Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain has ordered 16 Boeing 787 Dreamliners aircrafts valued at 4 billion US dollars and taken options for eight more, an airline official said.

The agreement was signed on the eve of a visit by U.S. President George W. Bush to the Persian Gulf Island, home of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

"Gulf Air has signed with Boeing a firm order for 16 Boeing 787 aircraft and taken the right to purchase eight more of the same aircraft," Adnan Malek, acting head of corporate communication at Gulf Air said.

The value of the firm order for the new long-haul jets at list price is around $4 billion, while the total amount could go up to $6 billion if options are firmed up in the future, he added.

Founded in 1974, Gulf Air offers the biggest network in the Middle East and connects to over 40 destinations worldwide.

The struggling carrier had announced during the Dubai air show that it was planning to renew its entire fleet looking to order up to 35 planes.