Makers of business jets descended in droves on Dubai in hope of increasing their share of a lucrative market as a regional business aviation exhibition kicked off in the booming city.

Dozens of business jets ranging from tiny two-seaters to luxurious converted commercial aircraft were brought in by major producers to showcase in the substantial regional market.

"The Middle East region has always been a strong market. Twenty-five percent of our (total) sales came from the Middle East. We see this continuing," said Charles Colburn, director of product marketing at Boeing Business Jets (BBJ).

The percentage corresponds to total sales of 33 jets since 1996, the year the BBJ range of products -- BBJ1, BBJ2 and BBJ3 -- was launched, derived from the commercial Boeing 737 family.

Colburn told AFP on the sidelines of the two-day Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) exhibition that last year 80 percent of Boeing's total sales of executive jets -- worth 2.5 billion dollars -- came from the Middle East.

The head of Dubai civil aviation, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum, highlighted the growth in the regional market.

"The region's business aviation fleet numbered 250 (last year). It now stands at over 300," he told participants.

The figure includes both classic business jets and converted commercial airliners.

Colburn said that the Middle East has played an important role in shaping the BBJ aircraft.

"We had requests for an aeroplane which they (clients) can fly from the Middle East to Europe and with more space for luggage," he said.

Boeing is also faring well with its widebody business jets, which include the converted commercial planes 787 Dreamliner and the 747-8, said Colburn, adding that seven of nine orders for widebody planes were from Middle East customers.

Airbus -- Boeing's European arch rival -- also boasted about its performance in the Middle East, saying the region accounted for 25 percent of a total of some 80 Airbus Corporate Jetliners (ACJ) sold worldwide.

In addition, more than 40 Airbus widebodies, which include the A330, A340 and A380, have been sold to Middle East customers, said David Velupillai, marketing director of Airbus's Executive and Private Aviation.

A couple of Saudi customers have shown interest in the A380, the "flying palace," he told AFP.

He said the Airbus ACJ, which is derived from the A320 family, is the "most popular in the region."

Velupillai expressed optimism about the market for business aviation in the Middle East, saying total regional sales of large corporate jetliners have increased from 60 aircraft in 2000 to over 80 forecast for 2007.

"This is more than 45 percent (growth) in six years," he said.

Other airline manufacturers taking part in the Dubai show have already clinched lucrative deals.

US company Raytheon announced a 250-million-dollar deal to supply the Riyadh-based National Air Services with 20 of its new eight-seater Hawker 750 executive jets.

Canada's Bombardier announced four firm orders from Gulf customers for its six-seater Learjet 60, worth a total of 52 million dollars.

Also on show was a new six-seater Kestrel which will potentially be the first aircraft to be manufactured in the United Arab Emirates, in a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Company (GAMCO) and Britain's Farnborough Aircraft Corporation.

If a final deal is agreed, the Kestrel, which has a price tag of 2.5 million dollars, will be rolling off a production line in Abu Dhabi by the end of 2009, said Richard Blain, commercial director of the joint-venture Gulf Aircraft Partnership.