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Gulf Families in Top 5 in World's Richest List; Qatar Airways Logged 120,000hrs; Binghatti is 'Master Developer'
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Thursday, December 18, 2025
Happy Thursday everyone!
The Middle East's growing global influence is on full display today across multiple fronts. Three regional royal families have secured spots in Bloomberg's top five richest families list, with combined fortunes exceeding $749 billion, while Qatar Airways has cemented its position as the Gulf's busiest carrier with nearly 120,000 flights this year, outpacing Emirates through a high-frequency strategy. Meanwhile, Dubai's property boom continues as Binghatti Developers and Mercedes-Benz prepare to launch an $8.2 billion masterplanned community in Meydan, betting on surging demand from ultra-wealthy international buyers flooding into the emirate.
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Three Middle Eastern Families Secure Top Five Spots On Bloomberg's Richest Families List
What’s it About?
Three Middle Eastern royal families have claimed positions in the top five of Bloomberg's 2025 World's Richest Families ranking, demonstrating the region's escalating financial clout. The UAE's Al Nahyan family ranks second globally with $335.9 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia's Al Saud family at $213.6 billion in third place, and Qatar's Al Thani family holding fourth with $199.5 billion. America's Walton family tops the list at $513.4 billion.
Why it Matters?
The collective wealth of the world's 25 richest families has surged $358.7 billion in a year to reach $2.9 trillion, with the entry threshold jumping to $46.4 billion. Middle Eastern families have leveraged oil and gas fortunes to diversify extensively into artificial intelligence and global investments, with Sheikh Tahnoon of the Al Nahyan family now overseeing $1.5 trillion in assets, signaling their transformation into sophisticated global investors.
What’s Next?
Rising stock prices, commodity demand, and decades of business expertise continue driving dynastic wealth accumulation. Four new families from Mexico, Chile, Italy, and Saudi Arabia joined this year's rankings, suggesting the ultra-wealthy club will keep expanding as emerging markets produce more billionaire dynasties and established families diversify their portfolios across sectors and geographies.
Qatar Airways Leads Gulf Region With 120,000 Flights, Outpacing Emirates Through High-Frequency Strategy
What’s it About?
Qatar Airways has emerged as the busiest Middle Eastern carrier in 2025, logging nearly 120,000 scheduled departures through November 25, according to OAG data. The Doha-based airline significantly outpaced Emirates, which completed over 95,000 regional flights during the same period.
Why it Matters?
Qatar Airways' narrow-body fleet enables a high-frequency strategy, operating multiple daily flights where competitors fly once. This approach contrasts sharply with Emirates' wide-body-only fleet focused on capacity over frequency, highlighting two distinct Gulf aviation business models competing for regional dominance.
What’s Next?
The competition underscores evolving strategies among Gulf carriers as they vie for market share. Qatar Airways' network-driven model emphasizes connectivity and partnerships, while Emirates maintains its single-hub approach prioritizing scale and global reach through long-haul capacity.
Shoppers are adding to cart for the holidays
Over the next year, Roku predicts that 100% of the streaming audience will see ads. For growth marketers in 2026, CTV will remain an important “safe space” as AI creates widespread disruption in the search and social channels. Plus, easier access to self-serve CTV ad buying tools and targeting options will lead to a surge in locally-targeted streaming campaigns.
Read our guide to find out why growth marketers should make sure CTV is part of their 2026 media mix.
Binghatti And Mercedes-Benz Unveil $8.2 Billion Dubai Megaproject As Luxury Property Demand Surges
What’s it About?
Dubai's Binghatti Developers and Mercedes-Benz will launch an $8.2 billion property development spanning 10 million square feet in Meydan on January 14, 2026. Mercedes-Benz Places – Binghatti City represents the developer's first masterplanned community, featuring multi-tower luxury residences, retail boulevards, parks, wellness zones and entertainment spaces designed as a self-sustained urban ecosystem. This follows their successful Downtown Dubai collaboration last year, where half the units sold within 24 hours.
Why it Matters?
Dubai's prime property market is booming, with sales of homes over $10 million jumping 54 percent annually in the third quarter, according to Knight Frank. The city recorded 103 deals worth $10 million-plus, making it the world's busiest luxury market. Branded residences command 25 to 50 percent premiums over comparable properties, attracting international high-net-worth buyers as the UAE expects a record 9,800 relocating millionaires this year.
What’s Next?
Prime home prices are forecast to increase 3 percent next year, driven by continued wealthy investor demand and global capital inflows. Binghatti Holding, with 80 projects valued over $80 billion, is positioning branded developments as key growth drivers alongside similar luxury projects from Bugatti and Jacob & Co. The trend reflects Dubai's transformation into a global wealth hub backed by residency reforms and tax advantages.
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