Airbus Group, a leading aircraft manufacturer, will deliver 30 commercial aircraft to UAE carriers Etihad Airways, Emirates Airlines, and Air Arabia.

UAE, which is considered as one of the group’s biggest clients, makes up around 20 per cent of its Middle East market, a report in WAM quoted Marwan Lahoud, chief strategy and marketing officer for Airbus Group, as saying.

On the commercial side, the UAE is the group’s top customer in the Middle East.

Moreover, the Middle East as a whole accounts for 20 per cent of the company’s orders globally. Over the next couple of years, Airbus expects to deliver one out of five for commercial, and one out of five for defence to the region, the report said.

Lahoud also pointed out to the prospects of starting a full-fledged production in the region.

“We talk about markets but fundamentally what is happening now is that the industry is shifting. What was built in Europe is now shifting here and this is something we would like to stress,” he told WAM.

Airbus also aims to be a part of the development in the region, through building industry, creating highly qualified jobs, and providing employment.

"Through our strong and positive presence that goes back more than four decades in the region, we have created strategic partnerships to provide assistance, training and support by building local entities, creating jobs, and contributing to local economic development. The regional governments are working to develop a knowledge based economy and this is an area where we as a group play a role in supporting current and future talent," the report quoted Lahoud as saying.