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Negotiations between France and Abu Dhabi for the purchase of up to 60 Dassault Rafale fighters are proceeding slowly, sources say, and an agreement is not likely before the end of the year, if then. The sources say technical definition of the aircraft is continuing, and that Abu Dhabi has still not decided which variant of the Snecma M-88 engine, and which long-range air-to-air missile, it wants to fit to the aircraft. The issue of how Abu Dhabi will trade in its current fleet of Mirage 2000-9 fighters is also still open.

Dassault CEO Charles Edelstenne told reporters June 12 that “the context is better” for his company’s defense business. He added that “our teams are discussing [Rafale] exports with several countries, and benefit from the unfailing support of President [Nicolas Sarkozy], as recently demonstrated in the United Arab Emirates,” but cautioned against over-optimism.

Other Mid-East countries are shopping for modern fighters, but no real progress is expected to be announced at Paris on any of these sales, either. Qatar is a potential buyer of the Rafale, while Oman could become the third export buyer of the Eurofighter Typhoon (after Austria and Saudi Arabia), while the official Kuwait News Agency on June 2 quoted Kuwaiti defense minister Sheikh Jaber al-Hamad al-Sabah as saying that the “French aircraft's high quality and advanced technology demands serious consideration with regard to buying them."

Libya in early 2008 said it would buy a small batch of 12-14 Rafales, and although French President Nicolas Sarkozy said a contract would likely be signed by July 2008, nothing more has been heard about this deal.