Saudi prince buys world's first 'Flying Palace'

By Aislinn Simpson

Last Updated: 3:07pm GMT 12/11/2007

A Saudi billionaire has raised the stakes in the rich mens' toys game by investing in the world's first ever "Flying Palace".

Rumours have been swirling for some time about who would be the first to sign up for the "VVIP version" of the new double-decker Airbus A380.


	Prince Al-Waleed signs on the dotted line to purchase his Airbus 380 at the Dubai air show

Commercial airlines including Singapore Airlines have already taken possession of some of the planes and during last month's inaugural flight unveiled First Class cabins complete with double beds.

Large enough to hold a 15-seater boardroom as well as luxuries such as a jacuzzi and a games room, the shell of the world's largest passenger plane costs $319 million (£154 million) alone and the lavish decoration called for inside could cost up anything up to £75 million.

The first private individual to take the leap was announced at Monday's Dubai air show as Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, the richest Arab in the world and head of the financial group Kingdom Holding Company.

As an investor in some of the world's best-known companies, the 52-year-old prince - dubbed the Saudi Arabian Warren Buffett - is famously energetic and often visits tens of countries in a matter of days using his current fleet of planes, including the only 747-400 owned by a private investor.

Upmarket designers will now be clamouring for the contract to kit out the inside of the plane. Among frontrunners is New York firm Edése Doret, which has already been linked to the deal.

Middle Eastern luxury jet owners often chose to create separate areas within airliners for men, women and staff, Airbus said.

According to Mr Doret, the plane he was asked to designing for a member of a Middle Eastern royal family features a lounge with curtains to mimic tents of the Arabian desert and a fibre-optic mosaic that will depict a shifting desert scene.

The plane will also reportedly have a missile defence system and will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines.

Prince Al-Waleed, the nephew of the late King Fahd, is expected to take delivery of his new toy in around 2010 but may have to wait another three years for the inside to be fit for a king.

His upgrade is expected to be the first of up to 30 orders from government and private individuals who may want to upgrade their 747s - the world's largest plane until the introduction of the A380.

"Prince Alwaleed's order means that Airbus' sales success in the corporate jet market now extends from its smallest aircraft, the A318 Elite, all the way up to its largest, the A380 Flying Palace," said Airbus chief operating officer, customers, John Leahy.

IIRC there’s been an order for a single A380 for an unidentified customer on Airbus’ books for a while. It wouldn’t make sense for any airline to order just one and IIRC the single order had been linked with Roman Abramovich. What happened with that?

I'm not familiar with the specific instance that you refer to, but another article on this story offers this snippet:

Saudi Prince Buying 'Flying Palace' Jet

The airline company said it expects at least six other A380 VIP jets to be sold to clients in the Middle East, and Central and South Asia.

I have not read all comments . However, I released how some people heat us
First, I am not agree with our current regime as liberal we are fighting to made our country democracy country.
Second, Prince Waleed wealth is not from oil yet he started with 100.000$ (this amount could be from oil) but the rest of his money is from Weston companies.. he has share in the most successful companies around the world( I can make list for EuroDisney up to Citibank) .. that why he made a lot of money ..besides he is very smart in Adv (ex. He funded Michael Jackson historic trip when Michael was big star at that time everybody laughs at Waleed but for him he was create awareness. Today in the purchase of the airbus may be will be benefit when he offered to buy a company or insurance company of curse his strong financial reputation will spurt him)
Third, how many air plan Airbus made like this and how many customers in us buy like this plan .. I am sure there are tens of them but they don’t publish like this news to the media
Sorry for my broking English , I am still learning

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