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Qatar has agreed to buy up to 210 aircraft from Boeing, which US President Donald Trump praised as the largest jet in American history.
The White House said more than $243 billion in economic deals have been agreed with Qatar as Trump toured the oil-rich bay in pursuit of headline-watching investments.
Qatar Airways, a state-owned domestic airline, has agreed to a $96 billion deal to acquire a 777x aircraft with up to 210 American-made Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the White House added that it is Boeing’s “largest widebody order of all time.” No time slots were given for orders.
According to Boeing, the order included the option to buy a 130 787, a 30 777x jet, and an additional 50 widebody aircraft.
“Congratulations to Boeing. Take those planes there,” Trump said at a signing ceremony with Qatar chief Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani. “thank you.”
Boeing shares rose 1.5% by early afternoon in New York on Wednesday.
The announcement, he said, has pledged Saudi Arabia to invest $600 million through many transactions in defense, artificial intelligence, energy and other sectors after Trump visited Riyadh on Tuesday. However, it was not clear which time frame would be invested as analysts warned that some transactions might not be realized.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said more than $300 million had been signed to the forum, but Riyadh was “working on a US partnership opportunity worth $600 million.”
Trump’s three-state tour of the Gulf has been clouded by controversy over the president’s willingness to embrace the $400 million jumbo jet “gift” from Qatar.
The president defended the gorgeous Boeing 747-8 offer and said he would go to the Department of Defense. Doha said it was inaccurate to describe the jet as a gift, adding that “possibility of aircraft transfer” is still “under consideration.”
When he met Sheikh Tamim on Tuesday, Trump praised what he described as “a very loyal, great, beautiful friendship.”
“Now we can work together at our best,” he said.
The aircraft contract with Qatar also includes GE Aerospace’s 400 Genx and Ge9x widebody engines. GE CEO Larry Culp said it was “the biggest wide body engine deal ever.”
Qatar reportedly had discussions with Boeing and Airbus about a large-scale order a year ago. “These orders have usually been burned down for a long time, especially with supply chain disruptions,” said Addison Schonland, co-founder of Aviation Consultancy Airinsight Group.
Airlines regularly negotiate discounts from the list price of the plane they buy. This means the final price will be lower than the $96 billion price. Boeing did not immediately specify how many aircraft they ordered and how many Qatars they had the option to buy.
Other multi-billion dollar deals have also been sealed off in Qatar for defense, energy and technology, according to the White House.
Qatar sought to strengthen relations with the United States by acting as an intermediary for Washington, the Taliban and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. After the October 7, 2023 attacks by Palestinian extremist groups sparked a war in Gaza, Doha acted as a mediator between Israel and Hamas.
Trump’s trip comes as Israel prepares to escalate its attack on Hamas in Gaza after 19 months of war. Palestinian health officials say the Israeli strike killed at least 70 people on the strip on Wednesday.
“What’s very important is bringing peace to the region,” Sheikh Tamim told Trump. The president did not mention Gaza in his public comments in Doha.
A diplomat who explained the talks said negotiations were ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas as mediators tried to secure a short-term ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
