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Dubai Airshow Opens at Record Scale With Emirates’ $38 Billion 777-9 Order, UAE-Made B‑250 Debut

The show underscores the UAE’s non‑oil diversification via major aircraft orders, a homegrown combat jet debut, high‑level defense diplomacy.

Overview

  • Emirates confirmed a purchase of 65 Boeing 777‑9 aircraft valued at about $38 billion, raising its total Boeing widebody orders to 315.
  • The UAE publicly unveiled the domestically designed B‑250 light combat aircraft from Calidus, marking its first showing at the event.
  • Organizers say this largest edition hosts about 1,500 exhibitors, 148,000 visitors, and 490 delegations from 115 countries at Dubai World Central through November 21.
  • Flight displays include a Joby eVTOL demonstration and the region’s first appearance of COMAC’s C919, alongside F‑35, B‑52, Rafale, and Boeing 777X performances.
  • UAE leaders received international delegations and convened defense dialogues, the Air Chiefs Conference focused on hypersonics, unmanned systems and AI, and a UN envoy projected UAE 2025 growth at roughly 4.7–4.9%.