Riyadh Air Unveils Ultra-Luxury Business Class to Challenge Emirates’ First-Class Standards

A new luxury travel experience is taking flight—and it’s not from Emirates.

Start-up airline Riyadh Air has unveiled a showstopping business class cabin designed to rival some of the world’s finest first-class suites. Set to launch operations by the end of 2025, the Saudi carrier is promising a bold new standard in air travel—backed by the deep pockets of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

This isn’t just another business class. Think gold-veined stone tables, stitched-leather lie-flat beds, ambient lighting, and headrest speakers from Devialet—a French luxury audio brand. Every seat transforms into a 78-inch fully flat bed and comes with 52-inch-high privacy doors, a 22.5-inch seat width, and a 32-inch 4K OLED screen, the largest ever seen in business class.

At the heart of Riyadh Air’s identity is a revival of travel’s golden age. CEO Tony Douglas says the airline is “bringing back grace, beauty, and charm,” with a nostalgic nod to the elegance of TWA and Pan Am. “We want to create the modern-day version of Leonardo DiCaprio in Catch Me If You Can,” he adds.

Riyadh Air is working with London-based design firm PriestmanGoode to create a stunningly detailed business class cabin. The design features what Douglas calls a “signature geometry” inspired by Bedouin tents, blending indigo, mocha, lavender, and rich purple into a curved, artistic layout.

The Business Elite row will feature double bed options for couples or companions, and all 28 business seats include Safran Unity pods, offering an immersive surround-sound experience built into the headrest—no headphones needed. These same seats debuted in Japan Airlines’ first class earlier this year.

But Riyadh Air isn’t only offering style. It’s also innovating behind the scenes. Branded as the world’s first “digital-native” airline, it will offer free Wi-Fi throughout the cabin, powered by Viasat, and a seamless booking experience similar to online shopping. Future iterations of the booking system will allow customers to add experiences—like museum tours or events—while purchasing their flight.

Its futuristic uniforms, unveiled at Paris Fashion Week, complete the airline’s commitment to a modern aesthetic. The aircraft livery is sleek and extravagant—more reminiscent of a private jet than a commercial airliner.

The airline will initially fly to major cities in Western Europe and North America, with Riyadh as its central hub. Plans are in place to expand to 100 global destinations, and a first-class product is already on the horizon—promising even more extravagance.

This launch is a key part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, aimed at shifting the nation’s economy from oil dependence to tourism and services. Since opening its borders in 2019, annual tourist numbers have jumped from 17.5 million to 30 million in 2024.

With opulence, technology, and ambition in equal measure, Riyadh Air is betting big on becoming the future face of Saudi aviation.