@Sancho: The UAE have already stated that the Rafale deal is no longer workable. Instead, they are more interested in the Typhoon.
Double Trouble For Rafale in UAE
The UAE likes to play with the French and put fuel the media with false infos!
The same was reported about additional F16 B60, F18 Silent Hornet or even the latest F15, at the end it turned to be not true. The importan point is, that they don't have to replace the Mirage, they are doing it only in favour for France and only if they buy them in return. Neither the EF partners, nor the US can do the same and therefor are no serious option for the UAE. They either buy Rafale, or keep the M2K-9s, that's it!
France may be regretting to withdrew from the consortium fin 80's. Anyways joint production and research is the only way to go forward. Be it EF, F-35 or PAK FA.
If FAF is getting Rafales in less prices, who are gonna pay for the development costs? French Govt.
IS this the reason why Dessault is charging others high development cost?
No they don't and that for obvious reasons! Rafale development was cheaper and is more capable now, than the EF today. They would be dependent on partners that are close to bankrupt and had to fund most of the EF upgrades alone and wouldn't have carrier fighters now.
The lack of exports is a downer in the Rafale project, but otherwise it turned out to be exactly the way it should be, highly capable and advanced, with "reasonable" costs (there are not many twin engine fightes out their that are cheaper to operate).
EF on the other had is "said" to be the most capable and advanced fighter, but it isn't, while the costs exploded way beyond the partners ever planned and since upgrading and operating is so costly non of the partners will fulfill their initial orders.
The development costs are already paid by France, but they are lower than EFs, that's why the latter is still more costly, although way more units were produced.