Trump’s Middle East Trip Has Qatar Lining Up Major Boeing Order

US President Donald Trump’s Middle East trip will take him back to a region that made huge investments in the US in his first term. Now Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are aiming even higher with their aviation and defense industries to turn commercial deals into political capital.

Some of the Middle East’s largest airlines are rushing to line up major accords for Trump’s visit, which is set to kick off May 13. Qatar Airways is poised to make the biggest splash: the carrier is putting the final touches on an order for around 100 Boeing Co. widebody jets, with an option for as many more, according to people familiar with deliberations.