Paris/Dubai (dpa) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is buying 80 French Rafale fighter jets.
The contract with manufacturer Dassault Aviation was signed during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Dubai on Friday, according to the Elysee Palace in Paris.
According to the French Defence Ministry, the 16-billion-euro (18.1-billion-dollar) arms deal is the largest export order for the fighter aircraft to date.
The UAE also plans to buy 12 Caracal multi-purpose tactical and transport helicopters from Airbus in an order worth 1 billion euros.
In addition, the UAE had agreed to invest around 10 billion euros in French industry in the space, transport and renewable energy sectors.
“In order to develop the technologies of tomorrow, to support our entrepreneurs with vision and to make a leap in space, we agree with the United Arab Emirates on an important investment partnership with numerous players on both sides,” Macron said.
Macron met UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed at Expo 2020, a showcase world exhibition being held in Dubai.
They discussed “relations of friendship, courses of joint cooperation and chances for developing it” in all fields, UAE’s state news agency WAM reported, without referring to the Rafale deal.
Macron and Prince Mohammed, the de facto UAE ruler, also reviewed the Middle East scene, according to the agency, which did not give details.
Macron’s visit comes as the UAE marks its 50th anniversary.
WAM quoted him as expressing eagerness to exploring “fresh and promising prospects” of joint cooperation to serve both countries’ interests and bolster regional peacemaking.
The French president had travelled to Dubai on Friday at the start of a two-day Gulf trip taking him to the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
He is accompanied by a business delegation and parts of the Cabinet, including Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire and Defence Minister Florence Parly.
The fight against terrorism, regional stability and the situation in Libya are just as much the focus of the trip to the Gulf region as economic contacts, it was said.
