Leading global players in the fields of aerospace, aviation and space are arriving in Abu Dhabi today as the eagerly-awaited Global Aerospace Summit prepares to start at the St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort.

Over 700 influential aerospace, aviation and space powerbrokers and thinkers will be here throughout the week for pioneering cross-industry thought leadership - discussing ongoing industry issues and tackling key topics such as globalization, innovation, regulation and new business opportunities.

Homaid Al Shemmari, Executive Director of hosts Mubadala Aerospace said:

“With Abu Dhabi’s growing involvement in the aerospace industry, it speaks volumes that speakers and delegates of this calibre are meeting here. We are confident that the Summit will deliver very positive outcomes both for the sector and the region.”

Attended by senior government representatives and corporate executives, the Global Aerospace Summit will incorporate three themes: aerospace, aviation and space, which will be discussed during panel discussions, strategy sessions and field trips to aerospace and aviation facilities. The Summit also includes a dedicated careers program targeting vocational and professional development to be attended by 100 of the UAE’s brightest student prospects.

Global Aerospace Summit’s opening address will be delivered by H.E. Mr. Sultan Al Mansoori, the Minister for Economy of the U.A.E. To close the first day of the Summit, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO and Managing Director of Mubadala will host a gala dinner at Jumeirah Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, enabling further collaboration and networking opportunities for the Summit’s delegates.

Among the individual speakers and delegates are James Albaugh, CEO, Boeing Commercial Airlines; Marwan Lahoud, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer, EADS; George T. Whitesides, CEO and President, Virgin Galactic and Tony Tyler, Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA); plus leaders of all the region’s leading lights in aviation and aerospace including Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways; Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of FlyDubai; James Bennett, CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports Company; and James Stewart, Group CEO of the Mubadala Aerospace MRO Network.

On Day One, a state of the industry address by Tony Tyler, CEO of IATA will be followed by panel sessions on meeting the Aviation Industry’s current and future challenges; overcoming regulatory constraints; investing in airport capacity; and the environment, fuel prices and legislation. Day Two features sessions on ‘Satellites as tools for regional economic development’ and ‘Commercial space business: a new era’ as well as on the global aerospace supply chain.

For further information on Global Aerospace Summit 2012, please visit Global Aerospace Summit Website or follow us on twitter @AerospaceAUX

For media enquiries please contact:

Nick Farmer, Bell Pottinger Middle East

nfarmer@bell-pottinger.co.uk

00971 55 559 7419

About Global Aerospace Summit 2012

Global Aerospace Summit 2012 is a select gathering of global industry leaders across the aerospace, aviation and space sectors that aims to promote cross industry thought leadership. The event takes place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as a result of the Emirate’s focus on economic diversification and investment that is leading to its emergence as an aerospace and aviation powerhouse on the world stage.

The summit is an exclusive, invitation-only event that combines top level insight from global leaders through in depth discussions and closed door sessions, as well as with site visits giving direct access to Abu Dhabi’s and Al Ain’s multibillion dollar state of the art aerospace and aviation facilities including Strata, Yahsat, and Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Confirmed speakers at the event include key leaders from a number of internationally recognized organizations.

About Mubadala Aerospace

Mubadala Aerospace, a business unit of Mubadala Development Company, is a global network of aerospace businesses that demonstrates world-class performance, and delivers value-added services and products to its customers with the highest standards of safety, quality, and efficiency. Mubadala Aerospace intelligently invests in a network of international businesses developing mutually-beneficial partnerships, and capitalizing on market opportunities to ensure sustainable value to its stakeholders, nurture the local Emirati talent, and drive innovative solutions for the aerospace industry.

Mubadala Aerospace has forged collaborative agreements with world-class aerospace and aviation companies leveraging global expertise for advanced, end-to-end technologies, and manufacturing bases that offer state-of-the-art facilities as well as a global customer base. Creating and sustaining value for its businesses, Mubadala Aerospace has developed strategic partnerships with leading organizations such as EADS/Airbus, Finmeccanica/Alenia Aeronautica, GE, Sikorsky Aerospace Services, and Lockheed Martin Corporation to build and maintain a globally competitive advantage.

The portfolio of businesses include: Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT), Advanced Military Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Centre (AMMROC), SR Technics, Sanad Aero Solutions, Strata Manufacturing, Horizon International Flight Academy, and Piaggio Aero. Each of these companies has proven expertise in its field and performs with a mutual endeavor to be best-in-class.