An Emirates Airline A-380 leads the "Al Fursan", or the Knights, a UAE Air Force aerobatic display team, during the opening day of the Dubai Air Show, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. The biennial Dubai Air Show opened Sunday with hometown long-haul carrier Emirates making a $15.1 billion buy of American-made Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, as the world's biggest defense companies promoted their weapons amid heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili) — Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Air show kicks off in Dubai without Qatar Airways

World's biggest defence companies promote their weapons amid heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Published November 12, 2017

The biennial Dubai Airshow opened on Sunday as the world's biggest defence companies promoted their weapons amid heightened tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Other airlines also are taking part, but missing from the trade show this year is one of the region's largest long-haul carriers, Qatar Airways, amid diplomatic fallout between Qatar and four Arab nations.

The airline's business has suffered under Trump's travel bans affecting predominantly Muslim nations, as well as the recent ban on laptops in airplane cabins. The air show comes as the Qatar dispute is now in its fifth month with no resolution in sight.

Qatar Airways previously had played a big role in the Dubai Airshow, reserving a large pavilion and displaying its latest aircraft to visitors. At the start of the air show, Dubai-based Emirates, the Middle East's largest carrier, unveiled new, state-of-the-art, first class private suites.

In previous years, major Mideast carriers have flexed their spending power at the Dubai Airshow, including $140 billion in new orders announced in 2013 before the collapse of oil prices.

A F16 Emirati fighter jet performs during the opening day of the Dubai Airshow.—AP
A F16 Emirati fighter jet performs during the opening day of the Dubai Airshow.—AP

Two Sukhoi Su-30SM from the Russian Knights aerobatic team perform during the Dubai Airshow.—AFP
Two Sukhoi Su-30SM from the Russian Knights aerobatic team perform during the Dubai Airshow.—AFP

Participants walk past a drone displayed during the Dubai Airshow.—AFP
Participants walk past a drone displayed during the Dubai Airshow.—AFP

Four Sukhoi Su-30SM from the Russian Knights aerobatic team perform during the Dubai Airshow.—AFP
Four Sukhoi Su-30SM from the Russian Knights aerobatic team perform during the Dubai Airshow.—AFP

Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum attends the Dubai Airshow.—AFP
Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum attends the Dubai Airshow.—AFP

A French Rafale fighter jet performs during the Dubai Airshow.—AFP
A French Rafale fighter jet performs during the Dubai Airshow.—AFP

A Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner is parked in front of an Emirates Airline plane during the opening day of the Dubai Airshow.—AP
A Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner is parked in front of an Emirates Airline plane during the opening day of the Dubai Airshow.—AP

Two Emirates Airline planes fly in front of the "Al Fursan", or the Knights, a UAE Air Force aerobatic display team, during the opening day of the Dubai Airshow.—AP
Two Emirates Airline planes fly in front of the "Al Fursan", or the Knights, a UAE Air Force aerobatic display team, during the opening day of the Dubai Airshow.—AP

An Airbus A350 performs a flight display during the Dubai Airshow.—AFP
An Airbus A350 performs a flight display during the Dubai Airshow.—AFP

Models of Saudi Royal Air Force fighter jets are seen during the Dubai Airshow.—AFP
Models of Saudi Royal Air Force fighter jets are seen during the Dubai Airshow.—AFP

Russian Knights, an aerobatic demonstration team of the Russian Air Force, perform during the opening day of the Dubai Airshow.—AP
Russian Knights, an aerobatic demonstration team of the Russian Air Force, perform during the opening day of the Dubai Airshow.—AP