Dassault Aviation's Falcon 8X is returning to the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation (MEBAA) show next week as the French aircraft manufacturer prepares for a growing market for its long-range, large-cabin models in the region. Dassault noted that its large-cabin models such as its 6,450-nm Falcon 8X comprise a third of the 75 Falcons in the region and anticipate that to grow higher once its Falcon 6X and 10X reach the market in coming years.

Making a bow when MEBAA was last held in 2018, the Falcon 8X can fly nonstop between New York and Dubai, Dubai and Adelaide, and Jeddah and Sao Paulo, Dassault noted. The aircraft further includes features such as the FalconEye dual head-up display that enables low visibility approach with 100-foot minima as well as capabilities for short runway airports with steep approaches such as London City Airport.

Dassault further has received strong interest, including a “significant number of orders” from the Middle East for its 6X that is slated to enter service in mid-2023. Several deliveries are lined up to the region shortly after the wide-cabin model enters service, the French airframer said, adding the 6X is in its final stages of flight testing.

Its upcoming ultra-long-range Falcon 10X will build on that once it hits the market in late 2025, according to the company.

As its fleet continues to grow, Dassault Aviation is expanding on its services capabilities, including the planned opening of an ExecuJet MRO Services 15,000-sq-m (163,000-sq-ft) center in early 2023 at Dubai World Central. Serving operators in the Gulf region, the facility at Al Maktoum International Airport (OMDW) will be able to accommodate between 18 and 24 aircraft simultaneously and will be qualified to handle a full range of MRO activities, from line maintenance to major overhauls.

ExecuJet—a unit of Dassault—will offer services for other OEM aircraft in addition to Falcons, including both regionally-based and in-transit aircraft. To serve as ExecuJet’s regional headquarters, the complex is replacing ExecuJet’s base maintenance at Dubai International Airport (OMDB). However, the OMDB location will continue to provide AOG services.

Dassault has also stocked a spares distribution center in Dubai and added an engineering office in Cairo.