahe.
Officials from the company and the Seychelles government did not disclose a timeline or cost of investment for the project. Joel Morgan, Seychelles’ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Transport, said once the redevelopment is complete, he expected to see a 10 per cent increase annually in the number of UAE visitors to Seychelles.
He added that the deal with Abu Dhabi Airports “represents a major milestone in the development of aviation in Seychelles”.
Morgan also said the memorandum signifies the growing opportunities for investments in Seychelles, and that there will be other areas of cooperation with the UAE in sectors that include renewable energy.
Meanwhile, Ali Majid Al Mansouri, chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports, said, “As the Seychelles grows in popularity as a holiday destination for UAE tourists and visitors from around the world, the need to keep up with the demand and expectations of the travel market has never been more important. Our aim is to help to deliver an updated passenger terminal operating to the highest international standards.”
The UAE and Seychelles’ aviation sectors already have ties with Etihad Airways owning a stake in Air Seychelles.
