France could sell 60 Rafale combat jets to UAE

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France is finalising the sale of 60 Rafale combat jets made by France's Dassault Aviation to the UAE in a deal worth €6-€8 billion (US$8-US$11 billion), a newspaper reported on Saturday.

France has so far failed to find a foreign buyer for the Rafale jet. Newspaper Le Parisien said President Nicolas Sarkozy would personally push the talks in a visit to Abu Dhabi on Monday and Tuesday.

"An enormous contract, concerning the sale of 60 planes for a total amount of 6 to 8 billion euros - over the space of several years - is being finalised with the United Arab Emirates," the newspaper said.