DUBAI, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Airbus expects the Middle

East's regional aircraft fleet to more than double to 3,700

planes by 2044, an official said on Sunday.

The European planemaker expects passenger traffic in the

Middle East to grow at a compound annual rate of 4.4% over the

next two decades, Airbus Head of Marketing in Africa and the

Middle East Grainne van den Berg told a press conference.

Airbus also expects the services market in the region to

double to $29.9 billion by the end of 2044, van den Berg added.

The forecast came ahead of the Dubai Airshow, the largest

Middle East aviation event taking place on November 17-21.

Airbus, which is among the planemakers taking part as it

vies for orders with its main competitor Boeing ( BA ), predicts

widebody aircraft will make up 42% of total demand in the region

by 2044, representing the highest share globally.

"The Middle East is transforming global aviation, and the

forecast fleet expansion is truly significant, particularly when

it comes to widebodies," said Airbus President in Africa and

Middle East Gabriel Semelas.

"This region is becoming the long-haul hub now and into the

future," Semelas added.