Zabeel Investments, the Dubai-based diversified investment company has taken a strategic stake in the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (E

Zabeel Investments, the Dubai-based diversified investment company has taken a strategic stake in the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), as part of the company's tactical strategy to invest outside of the region.Zabeel Investments' Executive Chairman Mohammed Ali Al Hashimi, stated: 'We are currently looking at a number of international investment opportunities covering a number of industry sectors, however this equity stake in EADS is our first investment outside the region. EADS has a diversified product portfolio, which provides a strong investment opportunity, further solidifying the UAE's continued expansion in the aviation sector. With some of the world's most profitable and sustainable airlines, such as Emirates and Etihad, it makes sense for UAE companies to invest in this area.' From a regional perspective, the UAE dominates in terms of traffic, aircraft orders and airline expansions, and has been investing heavily in aviation infrastructure for some time, particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The news comes after Dubai International Airport was listed by Airports Council International at 10th place in terms of international traffic, having handled 16.2 million passengers in the first six months of 2007, an 18 percent increase over the same period in 2006. EADS is a global leader in the aerospace and defence fields, and includes in its portfolio Airbus and Eurocopter, it is also the leader in space programmes such as Ariane and Galileo. 2006 saw the company generate revenues in the area of 39.4 billion.The announcement comes immediately after Global Securities Equities Fund (GSEF) published news of its 3.12 percent stake in the European aerospace company. The GSEF is part of DICAM, the asset management subsidiary of Dubai International Capital (DIC). Source