The United Arab Emirates has signed a deal with Dassault Aviation for the acquisition of 80 Rafale fighter jets, the largest ever obtained in the French combat aeronautics sector.

President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and vice-commander of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Eric Trappier, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, signed the contract with Tareq Abdul Raheem Al Hosani, CEO of Tawazun Economic Council, in charge of security and defence acquisitions.

The Emirates Air Force will be the first Rafale F4 user outside of France.

This contract comes on the back of a more than 45-year long relationship between the United Arab Emirates and Dassault, built on the Mirage family of fighter aircraft, notably the Mirage 2000-9, the modernisation of which began two years ago.

Eric Trappier, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, said: “The sale of 80 Rafale to the UAE Federation is a French success story: I am very proud and very happy as a result. I wish to thank the authorities of the Emirates for their renewed confidence in our aircraft. After the Mirage 5 and Mirage 2000, this Rafale contract consolidates the strategic relationship that binds our two countries and the satisfaction of the Emirates Air Force, a long-standing and demanding partner of our company. I wish to underline the quality and effectiveness of the relationship between the French authorities and industry, which contributed to this success by team France.

This contract is excellent news for France and for its aeronautical industry, for the entire ecosystem of 400 companies, both large and small, which contribute to the Rafale: this represents thousands of guaranteed jobs in our sector for the coming decade.

This contract consolidates France’s industrial base, which comprises major groups and SMEs, around Dassault as the prime contractor.

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