In a major announcement during US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Gulf, Qatar Airways signed a multi-billion-dollar agreement with American aerospace giant Boeing to purchase 160 aircraft. The deal, witnessed by Trump and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, marks a significant moment in U.S.-Qatar commercial relations.
Qatar signs an agreement with Boeing to purchase 160 aircraft — the largest widebody aircraft order in the American company’s history pic.twitter.com/JIG4qDxcfe
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 14, 2025
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Doha, Trump described the agreement as “the largest order of jets in the history of Boeing,” claiming its value exceeded $200 billion. Flanked by Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg and Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, Trump congratulated the two parties and encouraged Boeing to “get those planes out there.”
While the precise models included in the order remain undisclosed, the scale of the deal has drawn widespread attention. Boeing’s flagship long-haul jet, the 777X, is its most expensive aircraft. Aviation analysts note that a fleet of 160 777X jets, based on previously listed prices, would amount to around $70 billion—far short of the $200 billion figure cited by Trump. Industry experts caution that such deals often involve substantial discounts, especially when made in bulk.
This agreement comes on the heels of Trump’s earlier visit to Saudi Arabia, where he signed a series of trade and defense deals. His Gulf tour appears aimed at strengthening U.S. economic and strategic partnerships in the region.
The US president is on a four-day trip to the Gulf, as part of which he first visited Saudi Arabia, which was also the venue for his first state visit during his first term in office between 2016 and 2020. His last stop would be the UAE.
