(Adds details, context, airport financing plans)
By Martin Dokoupil
DUBAI, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Dubai World's biggestcreditors have agreed a deal with the state-owned conglomerateto renegotiate its debt repayment schedule, one of Dubai's topgovernment officials said on Wednesday.
However, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum, chairman ofDubai's Supreme Fiscal Committee, also dashed hopes that some ofthe emirate's most high-profile state-owned companies, such asEmirates airline, could join a rush of initial publicofferings being planned in the coming months.
Strong demand for a $1.58 billion IPO of Emaar Properties' malls unit last month shows confidence running throughDubai's economy thanks to increased revenue from travel andtourism and a recovery from a property crash and debt crisis atstate-linked companies.
Some firms want to use the positive sentiment to improvetheir debt positions, with Dubai World seeking to extend therepayment date of the biggest chunk of debt under its $25billion restructuring in exchange for a series of incentives.
Sources told Reuters last month that an agreement had beensecured with the creditor committee of banks including HSBC and Emirates NBD on a deal.
"I would say so," Sheikh Ahmed told reporters at anAfrica-focused investment event in the emirate when asked if thebiggest creditors had agreed the plan.
EMIRATES
A number of companies are expected to follow Emaar's mallsunit and list on the Dubai bourse. ID:nL6N0RV25C]
Sheikh Ahmed, uncle of Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed binRashid al-Maktoum, is one of the top economic decision-makers inthe emirate and is chairman of a number of Dubai state firms,including carrier Emirates.
He ruled out on Wednesday any flotations by these companies,including the airline and air travel service provider Dnata,saying they were not being considered.
But he said the airline is looking to expand the number ofroutes it services in Africa and it would add more frequencieswhere bilateral agreements allowed.
"For us, Dubai is always about connection...and no doubtthat we will expand to every point in Africa."
Dubai announced last month it will spend $32 billion onexpanding its second airport - Al Maktoum International - tohandle over 200 million people annually next decade, roughlytriple the current level of passenger traffic.
A financing committee has been put together to study how tofund the project, with the government putting in cash initiallyto kick-start construction while it conducts financingarrangements over the next 12 months, Sheikh Ahmed said. (writing by David French and Nadia Saleem; editing by DavidClarke/Keith Weir)
HSBC Holdings (HSBA)