Dassault Aviation is marking the 50th anniversary partnering with the UAE during the 2023 edition of the Dubai Airshow as it builds its presence in the Gulf region across military, civil, and services portfolios.
Dassault’s relationship with the UAE dates back to 1973 with its Mirage 5 and now encompasses a fleet of Mirage 2000-9s with 80 Rafales on order slated for delivery beginning in 2027. The aircraft has built a strong foothold in the region with orders from Egypt and Qatar as well.
At the show, Dassault has a Rafale C on static display along with a Rafale F4 simulator. The Rafale also participates in the flying display each day through the French Air and Space Force, which operates a Rafale detachment deployed at the Al Dhafra base in the UAE.
On the civil side, Dassault brought a Falcon 2000LXS 4,000-nm business jet along with a full-scale model of its Falcon 10X cabin.
Dassault is eying the region as it continues to progress with the 7,500-nm 10X, which will be able to connect the Gulf to destinations in Asia, Australia, or the U.S. West Coast. Accommodating that range, the Mach 0.925 19-passenger ultra-long-range jet will feature the largest cabin of a purpose-built business jet on the market. Development continues with primary components now in production. However, while originally planning for service entry in 2025, Dassault more recently has shown reluctance to confirm the certification timeline given the uncertainties surrounding the supply chain.
Meanwhile, Dassault’s ExecuJet MRO Services opened last summer at Al Maktoum International Airport, as the company works to increase its support capabilities globally. Replacing the former facility at Dubai International Airport, the center can accommodate 15 aircraft.
Up next, in the first half of 2024, a new ExecuJet MRO Services maintenance facility is due to open in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.