Air Partner, the Crawley based charter aircraft broker, has opened an office in Dubai, its first outside Europe and North America.

Already the world's largest aircraft broker with sales of more than £85 million, the move is seen as a strategic stepping-stone in the company's bid to set up a global network of offices.

Managing director David Savile said: "Dubai, often hailed as the Hong Kong of the Middle East, has long been identified as an ideal Air Partner location.

"Having an office in the region means we are now in an ideal position to offer an enhanced service to existing clients and to develop new business in the Gulf and in other locations around the world.

"In today's politically-volatile climate, it is very relevant we should have a Middle East office to support our specialist evacuation planning division."