Saudi billionaire ordered the world's largest private jet to have his own flying palace, but never ended up stepping foot on it
Published on Oct 09, 2025 at 3:05 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Oct 09, 2025 at 3:20 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
This extremely rich Saudi billionaire wanted a plane so large that it was basically a flying palace, so he ordered the world’s largest private jet, and yet, somehow, never once set foot on it.
Meet Maan Al-Sanea, a Saudi billionaire who wanted the ultimate status symbol: a private jet so enormous and luxurious that even royalty would be jealous.
His dream was to turn an Airbus A340-600, which is one of the longest passenger planes ever built, into a flying palace.
Imagine spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a private jet so big it could fit a small mansion inside, and then never even flying in it once.
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This Saudi billionaire never set foot on his flying palace
Back in the mid-2000s, Maan Al-Sanea, the head of the Saad Group, ordered an Airbus A340-600 VIP airplane.
Normally, this aircraft can carry over 400 passengers, but it was destined to become the world’s largest private jet in a crazy plan.
Al-Sanea had a plan that his private jet would only carry 80 people, with the rest of the space transformed into lounges, bedrooms, offices, and entertainment areas.
It was also meant to have 3,000 feet of cabin space, complete with a master bedroom suite with a private bathroom, several guest suites, dining rooms, and even a conference area.
The world’s largest private jet became the world’s largest disaster
As the private jet was being outfitted, the Saudi Billionaire’s empire began to crumble when the Saad Group became caught up in massive financial troubles.
The private jet that dreams were made of was left literally grounded when it was completed but never delivered. It sat idle as a monument to wealth and excess.
It was eventually rebranded and bought by the Government of Azerbaijan, but the flying palace that never quite was has become a myth in the world of aviation.
Even the best-laid plans can hit a bit of turbulence…
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Daisy Edwards is a Content Writer at supercarblondie.com. Daisy has more than five years’ experience as a qualified journalist, having graduated with a History and Journalism degree from Goldsmiths, University of London and a dissertation in vintage electric vehicles. Daisy specializes in writing about cars, EVs, tech and luxury lifestyle. When she's not writing, she's at a country music concert or working on one of her many unfinished craft projects.
