The Dubai Airshow closed its doors today on a successful week which saw US$63.3 billion worth of orders for aircraft, maintenance services and flight training programmes.

Visitor numbers broke the Dubai Airshow record with 56,548 people attending, making the 12^th edition of the Dubai Airshow the biggest as well as the most colourful yet, as the halls, pavilions and chalets displayed the colours of the UAE national flag in celebration of the nation’s 40^th anniversary in two weeks’ time on 2 December.

The theme of flight training which permeated this year’s Dubai Airshow continued on the final day with the signing by Fujairah Aviation Academy in the UAE with IATA, to develop the facility as an IATA-approved training centre for high school graduates.

The UAE’s 40^th anniversary celebrations at the Dubai Airshow came to a climax as the country’s new aerobatic display team – Al Fursan – opened the aerial display with a fly-past with an Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft, proudly trailing the colours of UAE national flag to the delight of the crowd below.

Alison Weller, Managing Director of airshow organiser F&E Aerospace, said: “We promised a Dubai Airshow that would be bigger and better than ever and we did not disappoint. The past week has been notable for its buoyant crowds, spectacular aerial displays and astonishing order announcements. As the show comes to an end, it will be time to take stock of the successes and the challenges, in preparation for Dubai Airshow 2013 at Dubai World Central!”