Gama Group, which boasts the first registration of a Challenger 850 in the UAE, says it will continue to expand its business and fleet capacity in the Middle East.

Dave Edwards, md Gama Aviation, says: "The first CofA for this type of business jet in the UAE demonstrates the growing interest in business aviation in this region and we regard it as a crowning achievement for our newly-launched Middle Eastern division."

Gama Aviation, headquartered at Farnborough in the UK, has an operating base at Sharjah airport with offices in the Dubai airport free zone.

Edwards says: "We already operate more than 75 business aircraft worldwide, including two Learjet 45s, two Learjet 60s, two Challenger 604s and two Challenger 605s, but the Challenger 850 registration is a special milestone."

He adds: "The Challenger 850 offers flexibility and comfort and enjoys the wide body cabin, reliability and maintainability of its airliner heritage."