Digitally assisted close air support technology is coming to the Middle East.

This year’s Dubai Airshow is going to be bigger, better and more varied than anything that has gone before, says Michele van Akelijen, managing director of show organizers F&E Aerospace.

Russia’s government arms trade agency Rosoboronexport is restoring ties with Iran, continuing deliveries to Syria and otherwise planning to boost sales to the Middle East region.

In 2008, the sale of U.S. precision-guided weapons to Saudi Arabia was controversial in Congress. But the sale of all kinds of weapons to the oil-rich kingdom has picked up, particularly since 2010.

The Middle East Business Aviation Association does much more than hold a conference and show in Dubai every two years. It is working hard to develop business aviation across the region, and can point to meaningful results.

Lektro is celebrating its 70th year in business while at the Dubai Airshow, where it will deliver a new tug to Al Bateen’s premier FBO, Dhabi Jet.

Gama Aviation’s Sharjah fixed base operation has tightened up its business aviation ground-based costs and can now offer services 20% below the regional market average, says Gama Managing Director for MENA Martin Ringrose.

Athens-based VIP charter operator GainJet Aviation is fitting a state-of-the-art quick-change auxiliary fuel tank system to its Boeing 737-400 Classic and hopes to fly it here to the Dubai Airshow.