On Thursday evening, American aerospace company Boeing signed an agreement with Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, for the purchase of 18 Dreamliner 787 aircraft.

In a statement, Boeing clarified that the agreement includes a firm order for 12 Dreamliner 787s, along with options for six additional aircraft, as part of the Bahraini airline’s efforts to expand its international network.

The signing ceremony was attended by Bahrain’s Minister of Finance and National Economy, Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, alongside Stephanie Pope, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and Khalid Al-Taqi, Chairman of Gulf Air Group Holding.

Boeing’s statement quoted Khalid Al-Taqi as saying:
“This agreement marks a pivotal step in Gulf Air’s strategic growth journey as we expand our global presence and modernize our fleet with one of the most advanced and efficient aircraft in the industry.”

He added:
*“The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has proven itself as an exceptional aircraft for our long-haul operations. This new order reflects our confidence in its performance, passenger appeal, and contribution to our sustainability goals. We take pride in strengthening our partnership with Boeing and reaffirm our commitment to establishing Bahrain as a leading global aviation hub.”*

Boeing noted that once finalized, this deal will increase the airline’s confirmed orders to 14 wide-body aircraft, supporting 30,000 jobs across the United States.

Separately, Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa began a visit to the United States on Tuesday, during which he met with President Donald Trump and several senior U.S. officials.