Qatar's wealthy emir Sheikh Tamim gave away $400m luxury 747 to Trump, then quietly rebuilt a $500m superyacht for next voyage
PC: AL Lusail When the lavish Boeing 747-8 was gifted to the United States How the Boeing 747-8 became a temporary Air Force One plan
PC: AL Lusail When the lavish Boeing 747-8 was gifted to the United States How the Boeing 747-8 became a temporary Air Force One plan Emir’s Superyacht’s largest maintenance period A si deck Mega Yacht designed for global exploration Al Lusail and a presidential aircraft enter parallel new phases in 2026 Few state assets attract as much attention as a presidential aircraft, particularly when it begins life in the fleet of a foreign royal family. Yet while debate in Washington centred on Qatar's decision to present one of its luxury Boeing 747-8 aircraft to the United States, another project involving the same royal household unfolded almost unnoticed several thousand miles away. In northern Germany, the Emir of Qatar's flagship superyacht was spending months inside a specialist shipyard undergoing an extensive refit before returning to the Mediterranean. The two developments appeared unrelated at first glance. One became an international political story, the other remained largely within the world of luxury shipbuilding.Together, though, they offer a revealing look at the scale of the Al Thani family's assets and the very different purposes they serve, from diplomacy and statecraft to private travel and long-term investment.USA Today reported that US President Donald Trump was gifted Boeing 747-8, previously operated by Qatar's ruling family in early 2025, which was already well known among aviation enthusiasts for its lavish interior rather than its political importance. Reportedly, built for Qatar Amiri Flight and delivered in 2012, it featured living areas that resembled those of a luxury residence more than a conventional aircraft, including private suites, reception lounges and bespoke interiors created for royal travel.Only months later, the aircraft entered an entirely different chapter.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, transferred the jet to the United States as a gift. According to USA Today, Donald Trump thanked the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for the donation, "I want to thank the emir of Qatar. He's a fantastic guy."Instead of joining a private collection or being sold on the open market, it became part of a plan to strengthen America's ageing presidential fleet while replacement aircraft continued to face lengthy delays.Accepting an aircraft from a foreign government was never likely to be a routine matter. Military planners viewed the Boeing 747 as a possible interim solution while work on the next generation of Air Force One aircraft remained behind schedule.Any aircraft carrying a US president requires extensive communications systems, defensive technology and security modifications that extend well beyond commercial aviation standards. Specialists questioned whether those upgrades could be completed quickly without compromising safety. Some lawmakers argued that receiving such a valuable gift raised constitutional concerns, while others focused on the cost of converting the aircraft.As reported by PBS, recently President Donald Trump unveiled the United States' new temporary Air Force One, a luxury Boeing 747 previously owned by Qatar that has been converted for presidential use. The aircraft features a redesigned exterior in navy blue, white and red, replacing the light blue colour scheme used since the Kennedy administration. It also carries the presidential seal and a large American flag on its tail.Speaking at Andrews Air Force Base, Trump described the aircraft as a "flying White House" and said it would accompany him on upcoming international trips, including the NATO summit in Turkey.
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