Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF) 2025 to Convene in Dubai Alongside Airport Show

Aviation leaders from across the world will converge in Dubai from May 6–7, 2025, for the 12th edition of the Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF). Held in conjunction with the 24th Airport Show, the high-level forum will bring together over 50 global officials, policymakers, and technology experts to explore transformative megatrends and tackle the future challenges of the aviation industry.

With global air passenger traffic projected to soar to 12.4 billion by 2050 according to ICAO, the forum will address innovations, strategic infrastructure developments, and sustainability practices shaping the next generation of airports.

Keynote Speakers and Panel Highlights

The forum will feature keynote addresses by:

• H.E. Lt. General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General, GDRFA-Dubai, focusing on excellence and forward-thinking aviation strategy

• H.E. Mohammed Abdulla Lengawi, Director General, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority

• Abdulla Al Shamsi, Director of Engineering, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP), on innovation in airport evolution

• Yann Guillemain, SVP for EMEA Airports at Amadeus, on future-ready aviation operations

A C-suite panel discussion, moderated by Captain Abdullah Al Haider of DACO Dammam Airports Company, will explore groundbreaking strategies in airport expansion and infrastructure. Panelists include leaders from Senegal, Albania, Italy, and Schneider Electric, sharing cross-border insights.

Airport Show: Regional Hub for Innovation

Running alongside GALF, the Airport Show—the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia's largest B2B airport exhibition—will be held at Dubai World Trade Centre under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Emirates Airline.

This year’s edition will host:

• 130+ exhibitors and 150+ buyers from 30 countries

• Country pavilions and 30+ conference sessions

• New platforms: GSE Zone, Airport Tech Pavilion, and Airport Design Hub

• Two concurrent conferences: Airport Security Middle East and Air Traffic Control Forum

As global millennial travelers—expected to number 2.4 billion by 2050—increasingly demand smarter, safer air travel, GALF and the Airport Show offer a vital space to debate and co-create a more sustainable, secure, and tech-driven airport ecosystem.