10. Rising Sun
Everyone loves a good rivalry story. In the case of the 452-foot Rising Sun, launched in 2004, her story is about Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. These guys have been competing for years. When Allen ordered the 416-foot superyacht Octopus from the Lürsson yard in Germany, Ellison then placed an order for the 452-foot Rising Sun, which became the second-largest private yacht when he extended the hull from 387 feet during construction.
9. Al Salamah
9. Al Salamah
Coming in at number 9 is another Lürssen build, the 457-foot Al Salamah. Al Salamah was delivered in 1999 and then returned to Lürssen in 2007 for a refit. She is reportedly owned by Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia.
8. Yas
8. Yas
Yas was launched by the shipyard Abu Dhabi MAR in 2011 and measures 462 feet, 7 inches. Yas is a complete rebuild of a 1978 steel-hulled navy frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
7. El Horriya
7. El Horriya
The oldest yacht in our top 10 list by far, the 478-foot El Horriya was originally built in 1865 as a royal yacht for the Khedive of Egypt. In her many years El Horriya has had a number of refits, including two extensions. She is now under the care of the Egyptian Navy but seldom sailed in her role as Presidential Yacht.
6. Prince Abdulaziz
6. Prince Abdulaziz
Danish yard Helsingør Værft built Prince Abdulaziz in 1984 for the Saudi royal family. At 482 feet 4 inches, Prince Abdulaziz comes in as the 6th largest luxury yacht in the world and reportedly includes a mosque, movie theater and a fully equipped hospital.
5. Topaz
5. Topaz
Lürssen sure keeps busy building massive superyachts. Just 10 inches longer than Prince Abdulaziz, Topaz comes in at number 5 with a length overall of 483 feet 2 inches.
4. Al Said
4. Al Said
In case you didn’t notice, she has a helipad. And what you can’t see? Accommodations for 65 guests (plus a reported crew of 150), a movie theater and a concert hall for when your favorite orchestra swings by for a visit. Number 4 on the list of world’s largest luxury yachts is Al Saïd, yet another build by Lürssen. Al Saïd measures 508 feet 6 inches and was launched in 2008.
3. Dubai
3. Dubai
Dubai comes in at number three with a length overall of 531 feet 6 inches. Dubai, which has also gone by the names Platinum, Panhandle and Golden Star, got off to a slow start. Originally commissioned in 1996, the yacht was started by a partnership between Blohm + Voss and Lürssen but production was stalled for a number of years. She was finished in 2006 by Platinum Yachts after being bought by the government of Dubai, hence the new name. Among her many water toys, Dubai reportedly carries her own submarine.
2. Eclipse
2. Eclipse
Blohm + Voss build Eclipse held the title of world’s largest luxury yacht from her launch in 2010 until April of 2013. She is 536 feet in length and has a top speed of 22 knots.
1. Azzam
1. Azzam
At an astounding 590 feet 7 inches, Azzam overtook Eclipse as the world’s largest superyacht in April of 2013. With a total horsepower of 94,000, Azzam reportedly hit over 31 knots on her sea trials in the North Sea. The main salon alone is 95 feet long by 59 feet wide, with an open layout and no pillars. Azzam was built by Lürssen Yachts for an estimated 600 million dollars. The owner is believed to be Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates.
