Boeing forecasts that airlines in the Middle East will need 3,350 new airplanes over the next 20 years, valued at an estimated $730bn. The company presented its 2017 Current Market Outlook (CMO) for the region during the Dubai Airshow.

Boeing predicts that traffic growth in the region will average 5.6% annually over the next 20 years, helped by the fact that 85% of the world's population lives within an eight-hour flight of the Arabian Gulf.

Twin-aisle aircraft are expected to make up nearly 50% of the 3,350 new aircraft in the Middle East, and more than 70% of the value, at $520bn. Both percentages are significantly higher than the global average. By comparison,widebodies are expected to account for only 19% of new aircraft in Europe over the same period.

The strong long-term demand for widebody airplanes was not really reflected at the show, which was dominated by massive orders for single-aisle A320neos and 737 MAXs. Emirates announced a commitment for 40 Boeing 787-10s but failed to finalise an expected order for additional A380s.

According to the Boeing forecast, more than half of the total deliveries in the Middle East will be single-aisle models. Operators in the region are predicted to buy 1,770 single-aisle aircraft valued at $190bn, driven by the growth of low-cost carriers.