Marrakech:The 8th edition of the Marrakech Airshow commenced at the Royal Armed Forces air base in Marrakech, featuring nearly 200 exhibitors from 27 countries in the fields of aeronautics, defense, and space.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the event is held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and organized by the Association of Space, Aeronautics, and Defense Exhibitions (ASSAD). It runs through October 10 and is supported by Morocco’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the National Defense Administration, the Royal Armed Forces, and the Royal Gendarmerie. Additional support comes from the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), Airports of Morocco, Royal Air Maroc (RAM), and the Deposit and Management Fund (CDG).
This year’s airshow marks a strategic milestone with significant participation from the United Arab Emirates, featuring a large official delegation and key Emirati aerospace and defense sector players. High-level official foreign delegations, including ministers, chiefs of staff, and senior civilian and military officials, are also in attendance.
President of ASSAD, Taoufiq Moucharraf, highlighted Morocco’s progress in building a competitive aerospace industry under King Mohammed VI’s leadership, positioning the airshow as a showcase for technological innovation and a catalyst for Morocco’s aerospace ambitions.
The event includes global leaders such as Lockheed Martin, Airbus, Boeing, and Thales, among others. It features a major flight program and static displays, allowing visitors to explore state-of-the-art aircraft and technological advancements driving the aerospace industry’s evolution.
Discussions will focus on industrial sovereignty, resilience, supply chain security, digitalization, complex systems, and skills development, providing a platform for dialogue and networking among industry professionals.
Notable attendees at the opening ceremony included Deputy Minister to the Head of Government in charge of National Defense Administration Abdeltif Loudyi, Minister of Industry and Commerce Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Transportation and Logistics Abdessamad Kayouh, Major General Issa Saif Bin Ablan Al Mazrouei of the UAE Armed Forces, U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Duke Buchan III, and other dignitaries.