21 July, 2006

DUBAI AEROSPACE ENTERPRISE SPONSORS FARNBOROUGH’S INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), the US$15bn global aerospace company, today (Friday) underpinned its continuing emergence within the industry by sponsoring International Youth Day at the UK’s Farnborough International Airshow.

The initiative, opened officially on Thursday by the British Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. Tony Blair, was organised for the first time this year and attracted approximately 1,250 young people aged between 15–23, who are studying aerospace and engineering-related courses.

Dr Mohammed Al Zarouni, Managing Director of DAE said: “Dubai Aerospace Enterprise is proud to have been associated with the very first International Youth Day at Farnborough. It has been a perfect showcase for DAE University, which will open its doors for students this autumn.

“This initiative has been an investment in our future generation and has enabled us to connect with the young people who will be the aerospace industry of tomorrow. It has therefore been an ideal platform for DAE to underline what an innovative and ambitious organisation we intend to become within the next decade.”

DAE University, which opens this October, is a specialist aerospace institute and one of the six divisions of DAE. Currently being established in Dubai, it will leverage strategic partnerships with world-renowned international aerospace educational establishments including the UK’s highly respected Cranfield University.

Offering a wide range of academic degrees and apprenticeship programmes, the University will be fully developed by 2015, when 8,000 students a year will pass through its doors.

DAE participated in a number of events throughout International Youth Day including a ‘Fresher’s Fair’, at which aspiring postgraduate students heard from DAE officials about the range of Masters and Doctorate courses on offer at DAE University.

Around 50 students were invited to lunch at the DAE chalet, to hear more from senior executives about DAE University and the company’s graduate recruitment programme, which will be commencing shortly. After lunch, students were then able to watch the show’s spectacular flying display, itself sponsored by DAE for the duration of the seven-day show, from the chalet’s viewing area.

At the closing ceremony of International Youth Day, DAE’s Project Director, Rashid Al Malik, gave a short speech to thank the Youth Ambassadors who had escorted the groups of students around the airshow during the day.

Addressing the ambassadors, he said: “The groups you have so ably led around the airshow today have been given a wonderful insight into today’s aerospace sector and seen some of the incredible initiatives already underway for our industry of tomorrow. DAE University, like the other elements of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, will form a key part of this industry in years to come and we hope you have been truly inspired, just as we are, to help shape our industry for future generations.” DAE believes its sponsorship of the Farnborough Airshow – the world’s biggest gathering of aerospace professionals – was a suitable showcase to highlight its continuing emergence.

“We have taken steady and positive steps in building a business since announcing the formation of DAE at the turn of the year,” said Dr Al Zarouni. “We began to tell the world about DAE at the Singapore Airshow in February, immediately after our launch in Dubai.

Now, at the world’s biggest airshow at Farnborough, the combination of our sponsorships, our high profile presence in the main exhibitors area, and the positive discussions we have had behind the scenes with some of great names in aerospace, mean that we have make significant strides forward in our plans for the future.”