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Rafale fighter jets on the French aircraft carrier "Charles de Gaulle"
Photo: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP
The United Arab Emirates and France have agreed a large arms deal.
This was announced by the Elysée Palace in Paris.
Accordingly, the Gulf emirates are buying a total of 80 Rafale fighter aircraft from the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation, as well as twelve Caracal tactical multi-purpose and transport helicopters from Airbus.
The contract was signed during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Dubai.
In addition to the arms deal, the Emirates had agreed to invest in French industry in the fields of space travel, transport and renewable energy.
In all cases, the amount of investments was not stated.
Macron travels to the Gulf region
Macron had traveled to Dubai at the beginning of a two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
He is accompanied by a business delegation and parts of the cabinet, including Economics Minister Bruno Le Maire and Defense Minister Florence Parly.
The fight against terrorism, regional stability and the situation in Libya are just as focal points of the trip to the Gulf region as economic contacts, it said.
France and the Emirates are important trading partners, and more than 600 French companies are active in the Emirates.
For Macron, it will probably be the last trip to these countries before the French presidential election in April.
mrc / dpa