sheikh khalifa bin zayed al nahyan yacht

• Pontoon Boats
• Personal Watercraft
• nauticalknowhow
• Nautical Knots
• Tools and Calculators

The Ultimate Guide to Azzam Yacht: Specs, Design, and More

The Azzam was launched in 2013. She quickly became world famous for her incredible design and unheard of size. Even years later the Azzam remains the biggest yacht in the world. The designer has surpassed calling it a superyacht or even a mega yacht and has settled on the term gigayacht. 

Who is the Azzam Yacht Owner?

Azzam was owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He was the second president of the United Arab Emirates until his death in 2022. He had a family fortune of $150 billion and was one of the richest people in the world. His assets were estimated by Forbes to be in the range of $830 billion which is almost unbelievable. 

Since his death it is unclear who the current owner of Azzam might be since he had eight children and a wife. The yacht may still be in the family or they may have sold it. 

How Much Did Yacht Azzam Cost?

It’s believed that the yacht came with an initial price tag, back in 2013, of $605 million. Though obviously reflecting the size of the yacht, the price is also believed to be elevated due to how it was built. After the initial design, the yacht was built in just three years which is an exceptionally short building time for a project of this size. Rumor has it that 4,000 people worked on the speed build and so some of that money went into ensuring it was built not just to standard but quickly as well. 

For a truly mind-blowing bit of trivia, someone took the time to determine the number of man hours that went into the building and did the math on how long it would have took one person by themselves to build the yacht. For it to have been delivered to the owner at the same time in 2013, the builder would have had to start making the yacht back in the year 1737 BC. That’s 3,750 years.

Can You Charter the Azzam

Interestingly enough you can probably find charter listings for the Azzam on the internet. If you can, you’ll also see that there are no available dates. The Azzam seems to have been listed as a charter yacht as something of a trick to avoid certain taxes. In Europe, charter yachts are exempt from a number of taxes so as long as it’s listed as a charter it’s cheaper to operate, even if no one is ever really allowed to charter it. 

How Big is the Azzam Yacht?

Azzam holds the title of the longest yacht in the world as of 2023, a title it has held since it was launched back in 2013. In fact, it was only surpassed in length in 2019 by a research and exploration vessel called REV Ocean which straddles the line between a yacht and something else and isn’t, strictly speaking, classified as a private yacht. 

Azzam clocks in at 180 meters in length which works out to an astounding 590 feet. The displacement is 13,136 gross tons. The beam is 68 feet but it only has a 14 feet draft. For a yacht its size, the Azzam was able to navigate some relatively shallow waters. 

How Fast is Azzam and What Engines Does it Use

The Azzam superyacht has a top speed listed at an impressive 32 knots, something you might not expect from such a large vessel. It’s powered by 2 Diesel 17,524 kW (23,500 hp) engines and 2 Gas Turbine engines with an output of 17,524 kW (23,500 hp).That’s a total of about 47,000 horsepower that was forced out through two Wartsila axial flow Modular waterjets and two boosters. It’s designed to easily travel warm and shallow waters

One source says it’s actually pulling 97,000 hp and that, at top speed, she can burn through 13 tonnes of fuel per hour. In any event, she’s able to cross an entire ocean without worrying about needing to refuel.

Inside the Azzam: Design and Features

Azzam was built by German shipyard Lurssen, builders of many of the world’s biggest superyachts. The bold and elegant exterior design is courtesy of Nauta Yachts while the interior, described as an innovative and timeless design, was handled by Christopher Leoni. It’s said he focused on luxurious décor inspired by the Empire style.

There’s a 95 footlong main salon in the yacht that has a totally open design and no pillars. This room also features a chandelier that was designed such that, even at full speed, it won’t rattle. The furniture on board features marquetry in mother of pearl. Word is it used an entire year’s production worth of it. 

There is room for 36 guests on board plus an owner’s suite. A crew of 60 maintain the yacht while it’s underway.

You have to assume a yacht of this size has a lot going for it. The sheer size of the Azzam ensured it had room for a lot of features, including stuff you’d not see on many yachts. Some of the known features of the Azzam include:

• An on-board submarine
• An on-board golf training room
• Fully equipped gym
• A large tender garage
• Swimming pool
• An entire missile defense system that can be deployed if the yacht is attacked
• An entirely bulletproof master suite

These are just a few of the known features. As you can imagine, a motor yacht with a bulletproof master suite and a missile defense system is one that was also built with privacy and security in mind. As such there are only limited details about what is available inside and very few photos of it as well. 

The Bottom Line

The mega yacht known as Azzam was owned by the president of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan until his death in 2022. It is currently unknown who has possession of the vessel. Despite being built in 2013, the yacht remains the longest yacht in the world at an astounding 590 feet.

It was never built to be the largest on purpose and, in fact, designers had to add considerable length in the production process to make sure everything fit and functioned properly which boosted it to the size it is now. 

At a price of over $600 million, it’s also one of the most expensive yachts ever build. The details of the interior are limited but it’s known to have remarkable defensive capabilities including a missile defense system.

One of the most remarkable features of the interior layout is a 95 foot long lounge area that has no support pillars as part of a visionary modern design. The beams in the ceiling are a meter thick as a result and the large, glass windows/walls were built to handle extreme stress with 7 cm thick glass.

My grandfather first took me fishing when I was too young to actually hold up a rod on my own. As an avid camper, hiker, and nature enthusiast I'm always looking for a new adventure.

Categories : Yachts

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

More in Yachts

Lonian Yacht: An Insider's Guide

A Closer Look at the Madsummer Yacht

Your Insider’s Look at Steve Jobs’ Yacht Venus

Your Insider’s Guide to the Aviva Yacht

The People’s Poncho Review and Ratings 

Oru Lake Kayak Review

What Is A Gunwale?

131 of the Best Hawaiian Boat Names

167 Patriotic Boat Names

About boatsafe.

Established in 1998, BoatSafe is your independent guide into the world of boating, fishing, and watersports. We provide expert insights and detailed guides to help you find products tailored to your needs and budget.

Contact Boatsafe

• Address: 4021 West Walnut Street. Rogers, AR 72756
• Phone:  (479)339-4795
• Email: [email protected]

Site Navigation

• How We Test
• Corrections Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Editorial Policy
• Affiliate Disclosure

Our Reviews

All content is © Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.

• Yachts for sale
• Yachts for charter
• Brokerage News

• One of the Largest and Fastest Superyachts Azzam to Change Owners
• Yacht Harbour

Latest News

The Stunning Ritz Carlton EVRIMA Yacht

Gliding Across Tokyo’s Sumida River: The Mesmerizing Zipper Boat

CROCUS Yacht: An 48 Meter Beauty by Admiral

PHI Yacht – Royal Huisman’s $45 Million Superyacht

• Zuretti Interior Design
• Zuretti Interior
• Zuccon International Project
• Ziyad al Manaseer
• Zaniz Interiors. Kutayba Alghanim
• Yuriy Kosiuk
• Yuri Milner
• Yersin Yacht

• Superyachts

MOONLIGHT II Yacht – Grand $100M Superyacht

She was built by Neorion Syros Shipyards in 2006 and features interior design from Lally Poulias and Alpha Marine. She features naval architecture from Murray & Associates.

The MOONLIGHT 2 yacht is unrivaled in her class thanks to her lavish amenities and her expansive guest accommodation.

She has a splendid atmosphere that makes for the best superyacht lifestyle experience. 

MOONLIGHT 2 yacht interior

Lally Poulias and Alpha Marine designed the opulent interior of the MOONLIGHT 2 yacht. She has accommodation for 36 guests in 18 cabins, a feature that makes her a desirable charter yacht.

There is cabin space for 36 crew members ensuring the promise of luxury onboard the superyacht.

The design features Grecian-inspired interiors with a subtle azure and arctic white color palette. 

The MOONLIGHT 2 yacht is brimming with activities for the vast number of guests to enjoy while onboard. It has extensive spa facilities with beauty and hair treatments or a steam room.

There is also a gym for guests to remain active while on board. The deck jacuzzi is the perfect setting to soak up the bubbles.

She features relaxation and dining areas that are ideal places for guests to celebrate.

Complimenting this is the wine cellar that is temperature and humidity-controlled with storage for over 500 wine bottles. There are conference facilities, a helipad space, and a gentleman club.

Her extensive areas include a beach club on her aft with three shell doors and platforms that open as a swimming platform. The beach club is also a perfect spot for sundowners with a bar and balcony.

There is also a medical facility on board. The MOONLIGHT II yacht is filled with water toys to enjoy the yachting experience, including waterskis, a Seabob, wakeboards, fishing equipment, and snorkeling gear.

The builder of the impressive MOONLIGHT 2 was Neorion Syros Shipyards , a Greek yacht-building company. The naval architecture of the yacht was designed by Murray & Associates .

She was built with a teak deck, steel hull, and an aluminum superstructure. She was delivered in 2006 and refitted in 2015, where she was extended by 6.1m.

Specifications

The impressive yacht has a length of 91.4m, a beam of 14.44m, and a draft of 4.15m. She has a displacement of 3052 gross tons and features 2 Caterpillar engines.

The MOONLIGHT II yacht has a cruising speed of 14 knots and a maximum speed of 15 knots, with an impressive range of 5000 nautical miles.

She has at-anchor stabilizers that make her a smooth and enjoyable experience on the water. The $100 million yacht has an $8 – $10 million upkeep cost per year.

Do you have anything to add to this listing?

• Lally Poulias
• Neorion Syros Shipyards
• Sultan bin Khalifa al Nahyan

Love Yachts? Join us.

Related posts.

AL MIRQAB Yacht – Stunning $300 Million Superyacht

GENE MACHINE Yacht – Impressive $35M Superyacht

OCEAN VICTORY Yacht – Yacht of Dreams $300M Superyacht

O’PTASIA Yacht – Stunning $60M Superyacht

UAE President's yacht most expensive asset purchase of all time

File photo: UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan

Promoted Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com

Track Budget 2023 and get Latest News Live on NDTV.com.

Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world .

Track Latest News and Election Results Coverage Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.

Watch Live News:

From Russian oligarchs to tech CEOs, here's who owns 10 of the most expensive luxury yachts in the world

• Rising Sun superyacht is valued at $200 million and was purchased by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison in 2004.
• Dilbar, seized by German police from a Russian oligarch, is valued at $735 million.
• These are 10 of the most expensive yachts in the world.

Rising Sun, valued at $200 million

Rising Sun superyacht is valued at $200 million and was purchased by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison in 2004, according to Robb Report .

Rising Sun was later purchased again by Geffen Records executive David Geffen in 2010, according to Club Yacht . Geffen also owns another yacht called Pelorus and his yachts have been frequented by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, according to the outlet.

Aviva, valued at $250 million

Aviva, valued at $250 million is 323 feet long and was built in 2017, according to Robb Report . The boat is so large that it has a paddle tennis court that doubles as an indoor soccer field in its interior, according to the outlet.

Andreas Hering, the project manager of the shipyard where the boat was constructed, told Boat International that "in three years" to "build a big yacht around a padel tennis court was the main brief, I guess."

Octopus, valued at $200 million

Octopus, a 414-foot superyacht owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, is valued at $200 million, according to Robb Report.

The boat can accommodate 12 guests in 13 different cabins, according to Yacht Charter Fleet . The boat also has a dance floor and a movie theatre, according to the outlet.

Radiant, valued at $300 million

Radiant, a superyacht built for Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky in 2010, is 360 feet long and worth $300 million, according to Robb Report.

The boat can accommodate up to 20 guests and 44 crew and sports a beauty salon, gym, pool, and jacuzzi, according to the outlet.

Dubai, valued at $400 million

The "Dubai" megayacht, owned by United Arab Emirates Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is 532 feet long and is worth around $400 million, according to Architectural Digest .

Topaz, valued at $527 million

Topaz was built in Germany for the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to Dubai realtor LuxuryProperty.  

The nearly 500-foot yacht has a helicopter pad, gym, pool, and cinema hall, according to the realtor. Mansour owns Abu Dhabi United Group, which acquired Manchester United FC in 2008. 

Eclipse, valued at $600 million

The 533-foot Eclipse superyacht is valued at $600 million, according to the luxury magazine Robb Report .

The Eclipse is owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, one of 16 yachts and vessels that he owns, according to Forbes .

Azzam, valued at $600 million

Azzam is the largest and one of the fastest yachts in the world, according to Architectural Digest.

The boat took around three years to build and sits at 590 feet long and can travel at a speed of 35 miles per hour, according to the outlet.

Azzam is owned by the family of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was the Second President of the United Arab Emirates before his death in May 2022.

Al Said, valued at $600 million

The 508-foot Al Said sits in the Lürssen shipyard in Germany and was purchased by the former Sultan of Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said in 2008 for $600 million, according to Robb Report.

The yacht can travel up to 25 miles per hour and has a concert hall that can accommodate a 50-person orchestra, according to the outlet.

Dilbar, valued at $735 million

Dilbar, owned by Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, is the largest superyacht in the world and it's valued at $735 million.

In April 2022, the yacht was impounded in Germany . German federal police said they seized the yacht after an investigation into "offshore concealment" and determined that Usmanov's sister is the owner of the yacht. The boat remains at a shipyard in Hamburg, Germany.

• Main content

• Search Search Please fill out this field.

Running Costs

The bottom line.

• Personal Finance

Can I Afford a Super Yacht?

They’re the preferred luxury vacation transport of millionaires and billionaires from Bono to Stephen Spielberg to Jay Z, conjuring images of the mega-rich cavorting off some dazzling foreign coastline.

“Super yachting” is officially one of the world’s most extravagant hobbies. And there’s a very good reason for that: It costs a massive amount of money. Luxury yachts are among the most expensive asset purchases. And it’s not just that the initial capital , which can run tens to hundreds of millions of dollars, is high. Yachts also come with tremendous annual running costs that often soar over $1 million.

There is no legal definition of “super yacht.” The term generally applies to yachts that are 75 feet or more in length, have a full-time professional crew, and are enjoyed for pleasure or commercial operation. Of course, no two super yachts are the same, and no two super yacht owners have the same taste or yacht aspirations. So outlay and running costs can vary significantly.

Key Takeaways

• A super yacht describes a personal boat that is both larger and more extravagant than typical private yachts.
• These are a luxury item that belongs to those ultra-high-net-worth individuals who can afford them.
• Up-front purchase prices can be in the several millions of dollars, and then ongoing operating and maintenance costs could run another million dollars or more each year.

Post-purchase, an owner should expect to pay around 20% or more of a yacht’s initial purchase price annually to keep it running. So in theory, a $10 million yacht would set you back $2 million a year in operational costs. Fuel (lots of it), vessel insurance, dockage fees, maintenance and repairs, and crew salaries are typically the heftiest running costs.

Dockage fees can run about $350,000 and administration about $70,000. Maintenance and repairs can be in the millions, as can crew salaries. The upkeep of the 590-foot super yacht Azzam, owned by President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, is estimated at $60 million per year, although it does come with two helipads and a missile defense system.

Luxury Yacht Group provides salary guidelines for a standard boat crew. It prices the captain of a 100-to-170-foot vessel with more than five years of experience at anywhere up to $192,000 annually. And you’ve still got to factor in chefs, stewards, deckhands, engineers, and more. Just so new yacht owners don’t get hit with any rude cost surprises, Luxury Yacht Group has developed a handy crew costs calculator and another one for operating costs .

Prices vary from port to port around the world, but parking your boat at the most exclusive marinas in high season can set you back well over $4,000 per night. Berthing spots during prime-time events such as the Monaco Grand Prix can cost up to $85,000 or more for a five-day stay. Superyachts.com provides a global marina map with which to search the world’s marinas and their seasonal mooring fees.

Keep in mind the obligatory “ toys .” No floating playground is complete without resident fun machines like Jet Skis and submersibles, not to mention crucial, state-of-the-art leisure  amenities like an infinity pool cinema or floating beach club. Eclipse, owned by Russian businessman Roman Abramovich, features two helicopter pads, a three-man “leisure” submarine, and two swimming pools—one of which converts into a dance floor.

Several banks and marine lenders will finance the purchase of a super yacht , either via a leasing transaction or via a marine mortgage . And offering your super yacht for charter can fetch attractive returns. However, if you have to cost-rationalize the purchase, perhaps buying one of these vessels isn’t the best way to go. Instead, you could always charter one for the same floating luxury feeling without all of the ownership responsibilities. There are also fractional ownership schemes that share financial responsibility (and super yacht enjoyment) among a party of investors without the full capital outlay.

If you happen to be one of the world’s ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) , a lavish floating playground could be right for you. However, if you’re not in the billionaire ’s club, don’t despair. You can still charter, share in a fractional arrangement... or simply opt for a more affordable yacht—less “super,” that is. Still, there will always be a place for the opulent, and incredibly expensive, among the world's elite.

Luxury Yacht Group. " Superyacht Cost Calculator ."

AzureAzure. " Azzam: The World’s Largest Private Superyacht ."

Industry Tap. " World’s Largest Superyacht Comes with a Bullet Proof Master Suite & Missile Defense System ."

Luxury Yacht Group. " Salary Guidelines ," Page 1.

Yacht Club de Monaco. " Tarifs YCM Marina ."

CharterWorld. " Eclipse Blohm & Voss ."

• Terms of Service
• Editorial Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices

The global authority in superyachting

• NEWSLETTERS
• Yachts Home
• The Superyacht Directory
• Yacht Reports
• Brokerage News
• The largest yachts in the world
• The Register
• Yacht Advice
• Yacht Design
• 12m to 24m yachts
• Monaco Yacht Show
• Builder Directory
• Designer Directory
• Interior Design Directory
• Naval Architect Directory
• Yachts for sale home
• Motor yachts
• Sailing yachts
• Explorer yachts
• Classic yachts
• Sale Broker Directory
• Charter Home
• Yachts for Charter
• Charter Destinations
• Charter Broker Directory
• Destinations Home
• Mediterranean
• South Pacific
• Rest of the World
• Boat Life Home
• Owners' Experiences
• Interiors Suppliers
• Owners' Club
• Captains' Club
• BOAT Showcase
• Boat Presents
• Events Home
• World Superyacht Awards
• Superyacht Design Festival
• Design and Innovation Awards
• Young Designer of the Year Award
• Artistry and Craft Awards
• Explorer Yachts Summit
• Ocean Talks
• The Ocean Awards
• BOAT Connect
• Between the bays
• Golf Invitational
• Boat Pro Home
• Pricing Plan
• Superyacht Insight
• Product Features
• Premium Content
• Testimonials
• Global Order Book
• Tenders & Equipment

The top 25 largest yachts in the world

Every year, shipyards from around the world push the boundaries of superyacht design to deliver bigger and better yachts. The Samuda-built El Mahrousa may have carried the title unchallenged for a remarkable 119 years, but in the 21st century, she has descended down the pecking order to make room for even larger and longer yachts. German shipyard Lürssen currently holds a near monopoly in the construction of supersized superyachts, having delivered 13 of the world’s top 25. But the list is ever-changing with the 158 metre Blue breaking into the top five in 2022. These yachts, all measuring over 100 metres, are impressive not only for their hull length but for what they carry above and below deck. From submarines and helicopters to swimming pools , cinemas and science labs, the onboard features of these superyachts show them to be truly ground-breaking pieces of engineering. Read on to discover our official list of the largest, privately owned yachts in the world.

1. Azzam | 180.6m

In October 2013, Lürssen delivered the largest privately owned superyacht in the world in the form Azzam . Originally, she was designed to be 145 metres, but in the process of optimisation grew to 180 metres. Other stunning facts about Azzam’s impressive design include her staggering 13,000 GT and accommodation for 36 guests and as many as 80 crew members. The behemoth was reportedly built for Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi’s royal family, for use as a dayboat to reach his favourite diving grounds. The main saloon alone encompasses nearly 522m² and has a relaxed French Empire style and mother of pearl finishes, designed by Christophe Leoni . On board features include a gym, pool and a special ‘golf training room’.

Exteriors have been penned by Nauta Yacht Design , and the technical engineering was directed by Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi for the owner. The yacht has an impressive speed for her size owing to her innovative water-jet propulsion system (two fixed jets, two directional), which catapults her along at a staggering 31.5-plus knots. At 17.5 metres longer than Roman Abramovich’s Eclipse , this boat takes the prestigious title of the world’s largest yacht. The all-white superyacht has held her title unchallenged for nearly seven years, but this reign will come to an end with the expected delivery of 183 metre REV .

• Builder: Lurssen
• Country of build: Germany
• Delivery year: 2013
• Length Overall: 180.61 m
• Gross Tonnage 13136 t

More about this yacht

More stories, 2. eclipse | 162.5m.

After five years of intensive design, development and construction, Eclipse left the Blohm + Voss yard in December 2010. She carried the title of world’s largest superyacht for just three years before being usurped by Azzam . Managed by Blue Ocean Yacht Management, Eclipse features a diesel-electric propulsion system with generators powering rotating Azipod drives, dramatic exterior styling and a stunning interior design by London-based Terence Disdale Design , which has been responsible for all aspects of aesthetic design and layout, including the superstructure design, deck layouts, interior design and construction supervision. Eclipse was voted Motor Yacht of the Year at the World Superyacht Awards in 2011 and Motor Yacht of the Decade at the 10th World Superyacht Awards in 2015.

Her accommodation includes an owner’s deck of 56 metres in length and facilities for up to 92 crew. Her interior boasts hundreds of custom finishes exclusively developed especially for this project, while her deck areas include a 16 metre swimming pool which can be transformed into a dance floor. The yacht can also accommodate three helicopters, one on each of the two helipads and the third in a storage hangar below the fore deck.

• Builder: Blohm & Voss
• Delivery year: 2010
• Length Overall: 162.5 m
• Gross Tonnage 13564 t

3. Dubai | 162m

Dubai was originally commissioned by Prince Jefri of Brunei with exterior styling and interior design by Andrew Winch . The Blohm & Voss project was suspended in 1998 with just the bare hull and partially complete superstructure. It was eventually sold to the Dubai government, and responsibility passed to Kostis Antonopoulos of Platinum Yachts , which prepared a new in-house interior design completed in 2006.

The aptly named Dubai is the royal yacht of Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum of Dubai. The accommodation, styled by Nakheel Interiors , is designed for 24 guests and comprises an owner’s suite, five VIP suites and six guest suites, all with open balconies. Special features include a 21.3m-wide atrium, a swimming pool, barbecue area, cinema, disco, a landing platform for a Blackhawk helicopter, a gymnasium, and a garage for the yacht’s submarine and a vast array of water toys. Full certification was obtained from Lloyds Register of Shipping in October 2006 and she has since made several voyages. She can reach a maximum speed of 25 knots.

• Builder: Platinum
• Country of build: United Arab Emirates
• Delivery year: 2006
• Length Overall: 162 m
• Gross Tonnage 12488 t

4. Blue | 158m

Taking her place at number four in the list of the world’s longest yachts, Lürssen’s Blue is so voluminous that she beats all the longer boats in terms of gross tonnage. Built for a Middle Eastern owner, she is exceeded for internal space only by those behemoths Dilbar (15,917GT) and Al Said (15,850GT). Terence Disdale has penned classic exterior lines with a sharply raked bow and gentle curves to the deep overhangs of the decks. The main helipad is positioned on the bow, with a smaller one aft. Other exterior features include a pool under cover on the main deck aft, a bathing platform at the stern and twin balconies flanking the owner’s cabin forward. Blue ’s interior is designed to be timeless and rich in “feminine elegance”, a deliberate contrast to the exterior. 

Blue is equipped with a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system that was developed in-house. An electric Azimuth pod drive can manoeuvre the boat alone or in conjunction with the twin propeller shafts. To reduce noise, vibration and NOx levels, Blue has a state-of-the-art exhaust treatment system. The boat is also equipped with new membrane technology that means her treated waste water achieves drinking water quality.

• Delivery year: 2022
• Length Overall: 160.6 m
• Beam: 22.5 m
• Gross Tonnage 14785 t

5. Dilbar | 156m

With a total interior volume of over 15,000 GT, Dilbar is the largest yacht in the world by gross tonnage, if not by length. She was built in steel and aluminium by Lürssen to a design by Espen Øino . In 2016, she was delivered in the Mediterranean for her owner, the Uzbekistani billionaire Alisher Usmanov. She replaced Usmanov’s previous yacht of the same name, which has since been renamed Ona . She is usually spotted cruising around the South of France, northern Spain and sometimes Cyprus.

Record-breaking features on board this SOLAS-class superyacht include her 180 cubic metre swimming pool and her 30,000KW electric diesel power plant. Her interiors, styled by Winch Design, can accommodate up to 24 guests served by nearly 100 crew members. She also has two helipads, 3,800 square metres of living space amd an expansive garden complete with a specially developed variety of grass that tolerates salt air, according to its creator Axel Massmann. Dilbar has a single colour for her exterior, a buttery cream shade, that makes her instantly recognisable at sea and can reach a top speed of 21 knots.

• Delivery year: 2016
• Length Overall: 156 m
• Beam: 23.5 m
• Gross Tonnage 15917 t

6. Al Said | 155m

This Lloyd’s-classed vessel, known as Project Sunflower during construction, was delivered by Lürssen’s Vegesack yard to her owner, Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman, in March 2008. Measuring an impressive 155 metres, Al Said is the principle vessel of the Oman Royal Yacht Squadron. Designed by Espen Øino with the looks of a classic cruise liner, she sails under the Omani flag and her home port is Muttrah Harbour in Muscat. 

This Germanischer Lloyd-classed, 15,850GT yacht can reach a top speed of 25 knots and is reported to have a crew capacity of 150. Her panelled interiors, designed in a traditional style by Jonathan Quinn Barnett , offers huge entertaining spaces and accommodation for 65 guests. Her pièce de résistance is the on-board concert hall that can accommodate a 50-strong orchestra, but across her six decks she also has a helipad and a cinema.

• Delivery year: 2008
• Length Overall: 155 m
• Gross Tonnage 15850 t

7. El Mahrousa | 150.6m

El Mahrousa was first delivered by the Samuda Brothers shipyard in 1865. She held on to the title of longest yacht in the world for over a century before finally being usurped by the delivery of Prince Abdulaziz in the 1980s. She was originally built for the Ottoman governor of Egypt, Khedive Ismail, receive visiting dignitaries. and was present at the opening ceremony of the Suez Canal in 1869, when she was used to receive visiting dignitaries. She was lengthened by 12.1 metres in 1872, when her paddle wheels were removed, and by a further 5.2 metres in 1905. Her last major rebuild was in 1950.

Significant moments in her lifetime include her participation in 1976 as the Egyptian representative at the Bicentennial Fleet Review in New York harbour. She slipped into disrepair after this while being used as a museum ship. In 1992, a major effort was put into making her seaworthy enough to travel to Italy for the Christopher Columbus Fleet Review. She now serves as the Egyptian Presidential Yacht but is seldom seen in public. She is usually berthed in Alexandria, where she is cared for by the Egyptian Navy, which lists her as a training ship. Powered by three Parsons steam turbines, she can achieve a top speed of 16 knots.

• Builder: Samuda
• Country of build: United Kingdom
• Delivery year: 1865
• Length Overall: 150.57 m
• Beam: 12.98 m
• Gross Tonnage 4560 t

8. A+ | 147.3m

Formerly known as Topaz , the Tim Heywood -designed A+ was launched by Lürssen in 2012 and uniquely features Heywood’s signature illuminated on her superstructure. Although she flies a Cayman flag, her owner is a member of the UAE elite – reportedly Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who also owns the UK’s Manchester City football club.

Having previously been chartered twice by Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, the 147.25 metre superyacht features a helicopter landing pad located at the bow and her interiors have been designed by Terence Disdale – but not much else is known about this superyacht, as many of her details are still shrouded in secrecy.

• Delivery year: 2012
• Length Overall: 147.25 m
• Beam: 21.5 m
• Gross Tonnage 12532 t

9. Prince Abdulaziz | 147m

The 5,200-tonne Prince Abdulaziz was delivered by Danish shipyard Helsingor Vaerft in 1984 to her first owner, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. Since then, she has continued to serve the Saudi royal family and is berthed beside the king’s palace in Jeddah. She has been refitted three times; in 1987, 1996 and in 2005.

Prince Abdulaziz was built at a reported cost of $184m to a design by Maierform . Her interior, designed by the late David Hicks , blends ancient and modern. One notable feature is the large lobby, said to be designed to mimic that of the Titanic . She includes a hospital, a mosque and a cinema, and there are also rumours of surface-to-air missiles and an underwater surveillance system on board. The mega yacht can accommodate as many as 64 guests and is manned by a crew of 65.

• Builder: Helsingor Vaerft
• Country of build: Denmark
• Delivery year: 1984
• Length Overall: 147.01 m
• Beam: 18.3 m
• Gross Tonnage 8233 t

10. Opera | 146.4m

Reportedly built for a senior Emirati royal, Opera 's size and gross tonnage catapult her directly into the ranks of the world's 10 biggest private yachts. The 146.4-metre yacht certainly has some of the hallmarks of a Middle Eastern boat, with deep overhangs between decks and lots of enclosed deck space hinting at use in an aggressive climate. Pictures taken during a maiden voyage from Bremen to Portsmouth last summer showed lots of floor-to-ceiling glass across six guest decks, as well as two helicopter landing spots and a beach club whose twin staircases must climb two decks to reach a 10-metre, stone-lined pool aft of the main deck. The pool rises to form a dance floor.

Lürssen has kept the project shrouded in secrecy, but designer Terence Disdale confirmed that interior facilities include a cinema and an extensive spa and wellness centre, plus other features that are being kept under wraps. He also mentioned an upper lounge with a 110-inch television and bay windows.

• Delivery year: 2023
• Length Overall: 146.35 m
• Gross Tonnage 12518 t

11. OK | 146m

This unusual vessel spent decades plying the seas as a float-on yacht carrier for DYT Yacht Transport with the unglamorous moniker Super Servant 3 – and it is this carrying ability that caught the owner’s eye.

40 years after its original launch by Japan’s Oshima Shipbuilding , the yacht emerged from a root-and-branch refit at Karmarine in Turkey. The exterior has been smartened up, with a new matt-black paint job, gold-tinted glazing, teak decking at the bow, stern and sides and an expanse of artificial grass on the submersible aft deck – an idea of the owner’s, to enliven the guest cabins’ view. There are reports that this space doubles as a tennis court and, at 32 metres by 100 metres, there would certainly be the room for it.

With a strengthened hull, the boat’s original role as a yacht carrier has been enhanced. Pumping ballast into tanks under the aft deck allows the platform to lower so that the owner’s 46-metre ketch can be floated aboard and secured. There’s also a 40-tonne crane for positioning other toys – reportedly up to 70 of them, from launches and cars to a seaplane.

Under the direction of Bozca Design , Karmarine has stripped out and rebuilt the accommodation area at the front of the yacht. There are cabins for up to 20 guests, a glazed sundeck spa pool, a "botanical" garden and an outdoor cinema. The lift between decks runs through a glass tower outside the superstructure. 

• Builder: Oshima Shipbuilding
• Country of build: Japan
• Delivery year: 1982
• Length Overall: 146 m
• Beam: 32.01 m
• Gross Tonnage 11296 t

12. Sailing Yacht A | 142.8m

This Philippe Starck -designed vessel is the second superyacht commissioned by Russian businessman Andrey Melnichenko, after his first Motor Yacht A . She was built in Germany by the Nobiskrug yard and delivered in February 2017.

A sail-assisted yacht like no other, Sailing Yacht A comprises eight decks, and her rotating curved carbon fibre masts tower to 100 metres. She is made to set 3,747 square metres of sail and is manned by crew of 54. She sports an underwater viewing pod (moulded into the keel) and balconies enclosed by the largest pieces of curved glass ever. There are 24 shell doors in her hull, and she has a diesel-electric power plant controlled by computer. Records claimed by the Starck superyacht include the world's tallest carbon masts, with the tallest standing at 100 metres above sea level.

• Builder: Nobiskrug
• Delivery year: 2017
• Length Overall: 142.81 m
• Beam: 24.88 m
• Gross Tonnage 12700 t

13. Nord | 142m

Nord started life as Project Redwood, then Opus. Everyone involved in her design and build has remained tight-lipped about the details, but build manager Rob Moran shared some exclusive insight with BOAT International .

First up, she has an Ice Class hull for real exploration. Her aluminium superstructure runs to four decks, contained within the dramatic sweep of a black-painted arch – a key part of the vision of designers Nuvolari Lenard . Not one but two helipads are in evidence, while a vast beach club and tender garage gives  "space to store a plethora of toys including 16 tenders, a submarine and an ROV", according to Moran. The largest tender reportedly measures 15 metres, and there is a watersports and dive centre on the lower deck. Nord has a generous touch-and-go helipad at its heavily flared aircraft carrier bow, but there is also a much bigger space aft up on the bridge deck that offers landing, parking and bunkering for the owner’s helicopter, as well as an entire hangar for protection during longer passages. 

Also visible to onlookers was the exceptional 25-metre-long swimming pool on the main deck aft, plus a spa pool on the upper deck. Her interior is reported to include a gym, spa, sauna and a whole deck devoted to the owner.

• Delivery year: 2021
• Length Overall: 141.6 m
• Beam: 19.5 m
• Gross Tonnage 10154 t

14. Yas | 141m

Delivered in 1978 by De Schelde as a navy frigate, Yas was rebuilt in 2013 by Abu Dhabi MAR. Previously known under the project name Swift 141, she was completely modified with new machinery and electronic systems and outfitted with a luxurious interior. It has been suggested that her owner is a member of the Emirati royal family.

She has been designed inside and out by Pierrejean Design Studio of Paris . The unique superstructure of Yas is built in advanced composites and glass and was supposedly inspired by the profile shape of a dolphin. She is reportedly able to accommodate 60 guests and 56 crew, and on-board features include a heli-pad and al fresco dining spaces aft, and a Jacuzzi on her top deck. Her beach club Jacuzzi is complemented by a waterfall feature and a spiral staircase connects her the multiple decks. Powered by twin MTU diesels, Yas has a top speed of 26 knots.

• Builder: De Schelde
• Country of build: Netherlands
• Length Overall: 141 m
• Beam: 14.6 m
• Gross Tonnage 5002 t

16. Scheherazade | 140m

Another titan by Lürssen , Scheherazade carries the same name as the enigmatic story-teller of the Middle Eastern epic One Thousand and One nights . She hit the water in July 2019 and offers phenomenal volumes at 10,167 GT. Her Espen Øino exterior features a four-deck aluminium superstructure with elegant tapering roofs and an eclectic range of coloured LED exterior lighting. She also has two large helipads – one at the bow and one on the upper deck – plus a prominent beach club aft. 

There is very little information regarding her interior by François Zuretti , but if the work of the French design house on 106-metre Amadea is anything to go by, it is imperious and sophisticated. With the owner known to be a Middle Eastern billionaire, this yacht is designed with warmer climates in mind. Temperatures in excess of 45 degrees Celsius are quite normal in the region during the summer months, so Scheherazade has relatively little exterior space for a yacht of this size. There is limited covered deck space at the aft end of the main and upper decks, but it is well enclosed by glass sides for cooling. Even the sundeck is completely shaded by a hardtop, which all helps to give her an astonishing internal volume.

• Delivery year: 2020
• Length Overall: 140 m
• Beam: 23.3 m
• Gross Tonnage 10167 t

15. Ocean Victory | 140m

Ocean Victory was completed at Fincantieri’s Muggiano yard in Italy after launching in April 2014. This seven-deck yacht is based on a design by Espen Øino and her interior is by Alberto Pinto and Laura Sessa . She has internal seawater dockage for a 14-metre tender and six pools of up to 8 metres in length. There’s a certified helideck and a hangar to store the aircraft, while inside Ocean Victory boasts an underwater observation room and more than 300 square metres of spa facilities. She is SOLAS-classed and is the largest yacht ever built in Italy. 

In 2016, the superyacht world was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of one of Ocean Victory’ s crew members, who suffered critical leg injuries while setting the anchor off the coast of Mu Ko Similan National Park in Thailand. Little else is known about this top-secret yacht, which is kept much under wraps and away from prying eyes.

• Builder: Fincantieri
• Country of build: Italy
• Delivery year: 2014
• Gross Tonnage 8506 t

17. Solaris | 140M

The 140-metre expedition yacht Solaris was launched in the city of Bremerhaven in February 2021 as the flagship model of German shipyard Lloyd Werft . She is the debut project of Australian designer Marc Newson , who has given her a dramatic grey and white superstructure which features a unique fashion plate which wraps around the mast and connects both sides of the hull. Spanning eight decks in total, Solaris has been constructed in aluminium and steel and offers a 26-metre beam. Little information has been shared about her interiors, but her exterior is equipped with a large helipad, a sun deck and a spacious beach club aft.

Turning to the technical elements, Solaris is reportedly outfitted with a power and energy management system from ABB and features two Azipods powered by nine megawatts – the most powerful propulsion system of its kind to ever be installed on a yacht. She runs on a total of eight MTU diesel engines, providing 19,040hp. Little else is known about the superyacht, on which construction first began in 2018.

• Builder: Lloyd Werft
• Length Overall: 139.7 m
• Gross Tonnage 11247 t

18. Al Salamah | 139.3m

Built by the consortium of Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel and the Lürssen shipyard in Germany, Al Salamah is often referred to as "Mipos", the code name used during the construction of this most secret of yachts. Mipos was short for "Mission Possible" – a statement proved correct by her delivery in 1999.

She has a length of 139.3 metres, a massive beam of 23.5 metres, and is reported to have a top speed of 21.5 knots. Both the interior design and the exterior styling are by the London-based Terence Disdale Design . Al Salamah was owned by the late Sultan bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, who also owned 147 metre Prince Abdulaziz . She was refitted by Lürssen in 2007 and is rumoured to carry a hospital room with an underwater treadmill for physical therapy on board.

• Delivery year: 1999
• Length Overall: 139.29 m
• Gross Tonnage 12234 t

19. Luminance | 138.8m

Espen Øino is repsonsible for this giant yacht's crisp exterior lines. Despite a traditional raked bow, she looks bang up to date with a gleaming hull and superstructure that counterpoise dark blue and silver to create a masculine look. Øino has played with the profile of the overhangs to give the illusion of reverse sheer amidships. The effect is especially striking when viewing the yacht from beam-on. Her twin helicopter pads – one on the foredeck and another high up aft – will make her capable of ambitious explorer programmes. She also boasts a large beach club and an infinity pool, with a private spa pool area on the foredeck of what may be an owner's deck.

Luminance was expected in 2023, but delivery has fallen back a fraction. It is a mammoth project, whose true length has only just been confirmed at 138.8 metres. Her Ukranian owner, mining and financial services mogul Rinat Akhmetov, told The New York Times last year that he was mulling the boat's sale following Russia's invasion of his homeland, but it's not known whether he followed through.

• Delivery year: 2024
• Length Overall: 138.8 m
• Gross Tonnage 8999 t

20. Rising Sun | 138m

Rising Sun was built for Larry Ellison, co-founder and CEO of Oracle. She's the last yacht that ever came from designer Jon Bannenberg’s drawing board, with interiors styled by   Laura Seccombe . Rising Sun ’s naval architecture experimented with an extensive use of structural glass for a clean and stripped-down profile.

In 2006, Ellison sold half ownership to media mogul David Geffen, who bought the remaining half in 2010. Rising Sun is reported to have cost more than $290,000,000 and was extended by 18 metres in-build to ensure she was larger than the 126.2-metre Octopus , belonging to Microsoft’s co-founder, Paul Allen. Her 8,000 square metres of living space can accommodate 45 crew members, and includes a wine cellar and basketball court, plus accommodation for 16. One of her tenders, a catamaran, carries the yacht’s 4x4 vehicle ashore.

• Delivery year: 2004
• Length Overall: 138.01 m
• Gross Tonnage 7600 t

21. Flying Fox | 136m

Formerly Project Shu, PYC-compliant Flying Fox was built by Lürssen for a serial charter yacht owner and completed her sea trials off the coast of Germany in May 2019. The 136-metre, six-deck yacht towers 32 metres above the waterline – as tall as three London buses balanced end on end. Her elegant, well-balanced profile by Espen Øino conceals an extraordinarily voluminous interior by Mark Berryman , including a double-height atrium that forms the main deck lobby. There are 11 cabins for 36 guests, all with private sea-view terraces, and expansive outdoor living spaces, such as a 12-metre swimming pool transversing the main deck aft, swim platforms and two helipads. The 400-square-metre spa is the stand-out feature. It has heated limestone floors, a Hammam, massage and beauty treatment rooms and the first cryosauna ever installed on a yacht, with a main chamber that reaches a chilly -110C. There’s also an on-board hospital.

One of the most expensive superyachts in the world available for charter , Flying Fox is crewed by an experienced team of 54. She boasts a toybox stuffed with jet skis and other Seabobs, hoverboards, room for a submarine and and nine different tenders. Plus, she even has her own dive centre and kite surf store on board.

• Delivery year: 2019
• Length Overall: 136 m
• Beam: 20.5 m
• Gross Tonnage 9100 t

22. Savarona | 135.9m

Built by Blohm + Voss for American bridge cable heiress Emily Roebling Cadwalader in 1931, Savarona was sold in 1938 to the Turkish government and became the presidential yacht of Kemal Atatürk. In 1989, Kahraman Sadikoglu obtained a 50-year lease and, with investors, spent $35,000,000 on the refit of this classic superyacht, including a library suite dedicated to the memory of Atatürk and furnished with his personal artefacts. In 2010, after an alleged scandal, the Turkish government cancelled the lease and resumed ownership. In 2014, she was refurbished and now serves as the state yacht of Turkey. 

Savarona was, for a time, offered on the market for superyacht charters around Istanbul, although she is no longer available to the public. Key features onboard this superyacht include a marble-finished Turkish hammam bath that spans the entire 16-metre beam, a swimming pool, a gold-trimmed grand staircase and a private cinema. She is named after a type of black swan found in the Indian Ocean region.

• Delivery year: 1931
• Length Overall: 135.94 m
• Beam: 16.12 m
• Gross Tonnage 4701 t

23. Crescent | 135.5m

Crescent , formerly Project Thunder, has what the yard called a "traditionally-styled" interior by Zuretti , exterior design by Espen Øino and naval architecture by Lürssen . Øino went to great lengths to maximise what he calls the "vision lines" from the interior and the decks – especially from the centreline, which on such a beamy boat is a long way from the sides – by having full height windows and keeping the bulwarks as low as possible.

She has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure and was built to DNV GL standards. Her striking black hull is matched with a silver superstructure that has distinctive wing stations amidships. Just forward of the wing stations are three-deck windows, providing spectacular views for her 18-strong guest list.

• Delivery year: 2018
• Length Overall: 135.5 m
• Gross Tonnage 9194 t

24. Serene | 133.9m

Built for a Russian owner, Serene was the first superyacht delivered by Italian yard Fincantieri . She can accommodate up to 24 guests and 52 crew, and boasts 4,500 square metres of interior space designed by Reymond Langton .

Serene has seven decks, two helipads and a hangar, carries a custom submarine certified to 100m depth and has underwater viewing ports in her Nemo room. A "snow room" can make up to four inches of snow, while the impressive spiral staircase rises through six decks and is lit by a large skylight. Serene won Best Motor Yacht of 3,000GT and Above at the 2012 World Superyacht Awards. Powered by a diesel engine, Serene can reach a top speed of 20 knots and has a maximum cruising range of 6000 nautical miles.

• Delivery year: 2011
• Length Overall: 133.9 m
• Beam: 18.6 m
• Gross Tonnage 8231 t

25. Al Mirqab | 133m

Al Mirqab was built by Peterswerft - Kusch for Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani – the former prime minister of Qatar. Her exterior design is by Tim Heywood and her interiors were styled by Winch Design . She is propelled by five generators that power two electric motors driving conventional shafts and a centrally positioned azimuthing electric pod drive. A grand staircase floats through four floors and surrounds suspended glass artwork by Dale Chihuly. 

Al Mirqab won Motor Yacht of the Year at the World Superyacht Awards 2009 and Best Interior Design among motor yachts. She can accommodate 60 guests and is manned by an equal number of crew.

• Builder: Peterswerft - Kusch
• Length Overall: 133 m
• Gross Tonnage 5000 t

Sponsored listings

World's Biggest Yacht Title Now Belongs To Emirati Royal Family

THE Emirati Royal Family has ended Roman Abramovich's three-year-reign as owner of the world's biggest yacht.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates and emir of Abu Dhabi, has been revealed as the owner of Azzam, a 180-metre superyacht so big few berths can accommodate it.

The boat beats Chelsea Football Club owner Abramovich's Eclipse to the top spot in a survey of the world's 100 biggest yachts by just 16.5 metres.

After its sale earlier this year, the identity of Azzam's buyer was not known.

But according to the annual survey in Yachts France magazine, it belongs to the emir, whose half-brother and government colleague, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan, is owner of the investment company that acquired Manchester City Football Club.

Azzam was designed by Nauta Yachts and built by Lürssen Yachts, in Bremen, Germany, who called it the "most complex and challenging yacht which has ever been built".

With a top speed of 31 knots, driven by a combination of two gas turbines and two diesel engines, it is the third-fastest yacht in the top 100.

It is reported to have cost between $400 million (£258 million) and $600 million (£387 million) to build, and features a lavish 6,000-square foot salon. Mr Abramovich's boat, though smaller, still has room for two helipads, two swimming pools, a disco and a mini-submarine.

Of the 100 yachts listed by the magazine, 31 were owned by people from the Middle East, 19 by Russians and 17 by Americans. The biggest British-owned yacht was inventor James Dyson's 91-metre Nahlin, ranked 36th.

Support HuffPost

Our 2024 coverage needs you, your loyalty means the world to us.

At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.

Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.

Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.

Dear HuffPost Reader

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.

Before You Go

Spain's Former Royal Yacht

Popular in the community, from our partner, more in the world post.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• March Madness
• AP Top 25 Poll
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

UAE’s long-ailing leader Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed dies at 73

FILE - UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan walks with Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, unseen, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Feb. 5, 2007, to discuss bilateral relations. Sheikh Khalifa died Friday, May 13, 2022, the government’s state-run news agency announced in a brief statement. He was 73. (AP Photo/WAM, File)

FILE - President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrives at Clarence House in central London, to meet the Prince of Wales on the second day of his State Visit to the UK, Wednesday May 1, 2013. Sheikh Khalifa died Friday, May 13, 2022, the government’s state-run news agency announced in a brief statement. He was 73. (AP Photo/ John Stillwell, pool, File)

FILE - In this image made available by Emirates News Agency, WAM, UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 2nd right, walks with Saudi Arabia’s Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz during the 31st Gulf Cooperation Council, GCC summit in Abu Dhabi, Monday, Dec. 6, 2010. Sheikh Khalifa died Friday, May 13, 2022, the government’s state-run news agency announced in a brief statement. He was 73. (AP Photo/WAM-HO, File)

FILE - The Prince of Wales with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his visit to Clarence House in central London on the second day of his State Visit to the UK Wednesday May 1, 2013. Sheikh Khalifa died Friday, May 13, 2022, the government’s state-run news agency announced in a brief statement. He was 73. (AP Photo/John Stillwell, Pool, File)

FILE - In this photo made available by Emirates News Agency, WAM, Monday March 14, 2011, South Korean President Lee Myung Bak, left, meets UAE president Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, 2nd right, and UAE Crown Prince Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday March 13, 2011. Sheikh Khalifa died Friday, May 13, 2022, the government’s state-run news agency announced in a brief statement. He was 73. (AP Photo/WAM-HO, File)

FILE - President of the United Arab Emirates Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan leaves Downing Street after a meeting with Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron, in London, Wednesday, May 1, 2013. Sheikh Khalifa died Friday, May 13, 2022, the government’s state-run news agency announced in a brief statement. He was 73. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

FILE - This photo by Emirates News Agency, WAM, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu Dhabi, right, is greeted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, center, as Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, the ruler of Ajman, left, looks on at Al Bateen Palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, In this Wednesday, May 8, 2019. Sheikh Khalifa died Friday, May 13, 2022, the government’s state-run news agency announced in a brief statement. He was 73. (Rashed al-Mansoori/Ministry of Presidential Affairs via AP, File)

People pass by the UAE national flag flies at half-staff after the announcement of the Emirates president’s death, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, May 13, 2022. Sheikh Khalifa died Friday, May 13, 2022, the government’s state-run news agency announced in a brief statement. He was 73. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

UAE national flag flies at half-staff after the announcement of the Emirates president’s death, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, May 13, 2022. Sheikh Khalifa died Friday, May 13, 2022, the government’s state-run news agency announced in a brief statement. He was 73. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

• Copy Link copied

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The United Arab Emirates’ long-ailing ruler and president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, died Friday, the government announced in a brief statement. He was 73.

Sheikh Khalifa oversaw much of the country’s blistering economic growth and his name was immortalized on the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, after bailing out debt-crippled Dubai during its financial crisis over a decade ago.

However, after suffering a stroke and undergoing emergency surgery in 2014, a decade after becoming president, he ceased having any involvement in the day-to-day affairs of ruling the country.

The last several years of his life saw his half-brother Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed rise to become the de-facto ruler and decision-maker of major foreign policy decisions, such as joining a Saudi-led war in Yemen and spearheading an embargo on neighboring Qatar in recent years. The crown prince, also the deputy supreme commander of the armed forces, shepherded the UAE’s budding ties with Israel after the two normalized relations in 2020.

The UAE announced a 40-day period of mourning and a three-day suspension of work across the government and private sector, including flags to be flown at half-staff.

There was no immediate announcement on a successor, although Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed is anticipated to claim the presidency at a time of high oil prices, which boost the UAE’s spending power.

“The UAE has lost a loyal son, and the leader of its blessed empowerment journey,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed wrote on Twitter after his brother’s death was officially announced on state media. “Khalifa bin Zayed, my brother, supporter and mentor, may Allah Almighty grant you eternal peace.”

In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken described Sheikh Khalifa “as a true friend of the United States,” adding that the U.S. remains committed to its steadfast friendship and cooperation with the UAE. Vice President Kamala Harris also expressed her condolences.

Ties have been strained between the Biden administration and the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which have not joined U.S. efforts in isolating Russia amid its war in Ukraine.

Messages of condolences also poured in from around the region and the world, foremost from leaders of Arab countries supported by Abu Dhabi. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency said the country’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, also expressed condolences.

Sheikh Khalifa was the eldest son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, widely revered by Emiratis as the country’s founding father. The federation recently marked its 50th anniversary.

Though he had been out of public sight since his stroke, Sheikh Khalifa’s image was ubiquitous, gracing every hotel lobby and major government office across the country. On occasion, Emirati state media published rare photographs and videos of Sheikh Khalifa.

The president holds the most powerful position among the seven semi-autonomous city-states of the UAE, which stretches along the shores of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Historically, the president is from Abu Dhabi, the largest and richest of the seven emirates. The vice president and prime minister is from Dubai, titles currently held by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Despite its size and wealth, Abu Dhabi often finds itself overshadowed by the glitzy emirate of Dubai, the commercial hub that showcases both the UAE’s bold visions and, at times, debt-fueled pipe dreams, including a massive palm-shaped man-made island that sits empty years after its construction.

The UAE’s regional power and influence, however, emanates from Abu Dhabi, which has most of the country’s oil and gas reserves. Dubai provides the UAE with a swirl of publicity and headline-grabbing lifestyle and entertainment stories that rights groups say distract from controversial policies decided in Abu Dhabi.

As Dubai’s fortunes began to falter along with the global economy in 2009, Sheikh Khalifa led efforts to protect the federation by pumping billions of dollars in emergency bailout funds to Dubai . The two emirates do not always see eye-to-eye on foreign policy decisions and compete commercially with one another. In 2003, Sheikh Khalifa ordered the creation of a new airline, Etihad Airways, which competes with Dubai’s much larger Emirates Air.

Sheikh Khalifa increasingly used Abu Dhabi’s oil wealth to attract cultural and academic centers, such as a branch of the Louvre Museum and satellite campuses of New York University and the Sorbonne. He also presided over efforts to move the OPEC country beyond its reliance on petrodollars with investments in renewable energy research. The UAE announced last year a net-zero emissions pledge by 2050, even as it expands investments in oil and gas for export.

He has been credited with overseeing the creation and growth of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, now one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds with close to $700 billion in assets, according to estimates by the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute.

Sheikh Khalifa was born in 1948 in the inland oasis of Al Ain, near the border with the sultanate of Oman. He was trained at Sandhurst, the royal military academy in England.

In 1969, Sheikh Khalifa was named as Abu Dhabi prime minister and chairman of the emirate’s Department of Defense, which later became the core of the UAE’s armed forces.

Khalifa helped boost the UAE’s regional profile by bulking up its military with hefty purchases from U.S. weapons manufacturers. He set warplanes to the NATO-led mission against Moammar Gadhafi’s regime in Libya in 2011. In 2014, the Emirates became one of the most prominent Arab participants in U.S.-led airstrikes against the militant Islamic State group in Syria.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the U.S. will honor Sheikh Khalifa’s legacy “through our strong defense partnership with the United Arab Emirates.” The head of U.S Central Command in the Mideast, Gen. Michael Kurilla, said “the strategic partnership between the armed forces of our two countries is ironclad.” He had a meeting in Abu Dhabi with its crown prince on Thursday.

Although the UAE’s ruling sheikhs hold near absolute power, Sheikh Khalifa began an experiment with elections by allowing limited voting — by a hand-picked electorate — for half the members of a 40-seat federal advisory body in 2006. Subsequent rounds of elections in 2011 and 2015 failed to attract even two out of five of those given a chance to vote.

The UAE saw none of the Arab Spring street protests that shook other parts of the region, though in the wake of that unrest, Sheikh Khalifa oversaw crackdowns on Islamists and other activists in the country, drawing criticism from international rights groups. The UAE, which views Islamist movements as a threat to its ruling system, also supported efforts in the region to quash the Muslim Brotherhood, including in Egypt.

Under his presidency, the UAE joined Saudi Arabia in sending forces to Bahrain to quell an uprising there by the country’s majority Shiite population demanding greater rights from the island-nation’s Sunni leadership.

Questions were raised during Khalifa’s rule about the UAE’s use of foreign military contractors, including one linked to the founder of the former Blackwater security firm, Erik Prince, who moved to Abu Dhabi in 2009.

A U.S. diplomatic cable made public by WikiLeaks in 2010 uncharitably described the president as “a distant and uncharismatic personage.”

Sheikh Khalifa was believed to be among the world’s richest rulers with a personal fortune estimated by Forbes magazine in 2008 at $19 billion. He built a palace in the Seychelles, an island-chain nation in the Indian Ocean, and faced complaints there about causing water pollution from the construction site.

His personal life was not much in the public eye. Like many in the Gulf Arab states, he was passionate about the traditional sport of falconry and was said to enjoy fishing. He is known to have had eight children — two sons and six daughters — with his first wife, Sheikha Shamsa bint Suhail Al Mazrouei. He is also survived by several grandchildren.

Follow Adam Schreck on Twitter at www.twitter.com/adamschreck and Aya Batrawy at www.twitter.com/ayaelb