Key issues facing business aviation in the Middle East – including the proliferation of drones in the skies, safety and security, investments in the industry and a workforce crunch – are being discussed by hundreds of experts at a conference currently under way in Dubai, UAE.

Organised by the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA), the one-day MEBAA Conference is being held ahead of the MEBAA Show, which opens tomorrow at the airshow site in Dubai South (Dubai World Central).

In the morning session, Mubadala’s Chief Executive Officer, Aerospace and Engineering Services, Homaid Al Shimmari, is addressing the conference about investments in business aviation, followed by Laila Ali Hareb Almuhairi, Assistant Director General at the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCCA).

A group of panellists is also discussing ways to ensure safety and security measures are enforced across the business aviation industry and the issue of drones in the UAE’s skies from four perspectives - regulation, innovation, legal and insurance.

The afternoon session includes a presentation on the outlook for business aviation in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region from Mike Beazley, VP Global Sales, Honeywell; a panel discussion on the importance of FBOs in airports, and the UAE’s business aviation by the numbers, presented by WingX.

The conference ends with panellists discussing the current shortage of personnel, and suggesting steps to ease the crunch, through employing more local staff, training and development. 

As many as 500 delegates have registered for the conference, which is being held at the Address Hotel, Dubai Marina.