The UAE is constantly looking out for new partnerships in all fields to explore the future strategic sectors, said His Excellency Adel Ahmad Al Redha, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of Emirates and member of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation.
HE Al Redha said: “The UAE’s aviation industry represents the largest airlines in the world and the best airports for travellers from around the globe. As one of the major pillars of the national economy, the industry is aiming to utilize innovation to transform the aviation sector, which has significant strategic and economic values in the field of services, infrastructure, technology, research and development.”
“The partnership with Airbus, one of the world’s largest aviation companies, comes in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make the UAE one of the best countries in the world by 2021. It reflects the efforts to enhance Dubai’s status globally in terms of leadership in innovation, implementation of new technologies, preparation of local talents and learning from external experiences,”
HE Al Redha stated on the sidelines of the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Dubai Future Foundation and Airbus as a step towards activating the ‘Future Partners’ programme based on the Dubai Future Agenda.
On this occasion, His Excellency Saif Al Aleeli, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Future Foundation, said: “We are pleased to sign the agreement with Airbus as we look to enhance innovation in the development of the transportation sector, especially aviation, by bringing Airbus experts on board.”
He added: “The importance of our strategic partnership with Airbus will be reflected in the improved performance of the aviation sector and the quality of services provided. The partnership will create new opportunities for the sector which is witnessing significant growth because of the increasing number of visitors to the UAE, including tourists, investors and new residents. It will help shape the future of the industry, and provide innovative services and solutions consistent with the idea of cities of the future.”
“Innovation lies at the heart of everything we do at Airbus. It is strongly engrained in our offerings, empowering us to create ground breaking opportunities and bringing a discovery-driven culture to the forefront”, said Yann Barbaux, Airbus’ Chief Innovation Officer.
“As a longstanding partner of UAE, we are proud of the vision of the Dubai Future Foundation and are keen to work closely on this initiative together with Emirates by nurturing both individuals and businesses alike to create a significant global transformation. We share the same vision and are committed to drive change through innovative ideas, content, workshops and a whole new approach to thinking.”
As per the MoU, Dubai Future Foundation and Airbus will work together on research and development projects in the field of aviation technologies, and make use of national competencies for the development of aviation technologies. The MoU will also create training opportunities for specialized personnel through workshops and research laboratories.
Airbus is a leading company in aircraft manufacturing industry in the world and offers the most advanced technology in designing aircrafts. The company has manufacturing facilities in France and Germany, United Kingdom, Spain and the United States as well as a number of affiliated companies in the United States, China, Japan, India and the Middle East.
The agreement with Airbus will promote Dubai Future Foundation as a research and scientific entity that focuses on the technical aspects and help identify the latest trends and technologies in line with future requirements.
Since its establishment in August 2015, Dubai Future Foundation has signed several memorandums of understanding with government entities, international companies, academic institutions and organizations, including: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center, The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Shenzhen Foundation for International Cooperation, UNESCO, and The Institute for Digital Archaeology, GE, and others.