Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has made a strong play for a share for Ireland of the tourist market generated by wealthy Gulf travellers.
Speaking at a Tourism Ireland event in Dubai last night, Mr Ahern urged travel industry leaders to put Ireland on their list of destinations.
Currently, 135,000 tourists from the United Arab Emirates travel to the United Kingdom annually for over two weeks of holidays.
"I know that they leave behind more money than any other group of tourists, so all I am seeking is just a share of that market," he said.
Tourists from the region might not be willing initially to consider Ireland as a location for their full holiday, "but there is nothing to stop them coming for a few days", he said.
The number of direct flights between Ireland and Dubai may be increased following the success to date of the Aer Lingus service.
The issue was discussed yesterday by Mr Ahern and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is the vice president of the United Arab Emirates and prime minister and ruler of Dubai.
The two men met at Sheikh Al Maktoum's palace in Dubai for 45 minutes of talks, during which Sheikh Maktoum indicated a willingness to consider opening a UAE embassy in Dublin in the future.
Earlier, Mr Ahern was given a tour of the world's most luxurious hotel, the Bourg Al Arab, part of the Jumeriah hotel group, led by Irishman Gerald Lawless.
The Taoiseach also met a leading Dubai official, Ahmed bin Biyat, who outlined the pace of development in Dubai since 1991, which has seen gross domestic product almost triple.
Elsewhere, it emerged that a consortium comprising Irish institutes of technology are down to the final two for a major contract in Bahrain to build a technical college. The contract could be worth $15 million over five years.
In a separate development, four Irish institutes of technology - Athlone, Waterford, Galway-Mayo and Dublin - have combined to bid for major educational contracts in Saudi Arabia.
