Qatar at the White House for multiple aviation and defence agreements

The agreements brought to light previously signed, but unannounced deals including $1 billion of Gulfstream jets for the Qatar Executive fleet; Five Boeing 777F freighters announced at Paris Airshow last month were also part of the event.

Engine maker GE was also celebrating as Qatar confirmed the GEnx engine wil power its 30 new Boeing 787-9 aircraft along with a TrueChoice flight hour agreement to cover the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of the engines. 

The Doha airline also signed a TrueChoice agreement for MRO services on its GE9X engine fleet that will power 60 Boeing 777X aircraft. The agreements are valued at more than $5 billion. 

Qatar’s CEO Akbar Al Baker and GE Aviation president David Joyce signed the deal at the White House in Washington witnessed by U.S. President Donald Trump and HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar.

Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways has ambitious plans for the future and we are delighted to have GE beside us as we embark on this journey together. These contracts for the GE engines that will power our Boeing 787-9 and Boeing 777X aircraft further cement the strong relationship between Qatar Airways and GE.”

The Qatar’s defense ministry committed to acquire Raytheon NASM and Patriot Systems. It was also revealed that Qatar will be investing $1.8bn on housing and entertainment facilies as part of  U.S.  plans to expand and renovate the al-Udeid Air Base near Doha, which houses the forward headquarters of the U.S. military’s Central Command and some 10,000 American troops.

Images of any of the signings are a rarity as the event was boycotted by the White House Press Corps after confusion about whether or not the event would be open to the media.