A Swiss aviation lighting specialist currently equipping airports across Europe and Asia is bidding for major projects in Kuwait, Qatar and Dubai as the Middle East forges ahead with $10 billion worth of airport developments.

Nivatec, designers and manufacturers of high mast lighting systems, have joined an international line-up of exhibitors competing for lucrative contracts during the third Airport Build & Supply Exhibition and Conference taking place at Airport Expo Dubai from June 2-4.

Organised by event management and marketing specialists, Streamline Marketing, the exhibition is a vital showcase for airport suppliers from around the world, and companies like Nivatec, visiting the Middle East for the first time, have high hopes of capitalising on the huge amount of airport development in the region.

The company, which is currently supplying airport lighting systems in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Brunei and Korea, will be showing off a full-scale model of a unique up-down airport apron lighting system in Dubai.

Held under the patronage of HH Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the DCA, the Airport Build & Supply Exhibition and Conference has been commissioned by the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation (DDCA) in its bid to ensure the new generation of Middle East airports are built to the most technologically advanced specifications.

"Each exhibitor will have private meetings with DCA project managers, engineers or architects to discuss Dubai International Airport's $ 4.1 billion expansion, and DCA officials from neighbouring countries will also be encouraged to schedule private meetings with exhibitors," said Joanne Evans, director of Streamline Marketing.

Slovakian-based IDES Ltd expects the exhibition to boost its sales of airport check-in counters, and police, customs and information booths in the Middle East, which currently generates 20 per cent of its annual turnover.