With 50 of its aircraft currently operating in the Middle East, Dassault expects that total to swell by 50 percent over the next three years, according to Alain Aubry, Dassault Falcon’s vice president of sales and marketing. Speaking at the Dubai Air Show, Aubry said the Middle East has accounted for only two order cancellations since the beginning of the economic crisis, far fewer than any other region. Next year, beginning in March, the French airframer is expected to deliver the first three of four long-range 7Xs that Saudi Arabian Airlines ordered at the last Dubai Air Show for use as VIP transports. In January, Saudi Arabia’s National Air Service (NAS) expects to receive its first Falcon 2000LX, with another to follow later in the year. In 2007 NAS placed firm orders for four of the aircraft, along with options for another 16. Based upon its increasing market share, Dassault last year established a parts distribution center in Dubai to serve the region.