Here at the Dubai Airshow yesterday, Cessna delivered the first Citation X business jet retrofitted with Winglet Technology’s elliptical winglets to Wallan Aviation of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The modification cuts drag to reduce fuel consumption, while also boosting speed and range–especially when operating from the exceptionally hot conditions that operators face here in the Middle East.

The new Citation X winglets were approved through a supplementary type certificate from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in June and by last month it had been retrofitted on five aircraft. The composite winglets, for which Wichita-based Winglet Technology has also received approval from Transport Canada and Brazil’s ANAC, ensure that the aerodynamic lift distribution across the wingspan is as close as possible to the ideal elliptical distribution.

The winglet retrofit kit also includes the replacement of anti-collision and position lights with LED versions. According to Cessna, plans are under way to offer installation of the winglets on the Citation X at the company’s nine service centers located throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Wallan Aviation, which has a base in Dubai as well as its main Riyadh base, is Cessna’s Authorized Citation Service Center for the Middle East. Chairman Saad Wallan uses his Citation X to travel between diverse business interests in the Middle East, the U.S., Europe and Asia.