Lufthansa Technik, a specialist in private jet designs, has unveiled a new Middle Eastern-inspired luxury private business aircraft.
The Boeing B777X business jet is the world's longest range private jet. Costing upwards of $400 million, the wide-body aircraft is the first in the world capable of connecting any two global cities non-stop.
And now, the jet has a brand new look after cabin designs were revealed on Monday during the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition in Geneva.
Lufthansa Technik said the design has been conceived to meet “the unique needs of our VIP clients in the Middle East.”
Inside the luxury jet, there is a large majlis, complete with a crescent-shaped sofa and a contemporary palette of white, grey, bronze and brushed gold.
Cabin details feature sleek lines and geometric designs reminiscent of Islamic art, which flow throughout the jet's interior.
At the front of this $400 million, twin-engined aircraft is a VVIP section that comes with an expandable private bedroom. This exclusive section will also house a spacious office and a reception area, where clients can conduct meetings and receive guests.
At the rear of the 342-square-metre cabin, there are comfortable lodgings for accompanying entourage – with six first-class style suites, 32 lie-flat business seats, plus additional seating and bathrooms.
A special light and window shade concept helps passengers feel as if they are still on the ground, rather than flying at 30,000 feet. This will reduce jet lag symptoms on the ultra-long range aircraft, which can operate non-stop for up to 20,418km.
“We are thrilled to unveil first insights into this new VIP cabin design for the BBJ 777-9,” said Jan Grube, sales director in VIP & Special Mission Aircraft Services at Lufthansa Technik.
“Our team’s mission was to create a cabin that is both functional and beautiful, while also meeting the unique needs of our VIP clients in the Middle East. We are confident that this cabin design will set a new standard for VIP aviation, and we look forward to bringing it to market.”
The new designs are also the first to be developed using native aircraft data provided by Boeing to ensure the viability of the design, as dimensions and space shown are 100 per cent accurate.
More details on the project will be revealed later in the year, said Lufthansa Technik.
Boeing's BBJ 777-9 is one of the aircraft manufacturers' latest designs. The company's business jets include a new carbon-fibre composite wing, and new engines to improve environmental performance.
On Monday, Boeing revealed that it had secured orders for up to four premium, ultra-long-range Boeing business jets.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Other ways to buy used products in the UAE
UAE insurance firm Al Wathba National Insurance Company (AWNIC) last year launched an e-commerce website with a facility enabling users to buy car wrecks.
Bidders and potential buyers register on the online salvage car auction portal to view vehicles, review condition reports, or arrange physical surveys, and then start bidding for motors they plan to restore or harvest for parts.
Physical salvage car auctions are a common method for insurers around the world to move on heavily damaged vehicles, but AWNIC is one of the few UAE insurers to offer such services online.
For cars and less sizeable items such as bicycles and furniture, Dubizzle is arguably the best-known marketplace for pre-loved.
Founded in 2005, in recent years it has been joined by a plethora of Facebook community pages for shifting used goods, including Abu Dhabi Marketplace, Flea Market UAE and Arabian Ranches Souq Market while sites such as The Luxury Closet and Riot deal largely in second-hand fashion.
At the high-end of the pre-used spectrum, resellers such as Timepiece360.ae, WatchBox Middle East and Watches Market Dubai deal in authenticated second-hand luxury timepieces from brands such as Rolex, Hublot and Tag Heuer, with a warranty.
Results
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m; Winner: MM Al Balqaa, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Qaiss Aboud (trainer)
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: AF Rasam, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mujeeb, Richard Mullen, Salem Al Ketbi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Antonio Fresu, Abubakar Daud
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Pat Dobbs, Ibrahim Aseel
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Nibraas, Richard Mullen, Nicholas Bachalard
