Thousands of British jobs secured as billions of pounds worth of aero deals announced at Dubai Airshow
Engineers and manufacturing workers across the UK will benefit from a flurry of major new aircraft deals announced this week at the Dubai Airshow
- Major Airbus aircraft orders including from Etihad and Emirates at Dubai Airshow worth billions to the UK economy.
- Deals secure thousands of UK manufacturing and engineering jobs in Derby, Wales and Bristol in latest vote of confidence in UK’s modern Industrial Strategy.
- UK Export Finance backs £2.7 billion package to help British firms win contracts for Dubai’s £27 billion project to build world’s largest airport.
Engineers and manufacturing workers across the UK will benefit from a flurry of major new aircraft deals announced this week at the Dubai Airshow, which are worth billions of pounds to the UK economy and will secure thousands of British jobs.
Airlines including Etihad, Emirates and FlyDubai have ordered or signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) for significant numbers of Airbus aircraft with wings designed in Bristol and manufactured in North Wales. The 34 widebody aircraft ordered are fitted with Rolls-Royce engines manufactured in Derby.
The aircraft orders complement the strong economic relationship between the UK and UAE – a G20 partner -with bilateral trade between both countries reaching a record £24.8 billion last year, while over 14,000 British companies export to the UAE annually.
During a visit to the Airshow earlier this week, Trade Minister Chris Bryant welcomed the orders as the latest vote of confidence in the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy and the British aerospace industry, which employs over 30,000 people, including small businesses in the supply chain. It shows the Government’s Plan for Change to grow the economy is delivering.
Trade Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:
"It was inspiring to see so many British businesses touting for massive deals at the Dubai air show this week. These are big wins for the UK and a major vote of confidence in great British manufacturing. British wings and engines supporting roughly 30,000 high-skilled jobs across the country. Ambition is really paying off.
"We’re bolstering our support for the aerospace industry through our modern Industrial Strategy – giving business the confidence it needs to invest in UK advanced manufacturing and delivering on growth as part of our Plan for Change."
In a further boost to the economy, UK Export Finance has announced an Expression of Interest to offer up to $3.5 billion of financing support towards Dubai’s new $35 billion Al Maktoum International Airport. The project is expected to create the world’s largest airport by scale and passenger volume, embracing leading sustainability technologies.
If a deal goes ahead, it would secure significant opportunities for British suppliers across the full spectrum of airport development including consultancy and other services; construction and manufacturing; and airport technologies, including operational and security systems.
Separate to the aircraft orders, Minister Bryant visited Dubai this week to progress talks for a UK-GCC trade agreement, which could boost bilateral trade by 16 percent and increase UK GDP by over £1.6 billion.
From: Department for Business and Trade and Sir Chris Bryant MP