These immense oceanic structures are designed to encompass everything a billionaire might desire, including concert halls, Mediterranean gardens, golf courses, and beach clubs.
Every January, Boat International magazine unveils a list of the 101 largest superyachts globally, featuring awe-inspiring giants. Yet, it’s the mundane details rather than extravagant opulence that often resonate the most. Take the 156m Dilbar, the fifth largest yacht globally, boasting 1,000 sofa cushions and approximately 1,100km of cabling—equivalent to the distance from London to Avignon. Azzam, the longest yacht at over 180m, required 4,000 people and six million man hours for construction. Notably, yacht owners typically allocate 10% of the vessel’s original price for annual operational costs, offering a glimpse into the wealth and dedication fueling these creations and the boatbuilding economies they sustain. As we usher in the new year, here are the 10 largest yachts currently gracing the world’s waters.
The owner of what is now known as OK spotted the 1982 Japanese-built transport ship Super Servant 3 and saw potential for its transformation into a globally traveling explorer yacht. The inspiration is evident: the aft section of the vessel, spanning 100m, can submerge, leaving only the forward 46m of superstructure above water. Coupled with a 40-tonne crane, this allows easy storage for the owner’s 46m ketch and an array of water toys, which can be effortlessly floated in place after the vessel’s 2022 relaunch at the Turkish yard Karmarine. Renovated by the young designer Timur Bozca, the accommodations now include cabins for 20 guests, a sundeck spa pool, and even a botanical garden.
9. Opera, 146.3m
The latest addition to the Top 10, the Lürssen-crafted Opera, conceived by Disdale, made its debut in March last year for a member of Emirati royalty. While the interior remains shrouded in secrecy, confirmed features include two helipads, a 10m pool, an expansive spa, and a cinema.
8. Prince Abdulaziz, 147m
Delivered by the Danish shipyard Helsingor Vaerft, renowned for constructing Saddam Hussein’s 82m Basrah Breeze, this yacht was commissioned for Fahd, the then Saudi king, in 1984. Internally crafted by the celebrated English decorator David Hicks, known for his bold patterns and imaginative color combinations, the yacht boasts distinctive features such as a mosque, hospital, and cinema. Additionally, it includes a lobby inspired by the one found on the Titanic.
7. A+, 147.2m
Boasting elegant lines envisioned by Tim Heywood and interiors crafted by fellow Brit Terence Disdale, this colossal 2012 Lürssen yacht belongs to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan, the owner of Manchester City FC. Featuring two pools and an impressive array of water toys, it has become a sensation on the celebrity circuit, reportedly chartered twice by Leonardo DiCaprio.
6. Al Said, 155m
Crafted in 2008 by Lürssen, this colossal vessel, designed by the ultra-cool Norwegian superyacht designer Espen Oino, pays homage to classic cruise liners. Originally commissioned for the former Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said al Said, it is rumored to accommodate 200 crew members and 70 guests. The guests have the luxury of choosing between entertainment options in the concert hall or the cinema.
5. Dilbar, 156m
Many argue that gauging a yacht’s size solely by its length is somewhat unfair. If you consider gross tonnage, which factors in interior volume, Dilbar reigns supreme, boasting a staggering 15,917 tonnes to accommodate just 24 guests. Within its expansive 3,800 sq m space lies the largest pool ever installed on a yacht, measuring 25m, along with two helipads and a garden adorned with Mediterranean greenery, thriving in the yacht’s frequent Côte d’Azur haunts. Lürssen proudly delivered Dilbar to a company held in a trust established by Uzbek-Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov.
4. Blue, 160.6m
Terence Disdale sought to infuse the 2022 yacht’s design with a sense of feminine elegance. Internally, Blue is organized into VIP, entertainment, and wellness decks, culminating in an owner’s deck where the expansive master suite is complemented by balconies. Lürssen prioritized green technology for the project, integrating a custom diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system and exhaust treatment system. Additionally, a state-of-the-art membrane is employed to guarantee that wastewater disposal meets the standards of “drinking-water quality.”
3. Dubai, 162m
Initially commissioned by Prince Jefri Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei’s brother, this yacht underwent a noteworthy transition. Midway through its construction, it was sold to the Dubai government, prompting a move from Germany to Turkey for its completion in 2006. The vibrant interior showcases a pool adorned with tiles embedded with fiber-optic lights. The yacht is equipped with a cinema, a disco, and an impressive array of water toys, including a submarine.
2. Eclipse, 162.5m
The crown jewel of Roman Abramovich’s superyacht fleet, Eclipse, has graced glamorous locations from St Barth’s to New York. However, shifting political landscapes have placed many such jet-set destinations in hot water for prominent Russian owners. Celebrating its 13th birthday in December, Eclipse found itself in the cooler port of Marmaris, Turkey. This nine-deck marvel, crafted at the German shipyard Blohm+Voss (now part of Lürssen), consistently surfaces in the Top 10 list, much like Eclipse’s designer, Terence Disdale. The yacht’s laid-back interior aligns with Disdale’s signature “beach house, not penthouse” style. Contrary to show-off size, the primary goal was to accommodate the owner’s extensive wish list, featuring space for three helicopters and a grand pool. The pool boasts a retractable glass roof and a blue granite bottom that ascends to transform into a dancefloor. The beach club, positioned at water level, is equipped with its own pantry, pizza oven, and barbecue. On the lower deck, the wellness area spans a 77m gym, beauty salon, massage room, sauna, and plunge pool. Portholes offer an underwater view of the main pool, enhancing the yacht’s allure.
1. Azzam, 180.6m
Surprisingly, the immense steel hull of the world’s longest yacht was constructed for speed—its owner’s desire to swiftly reach his private island near Abu Dhabi. Azzam achieves an impressive top speed of 31.5 knots, akin to that of a Royal Navy destroyer. Credit for this velocity goes to Lürssen’s German shipyard, employing a potent combination of gas turbine and diesel engines propelling water jets, generating a staggering 97,000hp. Exterior designer Mario Pedol, from the Milan-based studio Nauta Design, skillfully instilled a sense of speed in the yacht’s appearance with elegant proportions and streamlined lines during its 2013 launch. The interior decor, shrouded in secrecy even a decade later, was crafted by French designer Christophe Leoni. Rumored to showcase a lavish 19th-century Empire style, the design reportedly depleted the global supply of mother-of-pearl for a year due to extensive marquetry work. Accommodating 36 guests attended by up to 80 crew members, Azzam offers amenities such as a gym, pool, and golf-training facility. The 29m x 18 main saloon features open-plan, pillarless architecture and full-height windows, demanding the use of 7cm-thick glass.