Hosted by the Sharjah Airport Authority and organised by the Airports Council International (ACI) this is the fourth time that the Sharjah airport will host such an event, which is organised once every two years.

ACI represents the world airports. It was established in 1991 with the merger of the Airports Operators Council International (AOCI), the International Civil Airports Association (ICAA), and their umbrella body, the Airport Associations Coordinating Council (AACC).

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland its structure includes six geographical regions; Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, North America, and the Pacific. ACI has observer status with the United Nations' Economic and Social Council (UN/ECOSOC)and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).