The two have agreed in principle to organise MRO Middle East Conference & Exhibition to be held at the Airport Expo Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in February 2009.

'AVIATION WEEK has an enviable track record in staging events devoted to maintenance, repair and overhaul for the aviation sector with successful exhibitions and conferences dedicated to this evolving segment in Asia, Europe and North America. Its global expertise combined with F&E's unrivalled knowledge of the Middle East market will produce an event which we anticipate will rapidly climb the international rankings,' said Virginia Kern, Chairman, F&E.

AVIATION WEEK also publishes the monthly sector-specific magazine 'Overhaul & Maintenance'; a full compliment of on-line MRO communities and data services, including its new MRO Prospector.

'The industry is rapidly evolving as operators increasingly embrace outsourcing as well as lean and bundled services,' said Tom Henricks, AVIATION WEEK's President. 'With the Middle East now one of the world's fastest-growing aviation regions with new and expanding carriers, MRO demand is accelerating, which justifies a dedicated event of this nature.'

MRO Middle East joins a growing stable of aviation events being organised by F&E in Dubai. In addition to the Dubai Airshow, which celebrates its 10th edition this November and is now the third largest in the world, the company also organises the Middle East Business Aviation event and the recently launched Aircraft Interiors Middle East exhibition.

'Aviation and aerospace have now been identified by governments in the Middle East and Arabian Gulf in particular as key sectors for development and economic diversification and numerous initiatives are now emerging from the region,' said Alison Weller, Aerospace Director, F&E. 'MRO activities will form integral elements of these initiatives and the sector is set for huge regional advancement. MRO Middle East is the right event, in the right region at the right time.'