In pictures: the Dubai Airshow

Boeing chairman James McNerney speaks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, left, and Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, right, the chief executive of Emirates Airline. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters

James Hogan, Etihad’s chief executive, sits between Ray Conner, left, Boeing’s chief for commercial airplanes, and David Joyce, the chief of GE Aviation, at yesterday’s signing of the aircraft and engine deal at the Dubai Airshow. Jaime Puebla / The National

Jets on display at the Dubai Airshow. Christopher Pike / The National

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, speaks with Philip Hammond, the UK defence secretary, centre, and Dominic Jermey, the British ambassador to the UAE, second right. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Not even a sandstorm could dampen the mood at the Dubai Airshow. Jaime Puebla / The National

Dr Yoge Patel, the chief executive of BlueBear, shows her company’s remote-controlled surveillance device at the Dubai Airshow. Christopher Pike / The National

More than 1,000 exhibitors are participating at the Dubai Airshow. Sarah Dea / The National

An aerial display by the Al Fursan aerobatics demonstration team during the Dubai Airshow. Jaime Puebla / The National

A Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer model at the BAE Systems stand at the Dubai Airshow. Sarah Dea / The National

An Emirates A380-800 at the Dubai Airshow. Christopher Pike / The National

Military visitors walk during the sandstorm at the Dubai Airshow. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters

A man climbs onto a UAE Army Apache 64 Delta helicopter during the Dubai Airshow. Christopher Pike / The National

Al Fursan, the aerobatics demonstration team of the UAE Air Force, performs during the Dubai Airshow. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters

A UAE Air Force plane is displayed during the Dubai Airshow. Marwan Naamani / AFP

Guests walk by the flydubai B737-700 BBJ plane at the Dubai Airshow. Sarah Dea / The National

Visitors view a replica of the Eurofighter Typhoon at the Dubai Airshow. Kamran Jebreili AP Photo

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, right, speaks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during the airshow display at the Dubai Airshow. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Gulf airlines yesterday spent in excess of $150 billion on a slew of new aircraft orders at the Dubai Airshow, deliveries of which will start from the end of the decade.