Dubai – the name embodies all things extravagant. It represents the generosity and brilliance that is nothing more than a millstone. Exceptional is not a sufficient word to do justice to this emirate or its namesake sailing in the Persian Gulf. The luxury yacht Dubai, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, was the world’s largest yacht, measuring 532 feet in length, but was eventually replaced by the eclipse of Roman Abramovich and Azam Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Much like the other city attractions, the luxury ship is a city in itself with attractions that will blow the minds of yachting enthusiasts. Listed below is a detailed snapshot of one of the most important ships in the world:
The back story of the amazing mega yacht Dubai:
Who doesn’t love a little drama? Dubai Yacht is a luxurious floating mansion. Given its greatness, the story couldn’t be as easy as the elder’s shipyard. Before it took the form of Dubai’s gorgeous yacht, the ship was called the Panhandle, Platinum, and Golden Star. Interestingly, it was not even assigned to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at first. The Panhandle was commissioned to the shipyard Blohm & Voss, Germany, in 1996 by Prince Jefri Bolkiah, younger brother of the Sultan of Brunei. Work began at full pace in cooperation with Lürssen Yachts (who else?) until the Sultan intervened. To put an end to his brother’s excessive spending habits, he stopped building the Panhandle.
An exposed steel structure and superstructure were left deserted for several years. It was purchased by the Government of Dubai, which assigned the project to Kerem Sadikoglu in Turkey. Five years later, Platinum Yachts acquired the steel hull and 250 jumbo containers full of spare parts, and the magnificent mega yacht Dubai was built. In 2001, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum rides Andrew Winch, an interior designer from Platinum Yachts, to make his $400 million vision a reality.
As delightful as the Dubai superyacht of the same name is, it is over-extended:
“The brief was simple: The owner wanted the floating Burj Al Arab — and he got it,” said Kostis Antonopoulos, former managing director of Platinum Yachts, who oversaw the construction of the yacht in Dubai. The 532-foot mega pot is taller than three football fields and eight stories tall. With a giant ship like this, one cannot ignore the smallest details, such as the flow of traffic and entrances. From side doors to service doors, the mega yacht has ample entrances and exits as well as stairs and three elevators that ensure access to every deck and room without disturbing guests.
The 10m pool with two jacuzzis is a view that includes a waterfall located at the rear of the main deck. The pool area is adorned with eye-catching hand-made mosaics, to match the beauty of the picturesque Arabian Gulf where the ship sails. The $400 million luxury boat also boasts a helipad, while the interiors feature never-before-seen decorative details using gold leaf, marble, onyx, lapis lazuli, and malachite. Needless to say, these expensive and high-quality materials yield impressive results. As for accommodations, Yacht Dubai has a crew area for 115 people.
The guest area includes 50 impressive suites, while the VIP area on the fifth floor houses three suites. The highlight of the ship is undoubtedly the opulent owner’s area, which is accessed via a private elevator, and it completely occupies the two upper decks. The owner’s suite also provides direct access to and from the helipad. The Dubai can reach a speed of 26 kn, and it is powered by four MTU 20V 1163TB93 engines. With huge diesel tanks with a capacity of 1.2 million liters, Dubai can travel 8,500 nautical miles, according to Wikipedia.
Notable Features of the $400 Million Superyacht:
The yacht in Dubai is divided into different areas – crew, guest, private decks for the owner and a social area with several salons, including the traditional “majlis” room. The dining room alone does full justice to the social space by hosting up to 90 guests at a time. Notable features of the super luxury yacht include a disco, squash court and superb security features.
With the VIP owner in mind, security was paramount. Boat International shared, “I asked a computer security company to hack into the yacht’s network. While we thought we had a very secure ship, the guys hacked it in 30 minutes! Of course, we redesigned the security,” said Antonopoulos. The lower decks don’t have a clear GSM signal, so The roofs were torn to add repeats.
About Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, owner of the Dubai yacht:
The current Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates is a picture of extravagance and sheer luxury. From owning dozens of luxury mansions, a fleet of private jets, and this $400 million luxury yacht, the billionaire generates most of his income from real estate. According to a 2021 analysis by The Guardian and Transparency International, Sheikh Mohammed is one of the largest landowners in the UK, owning more than 100,000 acres.
Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein
The absolute ruler of Dubai has a deep love for horses and owns 400 of them. Royal vacations that don’t spare spaces are a normal part of life, and the family once donated $850,000 on a summer vacation in Italy. The hotel bill for their vacation in Greece was $31,000, and the world continues to rave about the incredible $3 million spent on strawberries in just one summer. Sheikh Mohammed is believed to have $14 billion in assets. In addition to the Dubai yacht, Sheikh Mohammed also owns another personal boat of 130 feet.
