The wealthy of the Middle East are set to embark on a shopping spree! Boeing (BA.US) and Airbus have numerous aircraft orders in the pipeline.

Last year, some of the region's major airlines largely sat out the jet-buying frenzy. Now they are gearing up to expand their fleets, with hundreds of new aircraft on order that will further cement the Middle East as a key growth engine for Boeing and Airbus.

Dubai's airline is planning to buy at least 200 narrow-body jets, with 100 more on the table, while Etihad Airways is in talks to buy up to 40 wide-body planes, according to people familiar with the matter.

Qatar Airways is also in the running, with plans to finalize orders for about 230 twin-aisle jets in the coming months, while Bahrain's national carrier, Gulf Air, is in talks to buy about 12 wide-body jets, the people said.

With Riyadh's airline planning to buy 50 long-range planes, Airbus and Boeing will receive at least 500 orders from the region this year as airlines expand and refresh their fleets and Dubai and other hubs shift from transit centers to tourist destinations.

While North America remains the biggest profit contributor for the global airline industry, the Middle East is the strongest performer. The region was the only one to see a significant increase in passenger revenue last year, driven by strong demand for premium long-haul travel.

With demand for new planes near historic highs, airlines are clamoring to lock in delivery slots for single-aisle and twin-aisle jets, which are already delayed into the next decade. Airbus and Boeing are also struggling to boost production, partly because of supply-chain bottlenecks and engine maintenance issues.