QATAR'S ACT OF CLOSURE, NOT EXTRAVAGANCE

Gifting a Boeing 747-8 to Trump makes sound operational sense

- BY LINUS BAUER Special to Gulf News

News that Qatar is gifting a customised Boeing 747-8 aircraft to US President Donald Trump has captured international attention. To many, it may look like a flashy gesture between friends.

But behind the headlines lies a deeper truth: the era of the 'flying palace' is drawing to a close and the Gulf is quietly leading the shift.

The aircraft in question, bearing the registration A7-HHE, is no ordinary plane. Delivered in 2012 and outfitted for Emiri Flight - Qatar's royal air transport unit - it features some of the most luxurious specs ever installed on a jetliner.

But by 2023, the aircraft was withdrawn from active service. That decision was not emotional. It was strategic.

Statement of prestige for Gulf states

For years, Gulf nations have maintained large and high-spec state fleets, driven by a mix of security, flexibility, and symbolism. Wide-body aircraft like the Boeing 747 and Airbus A340 served not just as transport but as statements of prestige. Arriving at summits in larger, more luxurious aircraft than many heads of state projected power, wealth, and modernity.