Dubai 2015: UK Minister leads trade delegation to Dubai

Speaking to journalists at the UK Trade and Investment stand he said that such visits were important for building international relations and strengthening partnerships.

“This is my second Dubai Airshow and the growth in the number of UK companies exhibiting really reflects the growing strength and depth of the relationships between the UK and emerging Emirati defence industries,” he said.

He added the UK was in the midst of completing its strategic defence and security review (SDSR), which is due to be published before the end of the year.

“The theme running throughout that document is the strength of our international partnerships, which are at the core of our mission for defence. The Gulf plays an important part in that,” Dunne said.

“We’ve already announced the establishment of the first permanent basing to the east of Suez since the 1970s, with the development of the naval base in Bahrain. And we look to broaden and deepen our contribution to the security and stability of the region through our SDSR process.”

Dunne wouldn’t be drawn on the state of the potential second tranche contract on the Eurofighter Typhoon for Saudi Arabia. The UK secured a $6.8bn (£4.4bn) deal in 2007 to supply 72 Typhoons to the kingdom, but a potential second tranche contract has been delayed for some time.