Qatar Airways and Swizz Beatz Unveil “The Creative 100”

A Global Platform Celebrating the World’s Most Visionary Creatives

The launch at Art Basel Paris included the reveal of F1-inspired aircraft renderings, the first creative expression from the Qatar Airways “Creative 100” initiative.

(PARIS, France, 22 October 2025) -Qatar Airways, the World’s Best Airline, today unveiled a first-of-its-kind global partnership with GRAMMY-Award winning artist, entrepreneur, and cultural visionary Swizz Beatz, founder of the prestigious art collective The Dean Collection. Together, they introduced The Qatar Airways “Creative 100,” a bold new platform celebrating and connecting the world’s most influential and inspiring creatives shaping global culture today.

The announcement took place during Art Basel Paris, where Qatar Airways serves as a Premium Partner, marking the beginning of a multi-year collaboration that unites art, travel, and innovation under one creative movement.

A global movement for creativity, each year, the “Creative 100” will spotlight 100 visionaries whose work transcends borders and inspires progress across art, design, music, fashion, sport, and technology.

The first creatives announced are: Black Coffee, the GRAMMY-Award winning South African DJ and producer; Miles Chamley-Watson, Olympic fencing champion and style innovator; Kristian Teär, CEO of Danish high-end electronics company Bang & Olufsen; Yoon Ahn, American fashion designer, co-founder of AMBUSH; Jewelry Director for Dior Homme; and Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari’s Chief Design Officer.

From the world of art, honorees include Kennedy Yanko, a sculptor known for fusing salvaged metal with paint skin, and Patrick Eugene, a visual artist whose work explores identity, culture, and the human experience.

A flagship gala will be held in Doha in February 2026 during Art Basel Doha, where the first inductees will be officially honored and the full list of the “Creative 100” revealed. Throughout the year, the initiative will activate at Art Basel’s global events in Paris, Miami, Hong Kong, and Basel, transforming Qatar Airways’ worldwide network into a cultural bridge connecting creative communities across continents.

A Transformational Partnership This collaboration marks the first time an airline has partnered directly with a global artist and creative entrepreneur to develop a long-term cultural platform. Through this partnership, Qatar Airways and Swizz Beatz will reimagine how creativity travels, transforming global movement into cultural exchange and storytelling that inspires.

Key experiences will include:

Flagship galas and cultural activations hosted by Qatar Airways and The Dean Collection in Doha and at Art Basel events worldwide.

Collaborative projects across art, music, design, and sport that include limited-edition merchandise to creative in-flight experiences and special aircraft liveries.

Exclusive access for Qatar Airways Privilege Club members to attend private masterclasses, cultural events, and behind-the-scenes sessions with inductees.

A Digital Home for Global Creativity Qatar Airways will also debut a dedicated digital hub for The “Creative 100,” featuring films, interviews, podcasts, and curated city guides shaped by the voices of these global creators. The interactive platform will span six content pillars: Art & Design, Music & Performance, Fashion & Style, Film & Entertainment, Sport & Influence, and Innovation & Ideas spotlighting the people and places fueling creative progress worldwide.

Users will be able to explore a rotating map of inductees’ home cities and inspirations, along with artist profiles, imagery, short films, and personal travel stories. Exclusive Privilege Club member content will include extended interviews, masterclasses, and event invitations.

The partnership will lend its impact to the Qatar Airways passenger journey through bespoke merchandise and immersive onboard experiences.

As the first expression of creativity from the Qatar Airways “Creative 100,” the two collaborative forces revealed renderings of a special-edition Formula 1® livery, celebrating the airline’s role as Global Airline Partner. An additional livery commemorating Qatar Airways’ partnership with the FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be revealed at a later stage.

Quotes

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: "At Qatar Airways, creativity fuels everything we do. As the World’s Best Airline, creativity shapes how we innovate, connect cultures, and reimagine the experience of travel. Our partnership with Swizz Beatz reflects that same spirit - a shared belief that creativity has the power to inspire, to unite, and to transform the way the world connects. Through the Qatar Airways Creative 100, we celebrate those whose ideas shape culture, bringing people together through creativity and artistry across borders.”

“Qatar Airways doesn’t just move people, it moves the world,” said Swizz Beatz. “Together, we’re building a platform that shines a light on the most inspiring creators of our time and shares their gifts with the world. For travelers, it means every journey becomes more than a flight, it’s a connection to creativity, culture, and inspiration. The “Creative 100” honors those who use their talent to unite, uplift, and reimagine what’s possible, reminding us that creativity is what truly keeps the world moving.”

Swizz Beatz and The Dean Collection Globally known by his stage name Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean), is one of the most dynamic and multifaceted creators of his generation, with influence spanning music, art, fashion, philanthropy, and innovation.

Through The Dean Collection, co-founded with his wife Alicia Keys, Swizz champions living artists, particularly those of African and diasporic heritage and has redefined the relationship between creators, collectors, and culture through initiatives like the groundbreaking No Commission Art Fair, which returns 100% of sales to artists.

He has collaborated with leading cultural and luxury institutions and serves on the boards of the Brooklyn Museum and The Global Citizen Forum, using his platform to amplify art as a catalyst for empowerment and social impact.

Upcoming Global Activations include:

November 2025: Activation at the Formula 1® Qatar Grand Prix

December 2025: Preview event at Art Basel Miami February 2026: “Creative 100” Gala at Art Basel Doha, featuring the reveal of the custom “Air FIFA” aircraft livery designed under Swizz Beatz’s creative direction.

For more information, or to interview Swizz Beatz please contact:

THE WNDR GROUP Press Office: gwen@wkc.rocks

About Qatar Airways

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways won the ‘World’s Best Airline’ for an unprecedented ninth time at the 2025 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. Qatar Airways was previously named the World’s Best Airline in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024.

The airline continues to be synonymous with excellence, and has yet again received recognition for ‘World's Best Business Class’, and ‘World's Best Business Class Airline Lounge’. As the leading connector in the region, Qatar Airways has also been lauded with the ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’ title for the 13th time.

Qatar Airways currently flies to over 170 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport, the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for 11 consecutive years, as well as ‘World’s Best Airport Shopping’ for the third year in a row, as voted by Skytrax.

Hamad International Airport has previously been named the ‘World’s Best Airport’ by Skytrax in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

Qatar Airways was the first airline in the Middle East to be certified to the highest level of IATA’s Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme, based on recognised environmental management system principles (such as ISO 14001).

As an inaugural signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016, Qatar Airways became the first airline globally to be certified to the industry standard for the prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking in aviation.

About The Dean Collection

Founded by Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) and Alicia Keys, The Dean Collection is a global creative platform and family art collection dedicated to supporting living artists and celebrating creative excellence. The collection, known for its international exhibition GIANTS, continues to tour globally, spotlighting artists who embody innovation, empowerment, and cultural impact.