Dubai will construct a third exhibition hall at the Airport Expo to cope with increased demand for space at the world's fastest growing aerospace exhibition - the Dubai Air Show.

Foundation work on new facilities will begin in October and will be completed in time for Dubai 2005 Air Show.

This announcement was made yesterday at the Farnborough International Air Show by Virginia Kern, chairperson of Fairs and Exhibitions, organisers of the Dubai 2005 Air Show. She, however, could not give the value of the project.

The planned central hall will link the existing east and west halls and the Airport Expo's expansive reception building and will bring an additional 10,000 square metres of space to the Dubai Air Show.

Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates Group, said: "This development lives up to the commitment of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister, given at the Dubai 2003 Air Show, to expand the air show site to meet future demand."

Kern said: "The design allows for integral expansion of the east and west halls, creating visitor free-flow through all three halls. The additional space will also allow us to create new meeting and seminar rooms in the halls."

The Airport Expo Dubai, the permanent home of the Dubai Air Show since 1999, has been hailed by the international aerospace industry as a world-class venue.

However, growth in the Dubai 2003 show - the largest to date with 12 per cent additional contracted floor space than Dubai 2001 - led to the demand for expansion.

Dubai 2005, which will be held from November 20-24, will also feature a series of initiatives which are likely to drive demand even further.

"We have, for the first time, introduced an unmanned aerial vehicle arena and are actively pursuing the feasibility of a training and simulation pavilion," explained Alison Weller, project manager of Fairs and Exhibitions.

"We are also considering the introduction of special zones for small to medium exhibitors which will be deliberately located within the halls to increase visibility of this exhibitor segment."

Flying high
* Airport Expo Dubai is a purpose-built venue for the Dubai Air Show, held once in two years. It has two exhibition halls and a reception area, meeting rooms, large car parks and a cafe. It is also used for other exhibitions and trade events.

* A third hall will be built and it will join the two existing halls and add 10,000 square metres.

* Dubai 2005 – the ninth international aerospace exhibition - will be held from November 20-24, 2005 in three halls at the Airport Expo Dubai.

* Dubai 2003 notched up a declared on-site order book of over $6 billion.

* Dubai 2001 attracted over 30,000 visitors and closed an on-site order book of $15.6 billion.