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As Far As You Can Sea: World’s Largest Superyachts

Multimillion-dollar mega yachts.

by Emma Treagus Published on February 2, 2024

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With onboard swimming pools, cinemas, helicopter landing pads, and spas, the world’s largest superyachts have more facilities than your ‘average’ five-star hotel.

Owned by some of the world’s wealthiest people—along with a few anonymous owners who’d prefer to keep their luxury transport a secret—these mega yachts redefine the word “boat” into something indescribably sleek, stylish, and seriously impressive. 

If superyachts are your thing, you’ll want to read on for all the facts and figures on all of the largest yachts in the world.

The 26 largest yachts in the world

Multimillion-dollar mega yachts: our ranking methodology.

A superyacht or mega yacht is typically a motor yacht or sailing yacht with a length of 30 meters (100 feet) or more. For this ranking, we looked at the superyachts and luxury expedition mega yachts that are used privately or made available for charter. We excluded so-called ‘residential superyachts’ (think Njord and The World), which are essentially luxury apartment buildings at sea where people own private residences inside the superyacht rather than the whole yacht. By researching diverse, reliable sources like Wikipedia and the Superyacht Times, we compile a list of the largest yachts in the world.

Curious about other striking superlatives? Check our round-up of the most expensive cars in the world and the most expensive private jets in the world . They are both perfectly good alternatives to owning a yacht. And if you prefer to stay home, we’ve ranked the biggest homes and the most expensive houses in the world to give you some inspiration too.

26. Y721 (aka Koru) | 417 feet—127m

Ever wonder where Jeff Bezos spends his downtime? As of today, we’re predicting it to be on his $500 million superyacht. Y721—nicknamed Koru—is 127m long. And featuring three sky-high slender masts, Koru is said to be the largest sailing yacht in the world . 

With dark exteriors and natural wooden decks, Koru is inspired by another one of Bezos’ yachts—the Black Pearl. The clean lines and classically curved bow speak to an understated elegance despite the yacht’s mammoth size. While a long line of portals indicates at least 9 guest cabins. In light of all the secrecy surrounding Koru, we doubt Bezos will ever charter her out, but we can still dream.

25. Al Mirqab | 436 feet—133m

Adorned with cascading chandeliers and gold accents, Al Mirqab is renowned for its unrivaled interiors. Surrounded by suspended glass artworks, a grand staircase floats throughout the four floors. And inspired by authentic Arabian styles, the magnificent superyacht is reminiscent of a magic carpet ride through the seas . 

Built for the former Prime Minister of Qatar, Peterswerft-Kusch spared no expense in delivering Al Mirqab to an impossibly high standard for luxury. The large swimming pool is a standout feature as it opens up into the sea, creating the ultimate playground for adults. Al Mirqab has a capacity for up to 60 guests and is manned by an equal number of crew. Although you have to be invited by the politician himself as Al Mirqab isn’t available for private charter.

24. Serene | 439 feet—134m

Adeptly named, the magnificent superyacht embodies the serenity of a life at sea. Serene was built in Italy for a Russian owner in 2011. She was leased to Bill Gates for the Summer in 2014 for $5 million per week. 

Designed by Reymond Langton, the 134m mega yacht marries elegant sophistication with state-of-the-art technologies. The seven decks leave ample space for guests to soak in scintillating views. While the underwater viewing room—nicknamed the Nemo room—is a permanent gallery of resplendent sealife. The real-life snow room makes up to four inches of snow. And whilst this may seem odd when your billionaire boss asks for snow—you make it snow.

23. Crescent | 445 feet – 136 m

Yet another Lurssen masterpiece, Crescent pays homage to classic naval designs with traditional architecture and elegant interiors. Formerly named Project Thunder, she was built in Germany and delivered to Igor Sechin in 2018. The Russian oligarch’s superyacht was seized by Spain after sanctions were placed on Russia in 2022. 

Crescent features low bulwarks and full-height windows to maximize the view from the center of the boat. Her distinctive wing station provides unrivaled views for up to 18 guests. But don’t get your hopes up—Crescent is strictly for private use only and isn’t available for charter. 

22. Savarona | 446 feet – 136m

Savarona is the second-largest yacht built by Blohm & Voss and spends most of her time in the Mediterranean. This luxury superyacht is one of the oldest in the market — a perfect fusion of traditional charm and modern facilities. 

Previously named Gunes Dil, Savarona was designed by Cox & Stevens, with interior design carefully handled by Donald Starkey. She’s available to charter on a weekly basis and has been refurbished over the years. Back in the day, her cost price was $4 million, and in 1989, she was chartered by Kahraman Sadikoglu, owner of the Turkish Sadikoglu Group, who spent an estimated $50 million on refurbishing her from top to bottom.

21. Flying Fox | 446 feet – 136m

Flying Fox is known as the most expensive charter yacht in the world , and a week aboard will set you back around $3 million. Chartered by the one and only power couple Beyonce and Jay-Z in 2021, it’s filled to the brim with all of the luxury facilities you could ever possibly want. 

The Flying Fox is rumored to be owned by Jeff Bezos, although that’s a claim that’s never been totally certified. She spends most of her time in the Mediterranean, specifically Cannes, Capri, and Sardinia, although she’s recently visited Norway, too. She can accommodate the largest helicopters on the market, and it reportedly took more than 50 meetings with her owner for interior design to be completed.

20. Rising Sun | 454 feet – 138m

The Rising Sun’s original owner, Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle Corporation, sold her in 2010 as he considered her too large. Famously used by David Geffen for self-isolation, Rising Sun has also been a popular hang-out spot for celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Beatrice, the Princess of York. 

She’s a Superyacht with impressive attention to detail like interiors kitted out in teak and onyx and endless features like a full gym , a large wine cellar, a sauna, and a spa. She’s got a full-size basketball court that doubles up as a helicopter landing pad and a private cinema for those long evenings spent at sea.

19. Al Salamah | 457 feet – 139m

Al Salamah is part of the Omani Royal fleet and started her very secretive life in Genoa. Known as the world’s biggest superyacht right up until 2016, she’s a sleek masterpiece of a ship, with a distinctive cream color and beach club design. 

Al Salamah does everything in multiples, from the five galleys onboard (the main galley, a bakery, a crew galley, an owner’s diet galley, and an Arab galley), three hospitals (one for the owner, one for guests, and one for the crew) and 2,000 sqm of floor space. She was put on sale briefly for $280 million USD, before being delisted and instead given as a gift to the Crown Prince of Bahrain. 

18. Solaris | 458 feet – 139m

Everything about Solaris was supposed to be kept a secret when she was being built—a secret that didn’t last long when her huge size was spotted undergoing sea trials in the North Sea. One of this Superyacht’s main attractions is her beach club on the top floor: the perfect spot for relaxation during those long days out at sea. 

That beach club comes complemented with endless other stylish amenities, like a large helipad, sun deck, and a crane to launch tenders, toys, and subs. Interior design is largely unknown, but, if it’s anything as sleek and white as its exteriors, it’s sure to be impressive.

17. Scheherazade | 459 feet – 140m

Two helicopter landing pads, two outdoor Jacuzzis, and two outdoor fire pits: Scheherazade doesn’t hold back with not only the essentials but also the luxuries. Previously named Lightning, “Scheherazade” is mostly associated with a female character in the Middle Eastern folk tales in the series One Thousand and One Nights. 

Not much is known about this superyacht, and even her birth and building process were referred to under a codename: Project Lightning. No one involved in her creation, even Lurssen, has revealed anything about her interiors or her owner. All that’s really known is that she sailed from Germany to Norway initially after completion. 

16. Ocean Victory | 460 feet – 140m

Ocean Victory has traveled all over the world, from Europe to Southeast Asia and back again. Owned by Russian billionaire Viktor Rashnikov, she’s the upgraded vessel to follow his purchase of the 76-meter Ebony Shine. 

She’s one designed with pure luxury in mind, from the six individual swimming pools onboard to the 300-square meter spa area. She’s beautiful both inside and out, with a unique concept designed by Espen Oeino and interior designer Alberto Pinto. The largest superyacht ever built in Italy, Ocean Victory shows some of the finest in the world when it comes to premium quality adventures at sea.

15. Yas | 463 feet – 141m

Yas is known best for its seamless and rather unusual design — one that’s a little different from most superyachts out there. The owner of Yas wanted a yacht that lived up to his own heritage; one with a backbone reminiscent of the navy and with abstract lines throughout. 

He chose an existing boat in Abu Dhabi, which was deconstructed within the region before being shipped off and renovated into the wonder that it is today. The Yas yacht was originally a Dutch navy frigate, which you’d never guess from strolling around onboard today.

14. Nord | 465 feet – 142m

Nord’s distinctive bow design has never been seen before on a yacht. That’s one of the first things you’ll notice about her. The next thing you’ll notice is her unusual design, which verges on battle-esque and has been called “ a warship wearing a tuxedo ” by Dan Lenard of the Italian design studio Nuvolari-Lenard. 

She’s one of the best superyachts out there for fun, with a sports and diving center on the lower deck, a swimming pool higher up, overlooking the ocean, and a fleet of tenders. She was designed for global exploration: a yacht that will calmly cruise her way all across the world.

13. Sailing Yacht A | 469 feet—142.8m

Challenging the status quo and pushing design boundaries, Sailing Yacht A is an enigma. The sail-assisted superyacht was built in Germany and delivered to Russian tycoon Andrey Melnichenko in 2017. However, she was seized by the Italian police force, Guardia di Finanza, in 2022 after sanctions were placed on Russian businessmen following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Distinguished by soaring rotating carbon fiber masts, Nobiskrug’s hybrid approach to superyachts makes Sailing Yacht A more eco-conscious than other luxury yachts of her size. The u nderwater viewing pod molded into the keel speaks to her unrivaled innovation. And many balconies are enclosed by some of the largest pieces of curved glass ever made. 

12. El Mahrousa | 478 feet – 146m

El Mahrousa had a few different names in her time, ranging from the translated “The Protected” to El Horreya, which in Arabic translates to “Freedom.” It’s not surprising that she’s had more than one name when you take into account her age. As the oldest superyacht in the world, she’s undergone a lot of restoration over time, including multiple lengthenings and faster engines. 

She was renamed back to El Mahrousa in 2000 and gained even more recognition for being the first ship to cross the new Suez Canal extension in 2015. Back in her original days, she was built on the River Thames and took her first trip in 1867.

11. OK | 479 feet—146m

Delivered in Japan in 1982, OK is one of the largest and most unique superyachts in the world. Sprawling over 479 feet, the water giant is engineered to submerge almost seventy percent. This is accredited to the work done by Karmarine Shipyard. While the majority of the vessel was built by Oshima Shipping, it was privately converted to a semi-submersible yacht in Turkey. 

The superlative finishing on OK superyacht was designed by Timur Bozca, winner of the Younger Designer of the Year award in 2015. The blueprint being as many games as possible. The extraordinary vessel has the uncanny ability to hold over seventy toys, including a sailing yacht, a sea plane, tenders, buggies and even a tennis court.

10. Opera | 480 feet—146.4m 

Like many of the most majestic water titans, Opera was delivered by Lurssen in Germany and built for Abu Dhabi royalty. This time, the owner is Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, son of the founder of the United Arab Emirates. And while it may not be quite as astronomical as Lurssen’s previous builds—Azzam, Blue and Dilbar—the streamlined vessel is equally impressive onboard. 

The three-story superyacht proves large enough for a pair of helipads and two swimming pools, amongst many other toys, while simultaneously making room for up to 48 guests and 80 crew members. When it comes to the interior, details are sparse, but we do know that it was designed by Terence Disdale, a London firm renowned for creating bespoke luxury spaces. 

9. Prince Abdulaziz | 482 feet – 147m

The Prince Abdulaziz’s yacht was ordered by King Fahd, who named her after his son Prince Abdul Aziz. Now, she’s owned by his brother, Abdullah. Just one of the yachts owned by the Saudi royal family, she’s spotted frequently throughout Europe, especially in Cannes, where the royal family owns a property. 

She’s been redecorated once — in 2007 — in a project that took 15 months to complete, without even taking into account the rest of the ship’s upkeep. The Prince Abdulaziz is known for its combination of bold colors and fusion of traditional and modern design, thanks to its influence from the late David Hicks.

8. A+ | 483 feet – 147m

What do you do when the name “A” is already taken for your superyacht? Choose the next closest thing: A+. Previously named Topaz, this superyacht was the world’s fourth-largest luxury yacht when she was built, before being stripped of that particular title only a few years later. 

Nevertheless, she’s a seriously impressive superyacht, with endless facilities like a large jacuzzi, double helicopter landing pads, a swimming pool with a swimming platform and underwater lights, as well as a fitness hall, cinema, and a large conference room. She’s also well equipped with water toys, like jet skis, inflatable boats, a catamaran, and even a mini-submarine.

7. Al Said | 508 feet – 155m

Another Superyacht built, shrouded in secrecy, Al-Said was referred to as “Project Sunflower” the entire time she was being created, right up until she was delivered to her owner in 2008. Not much is known about Al Said, from her movements through to her amenities — although she is known to have a huge concert room with space for a full 50-person orchestra. 

Currently, she’s flying the flag of Oman and has spent a lot of time in its surrounding waters. Her interior was styled by British designer design house RWD, with exterior design being credited to Espen Oeino. When she was delivered to the Sultan of Oman, she replaced a previous ship of a smaller size. 

6. Dilbar | 511 feet – 156m

Dilbar, or Project Omar, as it was originally known as, is another superyacht designed with the help of exterior expert Espen Oeino, but with interiors strikingly designed by Andrew Winch. Dilbar is famously known as the world’s largest yacht by gross tonnage (interior volume) but as the fifth-longest superyacht in the world. 

She’s home to a spa pool and beach club, as well as a large private cinema, spacious cabins set high on the main deck, a spacious dining room, and a salon with its own piano. She’s just as classy and beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.

5. Blue | 527 feet—160.6m

Sunday blues simply cease to exist on one of the world’s most extravagant superyachts. The elegant behemoth was built for member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi and billionaire, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2022. Valued at over $600 million, Blue is one of the most expensive superyachts in the world. And with a strong emphasis on the environment, this superyacht is also one of the most sustainable. 

Blue strives to be as environmentally friendly as possible. She is equipped with a highly efficient Diesel-Electric Hybrid Propulsion Concept developed by Lürssen’s own engineering specialists. And the wastewater treatment plant allows water to be disposed of in drinking water quality.

4. Dubai | 531 feet – 162m

Dubai had multiple names in the planning stages—including Panhandle, Platinum, and Golden Star. Owned by the ruler of Dubai, it was aptly named after its home country and comes with all of the luxurious amenities you’d expect from such a name. 

The Dubai comes complete with a huge swimming pool and two jacuzzis. Further down, you’ll find a large dining room with striking blue and burgundy decor and space for up to 90 guests. Dubai usually spends her time moored at Sheikh Mohammed’s private island in front of his summer palace in Dubai. She’s basically the definition of a floating palace.

3. Eclipse | 533 feet – 162.5m

It took around five years for Eclipse to be built from start to finish. While she was always designed to be a huge, luxurious Superyacht, the focus was more on decking it out appropriately rather than breaking any records. An award-winning superyacht, she’s incredibly spacious, with endless rooms to explore and a sleek, neutral color palette running through. 

The Eclipse’s owner, Roman Abramovich, was more focused on facilities: he wanted more than one helicopter pad and a large swimming pool, too. Other than that, designer Terry Disdale had free reign for the rest of the superyacht. It’s just as much a clean piece of architectural styling as it is a stunning experience on deck.

2. Fulk Al Salamah | 538 feet – 164m

Fulk Al Salamah translates to “Ship of Peace” and that’s something that sounds like a given when you’ve taken a look at this superyacht’s incredible layout. Developed under the codename Project Saffron, Fulk Al Salamah is more of a support vessel than she is a typical superyacht. 

While she might still come complete with all of the necessities for a particularly relaxing voyage, she’s more so known for being a transport ship for the Royal Navy of Oman. She’s also used as a sort of friendship boat — pun intended — and is often sailed across the world with the intention of strengthening ties with the Sultanate. In some ports, influential people are welcomed onboard.

1. Azzam | 590 feet – 181m

Most superyachts in the top 10 category have a few mere inches between sizes, but the Azzam shoots far ahead with a large amount of extra length. The largest superyacht in the world, she was never designed to win the title — rather just to be a sleek and elegant vessel. Azzam was crafted backward, with the plans for her interior confirmed long before her exterior was fully signed off. 

Her length only came to be as such to incorporate everything required for the interiors, which added an extra 35 meters to her overall size. She’s also designed to look smaller than she actually is, with a blend of indoor and outdoor living. It took more than 4,000 people to build Azzam , clocking up six million man-hours over a period of four years.

The largest yachts in the world: Conclusion

The largest yachts in the world are:

• Azzam—590 feet
• Fulk Al Salamah—538 feet
• Eclipse—533 feet
• Dubai—531 feet
• Blue—527 feet
• Dilbar—511 feet
• Al Said —508 feet
• A+—483 feet
• Prince Abdulaziz—482 feet
• Opera—480 feet
• OK—479 feet
• El Mahrousa—478 feet
• Sailing Yacht A—469 feet
• Nord—465 feet
• Yas—463 feet
• Ocean Victory—460 feet
• Scheherazade —459 feet
• Solaris—458 feet
• Al Salamah—457 feet
• Rising Sun—454 feet
• Flying Fox—446 feet
• Savarona—446 feet
• Crescent—445 feet
• Serene —439 feet
• Al Mirqab—436 feet
• Y721 (aka Koru)—417 feet

The most expensive yacht in the world

The fact that the History Supreme, the world’s most expensive superyacht, comes coated in gold, is only part of the reason for its high cost. A superyacht with a real-life Midas touch, it was sold to an anonymous Malaysian businessman for $4.8 billion. 

Robert Kuok, the richest Malaysian businessman, is the rumored owner of History Supreme, but no one has confirmed for sure. The History Supreme also comes with plenty of other impressive touches: a master bedroom decked out in platinum, a wall feature made from meteoric stone, and a genuine T-Rex dinosaur bone, to add to the list. 

She took three years to build from scratch and comes with 10,000 kilograms of solid gold and platinum. Other seriously luxe features are her 68 kilograms 24-carat gold Aquavista Panoramic Wall Aquarium and a liquor bottle adorned with a rare 18.5-carat diamond . The base of the vessel comes wrapped in gold, too.

Frequently asked questions about the world’s largest yachts

The largest yachts in the world are owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, Roman Abramovich, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Alisher Usmanov. Our guide tells you more about all the biggest yachts in the world .

At 417 feet (127 m), Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ sailing yacht, Koru (formerly Project Y721), is one of the world’s largest yachts.

The 181-m (590 ft) Azzam is the world’s longest yacht in length, but the 156-m Dilbar has a much larger internal volume (measured in Gross Tons) at 15,917 GT (Gross Tons) versus 13,136 GT for Azzam. As such, Dilbar is the world’s largest yacht in volume. Read our full guide to discover the largest yachts in the world .

The biggest yacht in the world is the Azzam , which has an estimated cost of $600 million. She’s owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and is not currently for sale.

In terms of the number of megayachts, the largest superyacht-owning country is the United States. Nationality-wise, beyond American, an increasing percentage of superyacht owners are Turkish, Greek, Emirati, German, Australian and Dutch.

About the author

Emma Treagus

Women’s fashion & travel editor.

A former fashion assistant and budding entrepreneur who calls the world her home, Emma writes many of Luxe Digital’s women’s style and travel stories, drawing on her passion and experience for slow fashion alongside an appreciation for current trends. When she’s not getting her way with words, you’ll find her exploring a new city (at quite a walking pace)—locating the nearest sushi restaurant or devouring a book on the beach.

Learn more about Emma Treagus

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El Mahrousa

Builder: Samuda Brothers Year of build: 1865 LOA: 478.1 ft Number of guests: U nknown Number of crew: 160

The oldest by over 100 years to make our list of the biggest superyachts in the world, Egypt’s presidential yacht El Mahrousa is an enormous floating piece of history. Nearly four decades older than the Titanic , she set sail on her first voyage just as President Lincoln was beginning his second term in office. 

Built by the now-defunct London shipyard Samuda Brothers, El Mahrousa was designed by the most celebrated master-shipwright of the day, Sir Oliver Lang. Commissioned by Khedive Ismail, Egypt’s Ottoman governor, she went on to play a central role in many of Egypt’s defining moments including the opening of the Suez Canal as well as ferrying three of the country’s rulers to exile, including the last king of Egypt. 

She has had numerous modifications over the years, growing 57 ft in length since she first left the Thameside dockyard in 1865.  Today, she is the world’s oldest active superyacht and was the first to pass through the new Suez Canal extension in 2015.

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Prince abdulaziz.

Prince Abdulaziz is one of the yachts owned by the Saudi royal family / ©Shutterstock

Builder: Helsingor Vaerf Year of build: 1984 LOA: 482.4 ft Number of guests: 64 Number of crew: 65

At 482.4 ft Prince Abdulaziz is the largest yacht built in the 20th century and is thought to be one of the last yachts built by the historic Danish shipyard, Helsingor Vaerf, which closed its doors for the last time shortly after she was completed. 

Commissioned by the Saudi royal family, Prince Abdulaziz has certainly stood the test of time, with regular sightings on the Mediterranean. Her original interiors were by iconic British interior designer David Hicks, famed for his use of color and pattern. Since then she has received fairly regular refits, with the most recent thought to have been in 2018. 

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A+ was originally named Topaz and is the first of four Lürssen-built yachts to make our list of the biggest superyachts in the world / ©Lürssen

Builder: Lürssen Year of build: 2012 LOA: 483.1 ft Number of guests: 62 Number of crew: 79

Built by famed yacht builder Lürssen at their Bremen shipyard, A+ , originally known as Topaz, is thought to have cost in excess of $500m. 

Not much is known about A+, and her owner has never been officially confirmed but she is widely believed to belong to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahnan, the deputy prime minister of the UAE and the owner of  Manchester City Football Club.

Her exterior was designed by multi-award-winning designer Tim Heywood, and features two helipads, while her interior was placed in the hands of sought-after yacht interior designer Terence Disdale and includes 26 luxurious cabins. 

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Custom-designed superyacht Al Said was allegedly named ‘Project Sunflower’ when it was under construction/ ©Klaus Jordan

Builder: Lürssen Year of build: 2008 LOA: 508.6 ft Number of guests: unknown Number of crew: unknown

Commissioned by the late Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman, the Al Said first set sail in 2008 and like many royal yachts, her details are held under lock and key.

We do know however that her exterior was designed by the famed naval architect, Espen Øino – the man behind many of the world’s most famous superyachts – while her interiors were created by the respected British design studio, Redman Whiteley Dixon.

The interior of the ship has never been photographed which has led to much speculation of what lies inside. As well as accommodation for up to 74 guests, she is rumored to include a mini-concert hall capable of accommodating a full chamber orchestra.

Dilbar has one of the biggest swimming pools ever installed on a superyacht /®Kyle Conlin

Builder: Lürssen Year of build: 2016 LOA: 511.10 ft Number of guests: 36 Number of crew: 96

When Dilbar was built in 2016, she was the world’s largest yacht in terms of gross tonnage, at 15,917 GT and the team at   Lürssen described her as “ one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, in terms of both dimensions and technology.” 

Owned by Uzbek-born investor Alisher Usmanov s he wowed the judges at the prestigious World Superyacht Awards in 2017 to scoop the top prize of  ‘World Superyacht of the Year’. Her ivory exterior was custom-designed by Espen Øino, while her interior was the work of celebrated design studio, Winch Design. She boasts an 82 foot swimming pool, making it one of the largest to ever be installed on a superyacht, as well as two helipads.

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Dubai serves Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum / ©Shutterstock

Builder: Platinum Yachts  Year of build: 2006 LOA: 531.5 ft Number of guests: 24 Number of crew: 88

Originally commissioned by a member of Brunei’s royal family as a joint project between shipbuilders Blohm+Voss and Lürssen, the build was halted in 1998. The structure was subsequently bought by the Dubai government and the build continued under the exclusive Dubai-based shipyard Platinum Yachts. Today it serves as the royal yacht of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s ruler. 

Designed by Winch Design , she spans over seven flowing decks and features an atrium nearly 70 ft in size. 11  luxurious guest suites have the benefit of their own private balconies while other features onboard include a swimming pool, a cinema and a disco.

Jetting off on an air excursion is easy as Dubai is equipped with a helipad for a Blackhawk helicopter while the yacht’s submarine and vast selection of water toys are housed in the yacht’s garage. 

[See also: These are the Yacht Interior Designers to Know]

Both the exterior and interior of Eclipse were designed by Terence Disdale / ©Shutterstock

Builder: Blohm+Voss Year of build: 2010 LOA: 533.1 ft Number of guests: 36 Number of crew: 70

The fourth-largest ship on our list of the biggest superyachts in the world is Eclipse. The German-built vessel   was voted ‘Motor Yacht of the Year’ at the World Superyacht Awards in 2011 and both her exterior and interior designed by the acclaimed Terence Disdale.

Owned by Russian businessman Roman Abramovich, the estimated $1bn+ superyacht was reported to have undergone a refit in 2015 and is packed with tenders and toys including two helipads, three launch boats and a mini leisure submarine. 

Her custom-designed interior includes a 183.7-ft deck and an expansive swimming pool which can convert into a raised dance floor. She also has her own missile defense system, a feature that appears to be increasing in popularity amongst the owners of the world’s biggest superyachts. 

Fulk Al Salamah

Very little detail has ever been released about the Fulk Al Salamah / ©Shutterstock

Builder: Mariotti Year of build: 2016 LOA: 538.1 ft Number of guests: unknown Number of crew: unknown

Very little detail has ever been released about the Fulk Al Salamah, which t ranslates into English as ‘ship of peace’.  Built for the Omani royal family by ultra-luxury shipbuilder Mariotti in its Genoa shipyard, her lack of outdoor entertaining space has led to unconfirmed reports that she is in fact a support vessel, used to shadow the late Sultan of Oman’s Al Said superyacht .

While it isn’t the longest superyacht in the world , when it comes to actual volume, the Fulk Al Salamah is thought to outsize both Azzam and REV (below), with an estimated total gross tonnage upwards of 20,000 GT (REV is 17,440 GT and Azzam 13,136 GT).

Azzam has held the title of world’s longest superyacht since 2013/ ©Klaus Jordan

Builder: Lürssen Year of build: 2013 LOA: 590.6 ft Number of guests: 36 Number of crew: 80

Thought to have cost well in excess of $500m, Azzam has held the title of world’s longest superyacht since 2013 however her reign is about to draw to a close thanks to the next superyacht on our list, REV . 

Owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nayan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Emir of Abu Dhabi, Azzam’s sophisticated exterior was designed by Italian studio Nauta Design.  Much of the yacht’s interiors –  which were created by French designer Christophe Leoni – remain shrouded in mystery but Leoni describes the aesthetic as: “sophisticated, with luxurious decor inspired by the Empire style of the early 19th century”.

Azzam has every nifty feature you could wish for including a helipad, gym, pool and even a golf training room so guests can practice their swing onboard. Like Eclipse, she also boasts her own missile defense system. Despite her stature, she can lay claim to being one of the world’s fastest superyachts with a top speed of 33 knots. 

[See more: Top 10 Explorer Yachts in the World]

REV was designed by Espen Øino / ©REV Ocean

Builder: VARD Year of build: Due 2023 LOA: 600  ft Number of guests: 36 Number of crew: 54

Currently still in build, REV is set to steal the crown from Azzam to become the biggest superyacht in the world once she is delivered. But this is no normal superyacht. Funded by Norwegian business-man Kjell Inge Røkke, REV is a totally unique, state-of-the-art research and expedition vessel with one ambition: to make the ocean healthy again.

Designed by Espen Øino , the vessel is creating a huge amount of excitement within the industry due to the technological advances she is set to offer including cutting-edge marine science facilities. The super-sized vessel is equipped with the very latest observation and mapping equipment for conducting research encapsulating the entire marine ecosystem. One of many exciting features is the 25-ft moon pool in the hull, designed to lower scientific tools and submersibles into the ocean’s depths, including a three-passenger submarine. 

REV is expected to be available to charter for one-third of the year, which will include both conventional charters as well as on a single cabin basis to accompany experts on expeditions. 

[See also: How Much Does it Actually Cost to Charter a Yacht?]

Emma Al-Mousawi

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Despite the pandemic, the superyacht world continues to welcome new entries. These are the world’s biggest yachts by length.

Even in a pandemic, the size of the global superyacht fleet keeps on growing. The top 25 largest yachts in the world now total a combined 11,849 feet, with the smallest yacht on the list,  Maryah , measuring a whopping 410 feet. Built by shipyards all over the world—from the Netherlands to the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom, to name just a few—new launches and refits are delivered each year. The 2021 newcomers hail from Lürssen, Dream Ship Victory and Lloyd Werft. With many new gigayacht builds in the pipeline, the list will be much more competitive in the coming years. Here are the world’s top 25 yachts by size, from  Maryah  to  Azzam.

25. ‘Maryah’ (410 feet, 1 inch), Neorion

Neorion’s  Maryah  Photo: Manuel Hernández LafuenteWATCH

This former Russian research vessel was originally launched by the Szczecinska yard in Poland. In 2010, it underwent a five-year rebuild at the Elefsis yard in Greece. The stodgy research vessel that went in reappeared in 2014 as a thoroughly modern custom-built superyacht. The UK-based  H2 Yacht Design  did both the interior and exterior, incorporating all the luxuries one would expect in a yacht this size. The swimming pool, spa, contemporary decor (including custom furniture, signature joinery, and bespoke details like fixtures and lighting), and generous interior space turned the ugly duckling into a swan.  Maryah , which reaches a top speed of 18 knots powered by a twin azipods propulsion system, has accommodation for 54 guests.

24. ‘Octopus’ (414 feet), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Octopus  Elizabeth Withe

Originally built by Lürssen for Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, eight-decked  Octopus  is the world’s largest expedition yacht. Allen kept all the luxurious features of a superyacht, but wanted  Octopus  to be able to set anchor at the ends of the earth for exploration. The Lürssen, delivered in 2003, has storage for two helicopters, seven tenders, a large SUV and an internal dock that extends through the hull holding two submersibles. A glass-bottomed observation lounge makes for spectacular viewing when cruising. The yacht has been involved in multiple exploration discoveries, aided by its onboard dive centre and hyperbaric chamber. Espen Øino drew the exterior, including a full-sized basketball court on the aft deck, while Jonathan Quinn Barnett did the interior. The yacht underwent a refit in 2019. It reaches a top end of 20 knots.

23. ‘Al Mirqab’ (436 feet, 4 inches), Kusch Yachts

Kusch Yachts’ Al Mirqab  Photo: Shutterstock / PitK

Launched in 2008,  Al Mirqab  was built for Qatar’s former prime minister under the supervision of  Kusch Yachts  in the  Peters Werft shipyard  in Wewelsfleth, Germany. The Tim Heywood exterior includes a long, navy-blue hull with a white superstructure. The yacht’s diesel-electric propulsion involves an azimuth pod drive and gives the 436.4-footer a top end of 21 knots. Its interior by Andrew Winch won several awards, with images showing Arabic-influenced motifs on the marble floors of large social areas. The yacht’s centerpiece is a stunning, complicated floating staircase encircled by custom-made glass panels.  Al Mirqab  has staterooms for 36, and crew quarters for 45.

22. ‘Serene’ (439 feet, 3 inches), Fincantieri

Fincantieri’s  Serene  Photo: Nick Wells

Serene  was  Fincantieri ’s launch into the superyacht segment, and what a debut it was. The largest yacht ever launched in Italy when it was delivered in 2011 (surpassed three years later by  Ocean Victory ), the Espen Øino seven-deck design features a long, sleek blue hull, crowned by a white superstructure. The somewhat racy curves serve as a nice counterpart to the more serious-looking sections of the yacht, which include cutouts along the main and upper decks to allow strong visibility from the saloon and staterooms. The curved balconies on three levels are a nice touch that work aesthetically—and practically for better views. The open stern area has a winter garden (enclosed glass house) that allows dining in all seasons.  Serene  also has two helipads and a hangar, a big swimming pool, and a tender garage large enough for a submarine. Pascale Reymond of Reymond Langton Design created the 43,056-square-foot interior for the Russian owner, though its details have remained closely guarded.

21. ‘Crescent’ (443 feet), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Crescent  Photo: Klaus Jordan

Espen Øino’s dark hull and tiered superstructure was one of the most exciting launches of 2018. Custom-built Project Thunder, as it was called internally at Lürssen, features cut-outs along the hull sides that allow full ocean views from the saloon on the primary deck, as part of  Crescent ’s distinctive curved superstructure. Its most noteworthy feature is the jaw-dropping bank of three-deck-high windows in the center of the yacht. This architectural feature serves as the centerpiece of a very compelling design. The yacht has accommodations for 18 guests in nine staterooms. Little is known about the François Zuretti-designed interior, other than Lürssen describes it as being “traditionally styled.” If it lives up to  Crescent ’s brash exterior, the complete yacht promises to be an entirely groundbreaking design.

20. ‘Savarona’ (446 feet, 2 inches), Blohm+Voss

Blohm+Voss’s  Savarona  

Launched in 1931,  Savarona  was built for American heiress Emily Roebling Cadwallader. The yacht was eventually acquired by Turkey to be the presidential yacht of Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey.  Jane’s Fighting Ships  described the yacht in 1949 as “probably the most sumptuously fitted yacht afloat.”  Savarona  was later converted to a training ship for the Turkish Navy and, in 1978, destroyed by fire. The yacht laid in tatters for 10 years. A Turkish businessman spent around $45 million refurbishing  Savarona , commissioning Donald Starkey for the interior and replacing the original steam-turbine engines with modern Caterpillar diesels. The yacht’s interior was refitted again in 2013, once again becoming the official presidential yacht in 2014.  Savarona  features a swimming pool, Turkish bath, 280-foot grand staircase, a movie theater, and a library dedicated to Atatürk.

19: ‘Flying Fox’ (446 feet, 2 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Flying Fox  Photo: Courtesy of SuperYachtTimes/Youtube

Delivered jointly by Imperial and Lürssen in 2019, 446.2-foot  Flying Fox  is the largest yacht available on the charter market. Key features of the Espen Øino-designed exterior are a curvaceous dove-gray hull and a 3.7-foot swimming pool that runs athwartship on the main aft deck, the largest ever found on board a yacht. A two-decked spa also gives guests access to a cryosauna, hammam and relaxation room with a fold-down balcony at sea level. Packed to the rafters with the latest amenities, the yacht holds a diving center, decompression chamber and two helipads.  Flying Fox  is PYC compliant and can accommodate 25 guests.

18. ‘Rising Sun’ (454 feet, 1 inch), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Rising Sun  Photo: Courtesy of Lürssen

Designed by the original guru of yacht designers, Jon Bannenberg,  Rising Sun  was built by Lürssen for Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, and is currently owned by billionaire David Geffen. The yacht was delivered in 2004 and last refitted in 2011. Defined by banks of windows across the superstructure,  Rising Sun  has 86,000 square feet of living space in 82 rooms. It can accommodate 18 guests in nine cabins, with the capacity to carry up to 46 crew. The interior by Seccombe Design includes a gym, cinema, and wine cellar. The rear cockpit deck was designed as a basketball court. Geffen received a global media backlash in 2020 for his “tone deaf” social media posts that pictured himself on board his yacht during Covid-19 lockdown.

17. ‘Al Salamah’ (456 feet), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Al Salamah  Lürssen

When Lürssen launched  Al Salamah  in 1999, it was the third-largest yacht in the world. Its ranking at number 14 shows how much has changed in the last 20 years. Code-named MIPOS, or Mission Possible, the yacht was designed by  Terence Disdale . The large imposing exterior is primarily protected space, with an upper deck exposed to the elements.  Al Salamah  has staterooms for 40 guests, including two owner suites, 11 VIP staterooms, and eight twin cabins. The yacht can carry up to 96 crew and has a top speed of 22 knots.  Al Salamah  was last refitted in 2009.

16. ‘Scheherazade’ (459 feet, 3 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Scheherazade  Photo: SuperYacht Times/YouTube

The owner of 459.3-feet Lürssen-built  Scheherazade  (formerly known as Project Lightning) finally took delivery of the mega yacht in June 2020 after it was pictured during sea trials in November 2019. What can so far be deciphered from available photography includes two helipads, forward and aft, and a large beach club aft, as well as a reported seven-foot beam. Very few details have yet been released of the highly private vessel, including even the names of designers or naval architects involved with the build.

15: ‘Ocean Victory’ (459 feet, 3 inches), Fincantieri

Fincantieri’s  Ocean Victory  Photo: Trevor Coppock / TheYachtPhoto.com

The largest motoryacht ever built in Italy, Fincantieri’s  Ocean Victory  was delivered to its owner in 2014. The seven-deck exterior by Espen Øino includes two helideck platforms and a hangar belowdecks, as well as exceptional outdoor social areas, and a floodable tender dock.  Ocean Victory  has accommodations for 28 guests as well as quarters for 56 crew.  Ocean Victory  also has six pools, a 3,300-square-foot spa, and an underwater observation room. The interior by Alberto Pinto remains a secret.

14: ‘Solaris’ (459 feet, 3 inches), Lloyd Werft

Solaris  by Lloyd-Werft Courtesy Lloyd Werft

The 476-foot  Solaris  is one of the largest yachts to deliver in 2021, and yet still little is known about it. The highly private, vast explorer is built by German shipyard Lloyd Werft and undertook sea trials in the North Sea. The eight-deck exterior is by Australian designer Marc Newson and features a displacement steel hull with bulbous bow and steel superstructure with teak decks. Reportedly owned by Roman Abramovich, it houses a large helipad, sun deck and spacious beach club aft. Lloyd Werft built the Russian billionaire’s previous explorer yacht  Luna , which he reportedly sold for $360 million to his close friend Farkhad Akhmedov in 2014.

13. ‘Yas’ (462 feet, 6 inches), Abu Dhabi Mar

Abu Dhabi Mar’s  Yas  Photo: Harvey Barrison

As a converted yacht,  Yas  is one of the most interesting vessels on this list. The dolphin-like exterior was originally a former Dutch Navy frigate that launched in 1978 and eventually sold to the navy of the United Arab Emirates, where it was renamed  Al Emirat . The yacht underwent its dramatic conversion in a facility in Abu Dhabi’s main port, emerging as a gleaming superyacht in 2011, with one of the most interesting profiles on the water. It was eventually delivered four years later. The design by the Paris-based Pierrejean Vision, defined by massive glass surfaces, can accommodate 60 guests and 58 crew members. Mated to a steel hull, the superstructure is the largest composite edifice ever built.  Yas  is capable of a 26-knot top speed and was last refitted in 2019.

12. ‘Dream Symphony’ (462 feet, 6 inches), Dream Ship Victory

Dream Symphony  by Dream Ship Victory Courtesy Dream Ship Victory

Sailing yacht  Dream Symphony  is a magnificent 462.7-foot schooner built by the Turkish shipyard Dream Ship Victory. When delivered in 2021, she will become the largest private sailing yacht in the world, knocking current largest sailing yacht,  Black Pearl , off the podium. Featuring naval architecture by Dykstra Naval Architects and an exterior and interior by Ken Freivokh, she reunites the same team who were behind the legendary  Maltese Falcon ’s ground-breaking Falcon dynarig.  Dream  Symphony’s hull is being built in wood – glued and laminated using the latest epoxy and composite techniques. Wood, carbon and stainless-steel run throughout the contemporary interior, while the rig includes Hoyt booms for maximum control.  Dream Symphony  boasts a fully private owner’s duplex, with master suite, salon, and office at main deck level, and a further spa, gym and treatment rooms on the lower deck. A sheltered open deck between the owner’s facilities and the guest deck house can be closed off to bad weather, creating concealed channels for full protection. And when the sun is shining, a double-height glass swimming pool features a rising floor that can doubles up as a touch-and-go helipad or dancefloor.

11. ‘Nord’ (466 feet),  Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Nord  (Project Opus) Photo: SuperYacht Times/Youtube

Nord  (Project Opus) has been a long time coming. She was announced in 2015 but didn’t hit the water until November 2020 when she conducted sea trials in the Baltic Sea. The 466-foot yacht features interior design by Italian studio Nuvolari Lenard and is Lürssen’s first yacht launched from its newly upgraded floating shed at its facility in Vegasack. Boasting many top tier amenities, the yacht includes a sports and diving center on the lower deck, multiple tenders ranging in size up to 50-feet and a large swimming pool. The two helipads support the yacht’s long-range cruising capabilities for autonomous remote exploration and a retractable hangar means the helicopter can slide neatly into the superstructure for storage when not in use. A generous 20 staterooms accommodate 36 guests across six decks, while a sleek aft-sloping superstructure gives Nord an individual profile on the water.

10. ‘A’ (468 feet, 5 inches), Nobiskrug

Nobiskrug Sailing Yacht  A  Photo: Courtesy of Nobiskrug

Delivered in 2017, the futuristic look of sailing yacht  A  includes smooth, silver-metallic surfaces and windows that look nearly invisible, three composite masts that bend slightly, and a deck hidden by high bulwarks. The Philippe Starck-design is a wild fantasy yacht of the future. The 468-foot sailing yacht is a technical victory for German yard  Nobiskrug , which developed composite fashion plates to create the unusual shapes, without any compromises in strength or fluidity. It has the tallest freestanding composite masts on any sailing vessel, a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system and state-of-the-art navigation systems. The boat also reportedly has an underwater viewing platform in the keel. “Sailing yacht  A  is undoubtedly one of the most visionary projects Nobiskrug has ever been involved in,” said Holger Kahl, the firm’s then managing director. Starck’s interior remains a secret. The yard reports the yacht has a top speed of 21 knots. She remains today the world’s largest sailing yacht three years after her launch.

9. ‘El Mahrousa’ (478 feet, 1 inch), Samuda Brothers

Egypt’s royal yacht,  El Mahrousa  Screengrab

El Mahrousa , which means “the protected” in Arabic, is currently Egypt’s presidential yacht, though the 478.1-footer has a separate history as that country’s royal yacht. The London-based Samuda Brothers began the build in 1863, and it was launched in 1865. It was originally built for the Ottoman governor of Egypt, Khedive Ismail, and later carried three Egyptian kings into exile. The yacht was also at the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. The world’s oldest superyacht features external design by the British naval architect Sir Oliver Lang, and has had multiple modifications over the years, including a lengthening by 40 feet in 1872 and another 17 feet in 1905. During the second refit, the owners replaced its paddle-wheel engines with turbine-driven propellers. The yacht, in care of the Egyptian Navy, occasionally goes to sea for a day or two. In 2015, it was used to inaugurate the new Suez Canal.

8. ‘Prince Abdulaziz’ (482 feet, 3 inches), Helsingør Værft

Helsingør Værft’s  Prince Abdulaziz  Photo: Shutterstock / Artesia Wells

This custom yacht, launched by Helsingør Værft in Denmark in 1984, was most recently refitted in 2005. The 5,200-tonne  Prince Abdulaziz  is one of the Saudi Royal family’s yachts, its first owner being King Fahd. Designed by Maierform, the yacht was the longest and tallest in the world at the time of its launch. At 482.3-feet,  Prince Abdulaziz  held the title for 22 years until  Dubai  launched in 2006. The late David Nightingale Hicks, known for his use of bright colors, was the interior designer. The lobby is said to be a replica of the  Titanic . Last refitted in 2005, it is rumored to be carrying surface-to-air missiles, though that may be an urban legend.

7. ‘A+’ (483 feet, 1 inch), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  A+  Photo: Klaus Jordan

Very little is known about  A+  (formerly  Topaz) , which was launched by Lürssen in 2012, other than it is the fourth-largest yacht ever built by the German shipyard. Tim Heywood Designs did the exterior, which features helipads on the foredeck and amidships on an upper deck. A lower aft deck includes a swimming pool. The German yard has not released any images of the Terence Disdale interior. Reported to be owned by Manchester City Football Club owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahnan – Emirati royalty and deputy prime minister of the UAE –  A+  has a top speed of 22 knots, and can carry 62 guests and up to 79 crew.

6. ‘Al Saïd’ (508 feet, 5 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Al Saïd  Courtesy of Shutterstock

Another 500-plus-foot yacht from Lürssen, the original Project Sunflower gained its official name of  Al Saïd  following its launch in 2016. Espen Øino’s exterior is akin to a classic cruise liner, complete with the twin exhaust stacks in the center of the superstructure. Owned by the Sultan of Oman, six-decked  Al Saïd  can carry 154 crew and, according to some sources, 70 guests. Lürssen says  Al Saïd  has a top speed of 22 knots. The London-based Redman Whiteley Dixon studio designed the interior, which includes a concert hall that can hold a 50-piece orchestra.

5. ‘Dilbar’ (511 feet, 8 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Dilbar  Photo: Josep Baresic

The 2016 launch of  Dilbar  gave Lürssen the distinction of not only building the longest yacht ever ( Azzam ), but also the largest in terms of volume. Espen Øino designed the exterior, creating a full-bodied superstructure of long, flowing decks, along with two helicopter pads.  Dilbar  also has an 82-foot swimming pool that can hold an incredible 6357-cubic-feet of water, and according to Lürssen, is the world’s longest on a yacht. The interior by Winch Design is defined by its “rare and exclusive luxury materials,” says the builder, declining to go into detail. Lürssen added that the world’s largest motor yacht was one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, because of its dimensions and technology. Despite  Dilbar ’s volume, the designers did a masterful job making the yacht look relatively svelte, with no obvious bulges along the length of the light ivory and bronze-accented hull. In June 2020, Dilbar returned to Lürssen for a significant refit, the details of which are yet to be revealed.

4. ‘Dubai’ (531 feet, 5 inches), Platinum Yachts

Sheikh Al Maktoum’s yacht,  Dubai  Bigstock

This Andrew Winch design was originally commissioned for Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei as a joint project between Blohm+Voss and Lürssen, before it was halted in 1998 with just a bare hull and skeletal superstructure. The hull was sold to the government of Dubai, and, under the direction of the country’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, work on the 531.5-footer began again, though this time by Platinum Yachts.  Dubai  delivered in 2006 and is now the sheikh’s royal yacht, with accommodations for 24 guests and quarters for 88 crew. The seven-decked yacht has an impressive 70-foot-wide atrium, landing pad for a Black Hawk helicopter, submarine garage, disco, and cinema. Full certification was obtained from Lloyd’s Register in October 2006, and it can reach a top speed of 26 knots.

3. ‘Eclipse’ (533 feet, 1 inch), Blohm+Voss

Blohm+Voss’s  Eclipse  Photo: Shutterstock / R_Pilguj

Stately  Eclipse , the 533.1-foot yacht delivered to billionaire Roman Abramovich, took five years to design and build. When it left the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg in 2010, it was the world’s largest yacht. The interior has 17 staterooms and a palatial master suite, with the capacity to carry 85 crew. Both the interior and exterior are designed by Terence Disdale. A proportional profile is defined by tiered decks that sweep upward and bend ever so slightly at the aft ends.  Eclipse  has a 185-foot-long owner’s deck and, at the time of its launch, the largest swimming pool on any superyacht (the bottom raises and converts to a dance floor). Other features reflecting its stature: the capacity to hold three helicopters, including one in its belowdecks hangar, a sophisticated stabilization system, six tenders, and an enormous spa, gym, and beach club. Hybrid diesel-electric engines are connected to Azipod drives that give  Eclipse  a top-end speed of 21 knots, with a range of 6,000 nautical miles.

2. ‘Fulk Al Salamah’ (538 feet, 1 inch), Mariotti Yachts

Mariotti Yachts’  Fulk Al Salamah  Screengrab

Little information has ever been released about the world’s second-longest superyacht, custom-built  Fulk Al Salamah , and it has been shrouded in mystery since first announced in 2014. Even the overall length of 538.1 feet has been estimated from AIS data. However, built and delivered by Italian builder Mariotti Yachts in their Genoa shipyard in 2016, the imposing vessel is believed to be owned by the Omani royal family. Exterior design is by Studio de Jorio, and it is considered by some to resemble more of a support vessel than a superyacht. Nonetheless, aerial photography shows an impressively large helideck, raked masts and a bathing platform.

1: ‘Azzam’ (592 feet, 6 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Azzam  Screengrab

It’s not surprising that the world’s longest yacht hails from a shipyard with 13 out of the 25 top builds in the superyacht arena. Unfortunately,  Lürssen  could never really boast about  Azzam  after its launch in 2013 because of the owner’s penchant for privacy. Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi directed a team of designers and engineers who started with the bare concept, worked through the technical challenges of what might be the most complex superyacht ever, and finished with an unusually large vessel that can top the 30-knot mark. Nauta Yacht’s exterior features a long, sleek forward area, with well-proportioned tiers moving up to the skydeck. Lürssen describes the interior by Christophe Leoni as “sophisticated, with luxurious decor inspired by the Empire style of the early 19th century.” Its gas turbines, connected to water jets, push  Azzam  to more than 30 knots, giving it the ability to operate at high speed in shallow waters. She also boasts an impressive build time for a yacht of her size, with construction taking only three years after one year of engineering.  Azzam  was last refit in 2020 at MB92 in Barcelona.

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Zoom into the future — SAILING YACHT A is the largest private sail-assisted motor yacht in the world. At 468 feet and built by Nobiskrug in 2017. She’s an advanced superyacht with unique features such as an underwater observation pod, a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system, and state-of-the-art navigation systems.

The luxury sailing yacht’s three masts are the tallest and the most highly loaded freestanding composite structures in the world. The nearly invisible windows give this yacht a futuristic look offering no peep into the interior, which is still a mystery. SAILING YACHT A is owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko.

9. EL MAHROUSA | 145 Meter (478 Foot) Samuda Brothers 1865

Fresh out of the history and record books is EL MAHROUSA, a 478-foot Samuda Brothers yacht launched in 1865 (erm, yeah you read that right). This yacht was built for the Ottoman governor of Egypt and even made an appearance at the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 (thankfully it never got stuck in the canal).

Of course, she underwent plenty of refits over the years, including the replacement of its paddle wheel engines by turbine-driven propellers in 1905. It also had a telegraph installed in 1912. EL MAHROUSA was also lengthened by 40 feet in 1872 and another 17 feet in 1905. The yacht is currently in the care of the Egyptian Navy and occasionally used as the Presidential Yacht. It is the oldest active superyacht in the world and the ninth largest one.

8. PRINCE ABDULAZIZ | 147 Meter (482 Foot) Helsingor Vaerft 1984

PRINCE ABDULAZIZ is a 147- meter motor yacht built by Helsingor Vaerft and delivered in 1984. For many years, it was the world’s largest yacht in terms of length and height. It’s one of the royal yachts of the Saudi royal family, originally owned by King Fahd. Although its interior was designed by the late David Nightingale Hicks, you’re not going to find any pictures of it. All we know is that it’s as luxurious as the TITANIC.

7. A+ | 147 Meter (482 Foot) Lürssen 2012

The seventh-largest yacht in the world is A+ (formally known as TOPAZ) at 147 meters long. With her gross tonnage of 12,532 GT, A+ is also one of the world’s largest superyachts in terms of volume. This 2012 Lürssen superyacht is reportedly owned by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, owner of Manchester City Football Club and Emirate royalty.

This 8 deck vessel features 2 helipads, a gym, 2 Jacuzzis, a movie theatre, and a conference room. While not much is revealed about the Terence Disdale styled interior, A+ can accommodate up to 62 guests in 26 cabins, along with 79 crew members.

6. AL SAID | 155 Meter (508 Foot) Lürrsen 2007

At 509 feet long, AL SAID is the sixth-largest superyacht in the world. It was launched by Lürssen in 2007 and resembles a classic cruise liner. At its widest point, the ship measures nearly 79 feet across. It is owned by the Sultan of Oman and can supposedly accommodate 70 guests and up to 154 professional crewmembers. The vessel features 6 decks and a concert hall big enough for a 50 piece orchestra.

5. DILBAR | 156 Meter (511 Foot) Lürrsen 2016

DILBAR is a 156-meter superyacht built by Lürssen in 2016. Her exterior was designed by Espen Øino, who created a classic profile with a light ivory hull. Her interior design is said to be decorated in rare and exclusive luxury materials by Winch Design, but additional details and photos are not made public.

At 15,917 tons and 156-meters long, Lürssen announced that DILBAR is one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, in terms of dimensions and technology. Her features include a 25-meter swimming pool (the largest ever installed on a yacht) and 2 helipads. It’s owned by one of Russia’s richest men , Alisher Usmanov.

4. DUBAI | 162 Meter (532 Foot) Platinum Yachts 2006

Make room for DUBAI , a 161-meter yacht with a nonlinear build history. This superyacht was originally a joint project between Blohm+Voss and Lürssen in 1998. But the project was halted with a skeletal superstructure.

The hull was sold to the government of Dubai, and the project began again under the direction of the new owner, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (ruler of Dubai), and Platinum Yachts. The yacht was finished in 2006. Some of its stand-out features include 7 decks, helipad, submarine garage, nightclub, cinema, and 70-foot-wide atrium. DUBAI can accommodate 24 guests.

3. ECLIPSE | 162 Meter (531 Foot) Blohm+Voss 2010

By the time it left the Blohm+Voss German shipyard in 2010, ECLIPSE was the largest superyacht in the world. Today, it’s been knocked down a few pegs at 162 meters in length. It’s owned by Russian businessman, Roman Abramovich. ECLIPSE boasts 18 staterooms and can accommodate 36 guests.

At the time of its launch, it hosted the largest swimming pool (with adjustable depth to become a dance floor) onboard a yacht at 16 meters long. This luxury yacht has interesting features including a missile detection system (you know, just in case), bulletproof windows (again, just in case), a submarine, three helicopters, six tenders, spa, gym, and beach club. It’s currently valued at $1.2 billion and considered the world’s most expensive yacht .

2. FULK AL SALAMAH | 164 Meter (538 Foot) Mariotti 2016

FULK AL SALAMAH , translated to Ship of Peace, is a 164-meter Mariotti mega yacht built in 2016. This monster of a yacht is believed to be owned by the Omani royal family. Although, not the longest yacht, she is the biggest in terms of volume at 22,000 gross tonnage. The exterior design is by Studio de Jorio and resembles more of a cruise ship than a private superyacht. Not many details are revealed about FULK AL SALAMAH as this project and delivery has been kept under wraps from its beginning.

1. AZZAM | 180 Meter (590 Foot) Lürssen 2013

At a whopping 180 meters in length, AZZAM is the longest private yacht in the world. This superyacht was launched in 2013 by Lürssen Yachts, and currently owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi. It cost more than $600 million to build.

AZZAM has a beam of 20.8 meters (68 feet) and an unusually shallow draft of 4.3 meters (14 feet). Exterior designer, Nauta Design created this vessel to be sleek and timeless while appearing smaller than her size. The 9,000kW MTU engines give her a speed of 18 knots over long distances, with a top speed of 33 knots.

As the longest private yacht in the world, AZZAM can accommodate 36 guests and up to 80 crew. The interior style is largely a secret, but it’s rumored that some of the wood furniture onboard is intricately veneered with mother of pearl marquetry. Other onboard features include a gym, pool, and golf training room.

While these top 10 largest yachts in the world may seem out of reach, let’s bring it down to earth and explore Denison’s featured listings . You’ll find yachts from 10 feet to 174 feet , all different brands, models, lengths, heights, volume, age… you get the point. Contact a Denison yacht broker to find your perfectly sized yacht.

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Ten of the world’s biggest superyachts

These ocean beasts are large enough to contain everything a billionaire may want, from concert halls and mediterranean gardens to golf courses and beach clubs.

E very January in Boat International magazine a list of the 101 largest superyachts in the world is published. These are mind-blowing behemoths, but it’s the prosaic detail, rather than the big-ticket opulence, that speaks loudest. On the 156m Dilbar, the fifth largest yacht in the world, there are 1,000 sofa cushions and 1,100km of cabling, about the distance from London to Avignon. It took 4,000 people six million man hours to build Azzam, the longest yacht in the world at more than 180. It’s also worth noting that an owner will typically spend 10 per cent of a yacht’s original price on running costs each year. When you apply that to a $500 million boat, it affords a glimpse of the wealth and passion behind these creations, as well as the miniature economies of boatbuilding they support. To inject the new year with a dose of waterborne glitz, here are the 10 biggest yachts in the world today.

1. Azzam, 180.6m

Rather surprisingly, the colossal steel hull of the longest yacht in the world was built for pace — its owner wanted to zip to his private island near Abu Dhabi quick (and very smart). At 31.5 knots, Azzam delivers a top speed similar to a Royal Navy destroyer. That’s thanks to the German yard Lürssen’s powerful combo of gas turbine and diesel engines driving water jets, together churning out 97,000hp. The exterior designer Mario Pedol, of the Milan studio Nauta Design, instilled the appearance of speed in the exterior of this 2013 launch too, with elegant proportions and pared-back lines. The interior decor by the French designer Christophe Leoni remains a closely guarded secret even a decade after delivery but is known to feature a lavish 19th-century Empire style, with a quantity of marquetry rumoured to have cleaned out global supply of mother-of-pearl for a year. The 36 guests (attended by up to 80 crew) can puff it out in the gym, pool or golf-training facility, or socialise in the 29m x 18 main saloon, where open-plan, pillarless architecture and full-height windows necessitated 7cm-thick glass.

2. Eclipse, 162.5m

The jewel of Roman Abramovich’s superyacht fleet has made star turns from St Barth’s to New York, but the political climate has turned many jet-set hotspots into hot water for prominent Russian owners. On its 13th birthday in December Eclipse was sitting in the cooler port of Marmaris, Turkey. This nine-decker is a thoroughbred, built at the German yard Blohm+Voss, now part of Lürssen — a name that pops up repeatedly in the Top 10 list, along with Eclipse’s designer, Terence Disdale, whose laid-back interior adheres to his signature “beach house not penthouse” style. Show-off size was never the goal, it just had to be big to accommodate the owner’s wish list of facilities, including space for three helicopters and a huge pool. The latter has a retractable glass roof and a blue granite bottom that rises to become a dancefloor. The beach club (a social space at water level) is served by its own pantry, pizza oven and barbecue. The lower-deck wellness area, meanwhile, comprises a 77 m gym, beauty salon, massage room, sauna and plunge pool, while portholes give an underwater view of the main pool.

3. Dubai, 162m

Originally commissioned by Prince Jefri Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei’s brother, this yacht was sold to the Dubai government partway through its build and moved from Germany to Turkey for completion in 2006. The vivid interior includes a pool clad in tiles that are imbedded with fibre-optic lights. There’s a cinema, a disco and a water-toy arsenal including a submarine.

4. Blue, 160.6m

Terence Disdale aimed to imbue the lines of this 2022 yacht with feminine elegance. Inside, Blue is divided into VIP, entertainment and wellness decks — and, crowning it all, an owner’s deck where the vast master suite is flanked by balconies. Lürssen focused on green tech for the project, incorporating a bespoke diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system and exhaust treatment system and using a cutting-edge membrane to ensure wastewater is disposed of in “drinking-water quality”

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5. dilbar, 156m.

Many reasonably say that judging a yacht’s size by its length is a little unfair — if you go by gross tonnage (interior volume), Dilbar tops the charts at a staggering 15,917 tonnes for just 24 guests. Packed into that 3,800 sq m space is the largest pool installed on a yacht, at 25m two helipads and a garden planted with Mediterranean greenery that will thrive in the yacht’s regular Côte d’Azur haunts. Lürssen delivered Dilbar to a company held in a trust settled by Uzbek-Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov.

6. Al Said, 155m

This 2008 Lürssen giant was designed with a nod to classic cruise liners by the ultra-cool Norwegian superyacht designer Espen Oino for the former Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said al Said. It is believed to accommodate 200 crew and 70 guests, who can choose between entertainment in the concert hall or cinema.

7. A+, 147.2m

With graceful lines by Tim Heywood and interiors by his fellow Brit Terence Disdale, this mammoth 2012 Lürssen yacht is owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan, owner of Manchester City FC. With two pools and a treasure trove of water toys, it’s a hit on the celebrity circuit — Leonardo DiCaprio has reportedly chartered it twice.

8. Prince Abdulaziz, 147m

The Danish shipyard Helsingor Vaerft (better known for building Saddam Hussein’s 82m Basrah Breeze) delivered this yacht to Fahd, then the Saudi king, in 1984. Its interior was designed by David Hicks, the great English decorator known for bold pattern and fantastical colour combinations. Features include a mosque, hospital and cinema, as well as a lobby modelled after the one on the Titanic.

9. Opera, 146.3m

The newest entry to the Top 10, the Lürssen-built Opera was designed by Disdale and launched in March last year for a member of Emirati royalty. The interior is top secret, but we know it has two helipads, a 10m pool, a vast spa and a cinema.

10. OK, 146m

When the owner of the vessel now known as OK saw the 1982 Japanese-built transport ship Super Servant 3, he decided it was ripe for conversion into a world-roaming explorer yacht. It’s easy to see what inspired him: the whole aft part of the vessel — 100m — can be submerged, leaving just the forward 46m of superstructure above water. This feature, in conjunction with a 40-tonne crane, means the owner’s 46m ketch and a host of water toys can be easily stored and then floated in situ following the boat’s 2022 relaunch at the Turkish yard Karmarine. Revamped accommodation by the young designer Timur Bozca includes cabins for 20 guests, a sundeck spa pool and a botanical garden.

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The 10 Best Explorer Yachts for High-Seas Adventures

A 350-foot gigayacht or 60-foot cruiser size isn't what defines an explorer yacht. the devil's in the details when it comes to authenticity., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories.

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Unlike fashion trends that seem to move as fast as a Redbull F1 car, the yachting industry takes its time adopting new ideas. There seems to be one exception. Explorer vessels, born out of the owners’ desires to go farther and stay longer, without sacrificing creature comforts, is developing with some urgency.

Several dozen builders and designers are now focusing on explorers, but they are also consulting with adventure travel firms that have a long history of using expedition yachts in remote parts of the globe. ICON Yachts, for example, collaborated with Cookson Adventures and the International Seakeepers Society on its Project Mission in both the overarching design and the details found across the yacht. Adventure outfitter EYOS employs its expertise routinely with Damen’s explorer vessels, most recently with the 190-foot Pink Shadow.   EYOS has a list of 50 features that separate authentic explorers from faux versions that might look the part but lack the necessary infrastructure and design elements.

Long-range cruising, system redundancy for autonomy at sea, and storage to carry specialist equipment like submersibles are some of the requirements that define expedition boats. There’s also deck configuration for the easy launch of tenders and toys, along with strong, ice-class hulls and climate-controlled areas comfort in extreme polar and tropic regions.

We culled through the latest fleet of explorers with multiple lengths and designs, selecting a single feature that we think makes it best in class. Here are 10 of our favorites.

Best Pilothouse: Doggersbank 77 Offshore

More than 700 Doggersbank motoryachts have been built since the 1960s, with the latest model scheduled for delivery in 2025. The robust, offshore vessels are designed by Dutch studio Vripack for long ocean passages, assisted by a high, flared bow. “It prevents green water from hitting the wheelhouse windows in rough seas, and together with the Portuguese bridge, ensures the captain’s view is not obstructed,” Joost Mertens, Doggersbank fleet manager, told Robb Report . “The yacht’s steel hull ensures the yacht sits better in the water making it less vulnerable to wind and high waves.”

Best Deck Configuration: Columbus Crossover 42

The Columbus Crossover 42 is defined by both straight and angled surfaces,  tapered stern sections and a concentration of volume in the bow that is becoming on many explorers. What is atypical is the yacht’s compact but flexible dimensions that accommodate a large cockpit tender and a 108-square-foot swimming pool with relaxation areas. Sold to an U.S. customer, it’s scheduled for delivery in 2025.

Best Multipurpose Stern: Bering B165

Turkish boatbuilder Bering Yachts revealed details of its new 162-foot flagship explorer yacht, the B165 , at the Dubai International Boat Show in March. The yacht can carry 18,400 gallons of fuel, which the builder says will give it a 4,000 nautical mile range when cruising at 12 knots. It also has a 2,640-gallon holding tank. What singles the B165 out among other explorers, however, is its multi-purpose stern area for both function and form. The elongated aft deck has a swimming pool surrounded by sunbeds. When the bulwarks are folded down, the space becomes an even larger overwater terrace. When the pool is not in use, it can be used as a covered storage area for water toys and expedition equipment. The yacht’s two tenders are also stored on the aft, making it a flexible space for both equipment and guests.

Best Family-Friendly Concept: Project Mimer

This 197-foot expedition concept by Tillberg Design of Sweden caters to family travel with a helicopter pad as well as multiple tenders and toys. It’s pitched by the studio as an introduction to true explorer yachting. It has a functional crew layout for efficient operations and an upper deck owner’s suite with a forward terrace and spa pool. With a hull that will be built to the Polar Code Category, the concept also has an optional helipad aft and long list of toys, from an electric luxury tender and two expedition RIBS to quad bikes, a submersible, Jet Skis, and, of course, an amphibious vehicle. The five-decked yacht sleeps 12 guests with crew quarters for 17 and an additional staff member, such as a nanny.

Best Ice Explorer: Damen SeaXplorer 105

Damen’s 345-foot SeaXplorer 105 is the largest model in the SeaXplorer range, with exterior design by Azure Yacht Design. The platform was developed under the guidance of expedition specialists EYOS Expeditions, who considered over 150 design criteria, from the hull form and bridge layout to the tender davits and Zodiac boarding arrangements. But it is EYOS’s expertise in the polar regions—it facilitated the first heli-ski charter in Antarctica and the first 3,200-foot sub dive to the Antarctic midnight zone—that gives the vessel its point of difference. The SeaXplorer has an ice-strengthened hull and a specially shaped icebreaking stern to maneuver through rough terrain.

Best Interior: Project Fox

On top of having a cool name, Project Fox has a bright, contemporary interior, courtesy of London’s Q Design, that is becoming more common on expedition yachts. The full-beam owner’s stateroom is also one of the yacht’s standout features, with its marble en suite and hardwood floors. The salon is also luxe, with white walls that brighten up travel even in areas that are sunlight deprived. Project Fox also has four other staterooms.

Best Autonomy: Project Master

ICON Yachts’s Project Master was a transoceanic offshore support vessel before the Dutch shipyard began a refit to turn it into an explorer yacht (see before and after inset). It’s equipped with diesel-electric hybrid propulsion, a wide beam for multiple tender spaces, a 7,200-nautical mile range, and flexible cabin arrangements for expedition crew. Other features include a science lab and a certified heli-deck. “The yacht’s helicopter and sub capability mean it can offer assistance in areas with challenging access and little infrastructure,” Micca Ferrero, owner of ICON Yachts, told Robb Report . “The design is for the demands of self-sufficient voyages.”

Best Use of Volume: Arcadia Yachts A96

The A96 mixes the lines, volume, and open-plan layout of Arcadia’s Sherpa series with the speed, joystick maneuverability, and quality of the yard’s A range. It’s the first Arcadia to have an Igor Lobanov-designed interior, as well as a high bow and high deckheads for traversing rough water. But its big differentiator is the 214 gross tonnes of volume and 24-foot beam that generate big volumes—4,300 square feet of usable space, which is 30 percent more than on other similar-sized yachts. Low bulwarks and lateral walkways emphasize the sense of openness.

Best Bow: Project Shackleton

This 351-foot build from Lürssen has an inverted bow that looks like an eagle’s beak. The shape is designed to slice through waves with much lower vibration through the hull, while also reducing rock and roll in rough seas. Unlike the quasi-research vessel exteriors of many explorers, this vessel is representative of the changing look of many in this growing segment. 

Best Multi-Mode Hull: Azimut Magellano 60

The Magellano 60 isn’t technically an explorer yacht. Think of it as a cruiser  designed for some long-distance travel. But it does have one very interesting feature, what its builder Azimut calls a “dual-mode” hull. The semi-planing shape is designed to optimize fuel consumption (and therefore lower emissions) by about 20 percent (compared to similar-sized vessels) at low and medium speeds. The yacht’s bow is also designed to cut through waves for better seakeeping at a range of speeds. The boat cruises very efficiently at 18 knots but will hit a top end of 26, thus delivering the performance of a planing hull with the benefits of a displacement hull.

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Billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg spend six figures a year maintaining their superyachts. Here's how.

• Superyachts  are one of the most expensive assets money can buy.
• The true cost of ownership is even more, adding up to millions a year.
• Here's how much it costs to own a superyacht — and what that money is going toward.

Financial advisors are quick to warn prospective owners that a boat is nothing more than a hole in the water in which to throw money. When it comes to superyachts , you'd better have bags and bags of cash.

As one luxury agent told Business Insider at the Palm Beach International Boat Show: "Buying a boat, it's a huge purchase — and nobody needs a yacht."

A superyacht, generally over 30 meters long, is one of the most expensive assets money can buy, with the largest costing more than a lot of real estate or a private jet. Billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Steve Jobs each spent nine figures on their megayachts.

That doesn't include operating costs. Owners should expect to pay about 10% of a yacht's new-build price each year, experts told Business Insider. That's tens of millions of dollars annually for the most luxurious boats.

"It's a small-to-medium-sized business in its own right," said Jeffrey Beneville, a senior vice president at insurance company NFP, where he specializes in consulting clients about yachts.

Unlike many smaller boats, superyachts need staff, not just a captain. Some superyachts have space for dozens of crewmembers , including a chef, engineer, and masseuse for the guests onboard. Each gets an annual salary — the highest-ranking members earn six figures — and benefits. Eric Schmidt's yacht fits a crew of 28 for a ratio of about two crewmembers per guest.

Then there's fuel, dockage fees, routine maintenance, and insurance. The latter hinges on everything from the reputation of a yacht's shipyard to where an owner wants to take it (if a vessel is taking frequent trips to the South China Sea, for example, expect to pay a higher premium). If a superyacht has a support yacht — or a support superyacht, in Bezos ' case — expect to pay another 10% of that boat's price annually.

"The cost to maintain a yacht is so high that they just think that money's getting lit on fire," Matthew Fleissig, the CEO of wealth management firm Pathstone, told BI of his clients who choose to charter rather than own.

One of his firm's clients who does own has a 23-meter yacht valued at $5.2 million. The annual cost to staff, maintain, dock, and insure the boat is $346,297, according to documentation provided to BI. The lion's share is spent on marina fees ($95,970) and maintenance work ($88,408.) While not exactly a Sunfish, that boat is too small to count as a superyacht.

At 106 meters, the Amadea, owned by a sanctioned Russian oligarch , definitely does. The $300 million yacht, which was seized in 2022 and is docked in San Diego, cost $922,000 a month to maintain, a court filing showed: $360,000 for crew salaries, $75,000 for fuel, $144,000 for insurance, $178,000 in dry-docking fees, and $165,000 for maintenance, waste removal, food for the crew, and miscellaneous expenses.

"And that's an inactive yacht that's in the water," NFP's Beneville said.

If it were operational and carrying guests, the costs would be about twice that, or between $20 million and $30 million a year, he added.

Of course, it makes more financial sense for the non-obsessives to charter, and many of Fleissig's clients do. And some owners choose to offer their yachts for charter — the most luxurious cost as much as $1 million a week — to offset the costs.

"If you charter the boat for 50 days a year, it's going to help a lot," Anders Kurtén, the CEO of brokerage firm Fraser Yachts, told BI.

Then again, the running costs don't matter as much at a certain point. "If you're worth $30 billion, it's nothing. And if you're worth $117 billion — and these are the guys we're talking about — they're in it as long as it's still enjoyable for them," Beneville said. "It's not a money thing."

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The World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Superyacht Sets Sail

By Katherine McLaughlin

Traveling the deep blue just got a lot greener. Feadship, a Dutch shipyard, just launched what it claims is the world’s first hydrogen-powered superyacht. Dubbed Project 821, the 290-foot boat left the company’s Amsterdam shipyard on May 4, a monumental achievement following years of yacht concepts touted with the eco-friendly technology . “The aim has been to develop a new, clean technology not just for this project, but for the world,” said Jan-Bart Verkuyl, Feadship director and CEO of Royal Van Lent, in a statement.

RWD designed both the exterior and interior.

Designing and developing Project 821 was a five-year undertaking and part of the Feadship’s research into fossil-free fuel options for boats. The ship is partly powered by hydrogen fuel cells, which generate power through a chemical reaction rather than combustion. Many cars make use of this technology, but this is a first for superyachts. “The value of the research as well the development of class and flag safety regulations for an entirely new type of energy generation is an advancement we are proud to have made available to all,” Verkuyl added.

The hydrogen-powered superyacht was designed by RWD , a firm located in Hampshire, England. The owner’s deck is inspired by a luxury apartment, and features two bedrooms, twin bathrooms and dressing rooms, a gym, two offices, and a living room. On the lower deck, bookshelves wrap around a statement-making staircase in addition to a number of niches designed for small moments, such as board games or enjoying a cup of coffee. This is in addition to a library, stateroom, and sea terrace dining room. The interiors make use of a natural and light color palette crafted from organic materials such as leather, marble , and rattan .

Project 821 showcases a number of green advancements to make yachting more eco-friendly.

“RWD is immensely proud to have been involved in such a forward-thinking project,” Charlie Baker, a director at RWD, said. “We hope it inspires other projects to think differently in the future.”

Hydrogen requires heavy-duty storage tanks, which add significant weight to the boat and demand additional space. Though Project 821 is equipped to hold four tons of hydrogen and 16 fuel cells, it is not enough to fully power the vessel for long journeys. In cases where green energy alone is not enough, the boat is also fashioned with two generators. These combusts hydrotreated vegetable oil, which is a diesel-like fuel but doesn’t require fossil resources.

The boat is currently for sale through Edmiston, a superyacht sale and charter firm. “The brief was to build the greenest and most environmentally advanced yacht ever built, without compromise. It was a huge challenge, but one that the team has embraced and delivered on,” Jamie Edmiston, CEO of Edmiston, added. “The yacht we see today, designed by RWD and built by Feadship, is without doubt the best yacht ever built.”

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The Current Top 10 Largest Superyachts in the World: Part 1

By Anna Solomon

To kick off 2019, we are thinking about the largest yachts currently on the water. Superyachts.com present the definitive shortlist for 2019's biggest boats...

1. Azzam Although Lurssen have been involved in the construction of 6 out of the 10 largest superyachts, 180.6m Azzam represents a watershed moment for the distinguished builder. Not much is known about this yachting colossus, which is rumoured to have been built for a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family. We do know, however, that she features interior splendour in the style of the French Empire by Christophe Leoni, with exterior styling by Nauta Yacht Design . We also know that Azzam is notable for her remarkable speed, which reaches up to 31.5+ knots. The yacht is groundbreaking technologically, dimensionally and performatively, but also smashes a record in her build time - she spent a mere three years in construction.

2. Fulk Al Salamah 164m Fulk Al Salamah is a yacht of sheer volume, delivered by Italian shipyard Mariotti Yachts. Announced in 2014 and developed under the codename Project Saffron, the construction of the vessel was shrouded in secrecy; it was only when it set off for its maiden voyage from Genoa to Muscat that speculation about it’s joining the Omani Royal fleet surfaced. Although Fulk Al Salamah has been pipped at the post by Azzam in terms of length, the 164m reigns supreme in terms of gross tonnage, measuring in at 22,000 GT. Images reveal a large helideck, raked masts and a bathing platform, but outdoor leisure spaces are otherwise conspicuously absent, adding to the impression that Fulk Al Salamah is in fact a support vessel.

3. Eclipse Eclipse, famously owned by Roman Abramovich, comes in third. Measuring a formidable 162.5m, the grand vessel was completed in 2010 at the Blohm + Voss facility in Hamburg. As with many yachts of her size, Eclipse was a mysterious project whose details were sparse, however it is known that her interior is lavishly appointed by Terence Disdale Design . The yacht is also believed to sleep up to 36 guests across 18 cabins, and accommodate a massive crew of 70. Onboard spaces are thought to conceal an abundance of luxury extras, including a three-man leisure submarine, two swimming pools (one of which converts into a dance floor) and an exterior fireplace. Eclipse also has accommodation for a staggering six tenders and three helicopters.

4. Dubai Missing out on the title of third-largest yacht by a mere half meter, 162m Dubai was launched in 2006 by Platinum Yachts. For a vessel of her size she is remarkably elegant, featuring a streamlined steel hull and aluminium superstructure by renowned designer Andrew Winch , whilst stunning interiors were architected by Platinum Yachts. The interior of the 162m is a blend of bold colors, fine fabrics and intricate mosaics enhanced by amazing features such as a glass staircase with steps that change colour, seven decks, several jacuzzis and accommodation for a helicopter of up to 9.5 tonnes.

5. Dilbar Custom built by Lurssen yachts at their Lemwerder facility, 156m Dilbar is the fifth largest superyacht currently on the water. Delivered to her owner in 2016, Dilbar features a displacement steel hull and aluminium superstructure, impressive interiors by renowned firm Winch Design and exterior styling by Monaco-based tycoon Espen Oeino . This colossal yacht fits ample guests and crew across a vast 53 cabins, and boasts countless luxury amenities including a gym, jacuzzi, helipad, tender garage, sauna, cinema, swimming platform and massage room. Most notable, perhaps, is Dilbar’s indoor pool, the 180m3 capacity of which makes it the largest pool to ever have been built on a yacht.

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Saudi Arabia unveils ultra-lux resort for BILLIONAIRES complete with private docks for world’s biggest superyachts

• Ellie Doughty , Foreign News Reporter
• Published : 15:52, 14 May 2024
• Updated : 16:01, 14 May 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

SAUDI Arabia has revealed its grandiose plans for an extravagant marina resort that caters to the world's biggest superyachts.

Jaumur, the exclusive billionaire community, will house over 6,000 residents just metres away from their enormous vessels.

The resort will be built around a vast marina with 700 luxury villas and 500 apartments.

Each villa will have waterfront access and its own private mooring for yachts, along the Gulf of Aqaba.

Two hotels with 350 suites will also feature in the complex, part of Saudi's ambitious Neom initiative.

The £1.2 trillion project is designed to host the world's largest and most impressive superyachts, in a garish display of Saudi wealth.

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Saudi forces ‘allowed to KILL’ to clear land for $500bn megacity The Line

Inside the £1trillion Saudi Arabia mega city that could host 2034 World Cup

A 1.5 kilometre aerofoil will help protect billionaire's boats and serve as a central hub in the marina.

Plans include provisions for entertainment and leisure as well as an international boarding school on site.

Jaumur is yet another ambitious and controversial Saudi initiative in a string of plans.

Spearheaded under Crown Prince  Mohammed bin Salman  in 2017 as part of the country's Vision 2030, plans for the mega city are set to be complete by the end of the decade.

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It includes the infamous Line, a 110 mile long and 200 metre wide megastructure designed to function as its own city.

Near the Red Sea, it will have a floating industrial centre and its own port.

Saudi also plans to build a mountainous ski resort called Trojena set to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games.

An airport will also be built to connect the city to the rest of the world.

The project was recently met with fierce international criticism over reported plans to kill people in order to make way for the $500 billion city.

A former Saudi intelligence officer claimed he was told to use "lethal force" against any "rebels" who refused to leave their homes.

The land where the Line is being build was occupied by local tribes and their homes completely disappeared after Saudi forces cleared the area.

Col Rabih Alenezi told the  BBC  he was ordered to evict villagers to make way for the horizontal skyscraper.

He claimed one of the villagers was shot and killed during the clearance mission for protesting against the evictions.

The Line is to be the first development in the new urban area, hoped by the kingdom to add $48billion (£38billion) to the country's  GDP , along with other elements of the Saudi Vision 2030 program.

It was originally planned to stretch across 170km - from the mountains of Neom across desert valleys to the Red Sea - and tower 500m above sea level while only being 200m wide.

But plans for the 105-mile-long build  were dramatically scaled back  in a humiliation for  Saudi Arabia , with The Line to stretch a measly 1.5 miles - rather than the previously-envisioned ten miles - by 2030.

Crown Prince Bin Salman previously described the area where Neom is being built as the perfect "blank canvas".

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Although his own government has said that more than 6,000 people have been moved for the project.

New satellite images of villages Al-Khuraybah, Sharma, and Gayal - mostly populated by the Huwaitat tribe - showed a blank slate in April where homes,  schools , and hospitals stood only a few years ago.

Inside Saudi Arabia's £1.2trillion investment

SAUDI Arabia is set to spend £138billion every year on mega projects between 2025 and 2028.

Here are some of the most ambitious projects the Middle Eastern country plans to launch by 2030.

NEOM - It is set to be a  Jetsons-style ultra-modern metropolis  in contrast to the other very conservative parts of the desert kingdom.

Backed by Saudi's £400billion Private Investment Fund - the group which bought  Newcastle United  - the plans for Neom are so ambitious that some of the  technology  doesn't even exist yet.

Planning docs show the city will have flying taxis - a vehicle depicted in  science  fiction films such as Blade Runner and Back to the Future II.

The most striking thing about Neom is a mirrored megastructure called The Line - a 110-mile, 500m tall and 200m wide mirrored building that will connect Neom to the rest of the kingdom.

Red Sea Project  - The Red Sea Project is a tourism development on an archipelago of Saudi Arabian islands with its dedicated airport. 

It's set to be built on 90 undeveloped islands between Umluj and Al Wajh on Saudi Arabia’s west coast.

Super Cave Hotel  - Also part of Neom, Leyja will be a jaw-dropping  hotel complex carved into the walls of a giant canyon.

Directors of the project claim it will open its doors to tourists in 2024 - despite not being built yet.

It will have three state-of-the-art  hotels , designed by world-leading architects to blend in with the natural surroundings that make up 95 per cent of the futuristic city.

The  hotels  will have 120 luxurious rooms and will operate completely sustainably to provide "distinct experiences".

Future City Epicon  - Epicon is the latest megalomaniac development to be announced by Neom on November 15.

This futuristic coastal city will feature residential beach villas, hotels, and a luxurious resort.

Located on the Gulf of Aqaba, Epicon will be comprised of two ultra-modern towers, measuring 738ft and 908ft.

The sky-high destination will be home to 41 hotels and luxury homes, offering 14 suites and hotel apartments.

Close to the pair of luxury towers, Epicon's very own resort will be located, featuring 120 rooms and 45 stunning residential beach villas.

Epicon will also offer a beach club, spas, an array of recreational activities and water sports, culinary options for every palate, and the natural beauty of the shorelines in Neom.

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Animals Around the Globe

Top 10 Biggest Animals in the World

Posted: January 5, 2024 | Last updated: January 5, 2024

#1 Blue Whale

Their hearts are worth as much as a car. Blue whales are still endangered , with only 25,000 thought to exist today.

Blue whales are the World’s most enormous living creatures. Their tongues can be as heavy as an elephant’s.

#2 North Pacific Right Whale

The Sea of Japan, the Okhotsk, the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Sea, and the eastern Aleutian Islands are all part of the North Pacific right whale’s range. They are similarly slow moving, and when they come to the surface to breathe, their blow is in the shape of a heart, or V. Their triangular tail fluke is also a distinguishing feature.

Right whales are found in three different species around the World. The Southern right whale, the North Atlantic right whale, and the North Pacific right whale are all found in the Southern Hemisphere.

#3 African Elephant

There are just 415,000 elephants left in Africa today. While elephant poaching is declining, especially in East Africa, it is still driving the species dangerously close to extinction.

African elephants are the World’s most enormous land creatures. Their herds go over 37 African countries. Their trunk, utilized for communication and object processing, is immediately identifiable. Their vast ears also assist them in dissipating heat.

#4 White Rhinoceros

Interestingly, the titles black and white rhinos are deceptive, as both are grey in color. The Afrikaans term for wide (‘wyd’) is thought to have given the white rhino its name owing to its vast, square lip (in contrast, black rhinos have a pointy upper lip). Furthermore, because early English explorers misinterpreted this word for ‘white,’ this species was named ‘white’ rhino, while the other was called ‘black’ rhino.

Due to the form of its mouth compared to its African cousin, the black rhino, the white rhino is also known as the Square-lipped rhino. Moreover, white rhinos are divided into two subspecies: Southern and Northern white.

#5 Hippopotamus

They have adaptations to their semi-aquatic surroundings that allow them to move quickly on both water and land, despite their big and bulky appearance. Firstly, their tiny legs enable tremendous propulsion through the water. Additionally, their feet feature four webbed toes that splay out to distribute weight equally and sufficiently support them on land.

Hippos are divided into two species: the hefty/common hippo and the smaller pygmy hippo. After elephants and white rhinos, hippos are the third-largest living land animal.

Regarding their reproductive behavior, giraffes don’t adhere to a specific breeding season. This leads males to continuously seek out potential mates. In their native African habitat, they prefer females with notably long legs and a distinctive coat pattern, characterized by uneven brown patches against a lighter backdrop. Remarkably, giraffes are the tallest land animals on Earth, with males (known as bulls) reaching heights of up to 5.5 meters (18 feet), and females (cows) growing up to 4.5 meters tall.

Giraffes, known for their sociable nature, often form loose herds without any strong group bonds. Male giraffes, being migratory, frequently move among various groups of females, while the younger ones typically remain with several adult females.

#7 Saltwater Crocodile

Saltwater crocodiles lurk along the water’s edge, ready to strike with a ferocious lunge at any possible prey that approaches the water’s edge. Crocodiles are a long-lived species that have thrived in this Habitat since before the dinosaurs went extinct.

The saltwater crocodile’s jaws create the World’s most ferocious bite, and the strong teeth can reach up to five inches (13 cm). These traits and the animal’s capacity to hold its breath for extended periods make it an ideal predator for hunting large terrestrial mammals.

Saltwater crocodiles are the World’s largest crocodile species and the World’s largest living reptile . 2. Male saltwater crocodiles have been measured at 23 feet (7 meters) in length and weigh 2,205 pounds (1,000 kg).

#8 Leatherback sea turtles

Of our top 10 most significant animals in the World, the leatherback is a strong contender as the largest turtle species and is definitely one of the Biggest Animals In The World.

The chief drivers of these decreases include extensive turtle and egg harvesting and bycatch in fishing gear. Under the Endangered Species Act, leatherback turtles are considered endangered, and the Pacific leatherback population continues to dwindle.

Renowned for their exceptional speed, ostriches are the swiftest runners among birds and bipedal animals. They can reach staggering speeds exceeding 70 km/hr, with each stride spanning an impressive 5 meters.

The ostrich stands out as the world’s largest and heaviest bird species, distinguished by its inability to fly. Unique among all existing bird species, the ostrich excretes urine and feces separately, unlike its avian counterparts.

Male Gaurs are notably muscular and robust, possessing the strength to fend off predators, humans, and even other domestic cattle that pose a threat. These impressive animals typically form herds consisting of 30 to 50 members.

In our exploration of the world’s top 10 most significant animals, the Gaur, also known as the Indian bison, stands out as the largest wild cattle species. Native to South and Southeast Asia, the Gaur has been classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986.

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World Happiness Report 2024: The top 10 happiest countries in the world: Check where India ranks on the list

Notably, this year, the happiest countries no longer included any of the world's largest countries. explore the list of the top 10 happiest countries in the world..

The Dalai Lama once famously stated that “the purpose of life is to be happy.” As rightly said, pursuing happiness is a universal endeavour and a fundamental part of being human. The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network annually publishes the World Happiness Report, in partnership with Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, and the WHR’s Editorial Board.

In addition to providing valuable insights into the well-being of its citizens, this report also helps governments, policymakers, and organisations understand the factors that contribute to people’s contentment and identify areas that may need improvement.

Recently, the World Happiness Report was released in 2024, and unsurprisingly, Nordic nations continue to dominate the top rankings with Finland, for the seventh time straight, ranking first as the world’s happiest country, followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden.

Out of 143 countries surveyed, India is ranked 126th, the same as last year, with its neighbouring countries, China, ranked 60th, Nepal at 93, Pakistan at 108, Myanmar at 118, Sri Lanka at 128, Bangladesh at 129th, and Afghanistan at the bottom of the list.

World Happiness Index 2024: The top 10 happiest countries in the world

The World Happiness Index ranks countries based on the social and emotional aspects of a population, moving beyond economic indicators. It considers six variables, including GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and freedom from corruption, to provide a more comprehensive view of a country’s success.

Bhutan is a pioneer in valuing happiness more than economic development. The country measures the Gross National Happiness of its citizens rather than relying on economic metrics to judge its prosperity. Ultimately, measuring and ranking happiness is essential for creating a more holistic and people-centred approach to societal progress.

1. Finland:

Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world for the seventh consecutive year. The country provides a high quality of life for its citizens with its vast natural beauty, strong social support systems, low corruption, and healthy work-life balance. Finnish happiness stems from a strong sense of community, a propensity for helping others, and a clear sense of purpose. The average life expectancy in Finland is 82 years, and 96% of Finns believe they have someone to rely on in times of need (OECD).

2. Denmark:

Denmark is the second-happiest country, with a score of 7.58 . The country’s emphasis on equality and social welfare, including free healthcare, subsidised childcare, tuition-free universities, and generous pensions, contributes to high levels of life satisfaction . Denmark outperforms the OECD average in jobs, education, health, environmental quality, social connections, civic engagement, and overall well-being .

3. Iceland:

As a Nordic country, Iceland shares many of the same social support and economic factors as Finland and Denmark that enable high levels of happiness and life satisfaction. Iceland’s natural beauty, with its volcanic landscapes and hot springs, also likely contributes to the well-being of its citizens, making it rank third on the list with a score of 7.52.

Israel is the happiest country in the Middle East, ranking fourth globally with a score of 7.47. However, the report notes that Israel’s survey was conducted before recent warfare, which caused life evaluations to fall by 0.9 points. Israel’s high ranking is likely due to its strong economy, democratic institutions, and vibrant culture.

5. Netherlands:

The Netherlands is the 5th happiest country, with a score of 7.40. The Dutch enjoy a high standard of living, with strong social support, economic stability, and a healthy work-life balance. The Netherlands is one of only two countries in the top 10 with a population of over 15 million.

Sweden ranks 6th, with a score of 7.39. Like its Nordic neighbours, Sweden provides generous social welfare benefits, low corruption, and a stable economy that contributes to the well-being of its citizens. Sweden also has a strong commitment to environmental protection and sustainability.

Norway is the 7th-happiest country, with a score of 7.32. Norway’s happiness is driven by its high GDP per capita, robust social support systems, and healthy life expectancy. The Norwegian government invests heavily in education, healthcare, and social services to support its citizens.

8. Luxembourg:

Luxembourg ranks 8th, with a score of 7.23. As a small European country, Luxembourg has a high GDP per capita and provides a stable, prosperous environment for its citizens. Luxembourg is also known for its multilingual culture and high quality of life.

9. Switzerland:

Switzerland is the 9th happiest country, with a score of 7.24. Switzerland consistently ranks highly due to its strong economy, high incomes, low corruption, and high quality of life. The Swiss enjoy a high standard of living, with excellent healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

10. Australia:

Australia rounds out the top 10 with a score of 7.12. As the only non-European country in the top 10, Australia’s happiness is driven by its strong economy, democratic institutions, and high quality of life. Australia also benefits from its natural beauty, with stunning beaches, rainforests, and outback landscapes.

In essence, measuring and ranking happiness is essential for creating a more holistic and people-centred approach to societal progress. The world’s happiest countries share common traits such as strong social support systems, low corruption, healthy work-life balance, economic prosperity, and a commitment to the well-being of their citizens. While no country is perfect, these nations have created environments that allow their people to thrive and be happy.

Ash gourd juice is marketed as a superfood with weight loss and skin rejuvenation properties, but author Krish Ashok and nutritionist Akshita Reddy refute these claims due to lack of scientific evidence. The juice lacks dietary fiber and may not aid in digestion as well as consuming the whole fruit. It can help maintain a calorie deficit but is not a direct weight loss solution

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