I never thought this is common.. I have been to two Qatar airways flights with that same issue (not involving sheiks though).

Question is why would they not get consecutive seat numbers in the first place? Are they one of the following? (1) just dumb (2) attention seekers (3) want to let everybody know that they are above everyone else (4) they want to let everybody know that their religious laws are above everyone else (5) just dumb.

Trust me, if you were one of the passangers inconvenienced by these people.... grrrrrrr!!!