Transport exhibition planned to feature Middle East infrastructure projects

Date: 2/12/2009

Middle East transportation is expecting a $147 billion investment to upgrade infrastructure to the region and will host the Gulf Traffic Exhibition this December to feature products and service innovations from around the global industry.

Exhibition organisers highlighted Dubai's Road and Transportation Authority announced it had projects underway that exceeded $4 billion, while Saudi Arabia's project commitments underway already total $5.6 billion.

Project numbers continue to grow in the region, due to a reported need to bring the area's transportation systems to an international level, according to Gulf Traffic Exhibition organisers from IIR Middle East.

Sarah Woodbridge, group director of exhibitions at IIR Middle East said: "Work on the rail network that will link all six members of the GCC is expected to start in late 2010 or 2011, according to the UAE’s Union Railway Company."

Ms Woodbridge noted the cost of the rail network would probably cost more than $60 million and bolster trade across regional state borders.

IIR Middle East believes that against the backdrop of high investment into the region’s transportation infrastructure, the event will establish itself as one of the "world’s most important infrastructure events".