world's third largest yacht

The global authority in superyachting

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

The top 25 largest yachts in the world

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

1. Azzam | 180.6m

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

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

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

More about this yacht

More stories, 2. eclipse | 162.5m.

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

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

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

3. Dubai | 162m

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

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

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

4. Blue | 158m

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

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

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

5. Dilbar | 156m

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

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

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

6. Al Said | 155m

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

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

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

7. El Mahrousa | 150.6m

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

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

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

8. A+ | 147.3m

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

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

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

9. Prince Abdulaziz | 147m

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

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

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

10. Opera | 146.4m

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

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

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

11. OK | 146m

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

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

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

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

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

12. Sailing Yacht A | 142.8m

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

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

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

13. Nord | 142m

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

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

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

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

14. Yas | 141m

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

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

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

15. Ocean Victory | 140m

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

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

• Builder: Fincantieri
• Country of build: Italy
• Delivery year: 2014
• Length Overall: 140 m
• Gross Tonnage 8506 t

16. Scheherazade | 140m

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

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

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

17. Solaris | 140M

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

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

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

18. Al Salamah | 139.3m

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

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

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

19. Luminance | 138.8m

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

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

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

20. Rising Sun | 138m

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

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

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

21. Flying Fox | 136m

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

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

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

22. Savarona | 135.9m

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

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

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

23. Crescent | 135.5m

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

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

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

24. Serene | 133.9m

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

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

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

25. Al Mirqab | 133m

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

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

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

Sponsored listings

• Nautic Shows
• America’s Cup
• Classic Yachts
• Motor Yachts
• Sailing Yachts
• Superyachts
• Yachts News
• Destinations
• Yacht Clubs
• Boat Racing
• Meta Yachts

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.

• superyachts

RELATED ARTICLES

Rossinavi launches m/y bel1, making waves with king benji – the 47m superyacht designed for adventures, tankoa’s 230-ft milano superyacht concept: where italian elegance meets sustainability, rossinavi’s no limits brand achieves record sales: first yacht sold just two weeks after announcement, the 24th edition of benetti yachtmaster explores lifestyle and the central role of the captain.

Subscribe to our newsletter

To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.

LATEST ARTICLES

Riccardo tosetto fourth in the global solo challenge, palmavela reaches 150 entries, unleashing potential: emirates team new zealand’s two-boat training session, nyyc american magic’s intensive training session amidst barcelona’s spring blues, editor picks, canadian beau lake introduces the tahoe ’14 and lugano ’14 electric runabouts, underwater adventure and exploration with deepflight’s super falcon 3s, driving performance on land and on water: 41′ amg carbon edition, popular posts, young designer of the year 2022: ioana valentina corcodel reveals 65m ophelia concept, mirabaud sailing video of the century: celebrating 2 decades of passion, superyacht the flying fox seized in the dominican republic, popular category.

• Regatta 811
• America's Cup 386
• Motor Yachts 263
• Boating 215
• Superyachts 183
• Sailing 178
• Yachts News 174
• Sailing Yachts 162

• Eclipse, the third biggest superyacht in the world

Eclipse Yacht

Eclipse yacht features, eclipse yacht price, eclipse yacht owner, eclipse yacht length, eclipse yacht details, eclipse yacht history, who owns the yacht eclipse, how much does the yacht eclipse cost, can you charter eclipse yacht, who is roman abramovich, what yachts does roman abramovich own, about m/y eclipse, how many meters is the eclipse yacht, abramovich yachts, le grand blue.

Designer Terry Disdale tells us about four and a half years of the world's third largest superyacht with a length of 162.5 meters and nine decks.

Largest yacht in the world

Largest yachts in the world

New records are regularly set for the size of luxury yachts. The ships built by the German shipyard are among the largest superyachts . Abys Yachting gives you an overview of the largest private yachts in the world.

First place: the yacht Azzam

The longest yacht in the world is the "Azzam " . The ship from the German shipyard Lürssen is 180 meters long. After three years of construction, Azam could be launched in 2013. According to estimates, the yacht costs about 605 million dollars. That is equivalent to 522 million euros.

2 : Fulk Al Salamah

The Fulk Al Salamah is a private mega-yacht. With a length of 164 meters, it was built in 2016 by the shipyard "Mariott Yacht" in Genoa. The owner is the Sultanate of Oman. In addition to toys, an on-board helicopter, swimming pools and sports facilities, the ship also has a concert hall and houses many pieces of pomp and circumstance from the car collection of the ruling family. According to estimates, the yacht costs about 500 million dollars. That's the equivalent of 430 million euros.

The second longest yacht in the world is the Fulk Al Salamah.

3: the Eclipse yacht

The third largest yacht in the world is the Eclipse. It belongs to the Russian billionaire Roman Abramowitsch. Among other things, the yacht has two swimming pools, one of which can be turned into a dance floor, and three helicopter pads. The 162.5-meter-long mega-yacht was built by the Hamburg shipyard Blohm+Voss and completed in 2010. According to estimates, the yacht cost about $400 million, or the equivalent of 345 million euros.

The third longest yacht in the world is the Eclipse.

4: the Dubai yacht

The third place is occupied by the superyacht Dubai. This 162-meter long boat was built by the Blohm+Voss and Lürssen shipyards. It belongs to the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, Sheikh Muhammad bin Raschid Al Maktum. The equipment includes a helipad, a dining room, a swimming pool, a cinema, a submarine and a discotheque. According to estimates, the yacht costs about 377 million dollars. This is the equivalent of 325 million euros.

The fourth place in the ranking of the longest yachts in the world is occupied by the Dubai.

The Dilbar was built between 2015 and 2016 at the Lürssen shipyard in Bremen and, with a length of 156 meters, is one of the largest mega-yachts in the world. The owner of this seven-deck is the Russian entrepreneur Alischer Burchanowitsch Usmanow. On board is one of the largest swimming pools ever installed on a private yacht, with a length of 14 meters. According to estimates, the yacht costs about 594 million dollars. That is the equivalent of 512 million euros.

The fifth place of the longest yachts in the world is occupied by the Dilbar.

6 : Al Sai   d

The eighth place goes again to the German shipyard Lürssen. The Al Said is 155 meters long and is part of the royal fleet of the Sultanate of Oman as a state yacht. In addition to a helipad, the yacht is to have a concert hall for a 50-piece orchestra, a cinema and a sauna area. According to estimates, the yacht costs about 600 million dollars. This is equivalent to 518 million euros.

The sixth place in the ranking of the longest yachts in the world is occupied by the Al Said.

7 : theTopaz yacht

The world's next yacht was also built by Lürssen - in 2012. "Topaz" is 147 meters long. Its owner is Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates. Details about the interior of the yacht are kept strictly secret. According to estimates, the yacht costs about 527 million dollars, or 455 million euros.

The Topaz is ranked seventh in the world's longest yachts.

8 : Prince Abdulaziz

This 147 meter yacht was built in 1984 as the last ship of Helsingør Værft in Denmark. For more than 20 years, it was the longest private yacht in the world. Her first owner was the Saudi Arabian King Fahd ibn Abd al-Aziz. Currently, it is owned by Pelagos Limited. According to estimates, the yacht costs about 100 million dollars. That is the equivalent of 86 million euros.

Prince Abdulaziz occupies the 8th place in the ranking of the longest yachts in the world.

9 : El Mahrousa

"El Mahrousa" was completed by the London shipyard Samuda Brothers according to the plans of Sir Oliver Lang in 1865. It is thus the oldest yacht in the world. The ship served as a royal yacht until 1952 and was placed under the responsibility of the Egyptian Navy after the establishment of the Republic of Egypt. Today, it is the presidential yacht of Egypt. Her cost is kept strictly secret.

The 9th place of the longest yachts in the world is occupied by the El Mahrousa.

SY A is a sailing yacht owned by Russian billionaire and oligarch Andrei Melnitschenko. With a length of almost 143 meters, it is the largest sailing ship in the world. According to estimates, the yacht costs about 464 million dollars, equivalent to 400 million euros.

Trouvons ensemble votre yacht !

Nos experts yachting vous accompagnent pour trouver le bien correspondant à vos attentes.

Exclusive distributor

Receive the newsletter

[email protected] | +1-305-857-8939

• Yacht Search
• World’s 100 Largest
• World’s 100 Largest

Top 20 Largest Yachts in the World 2024

• Top 20 Largest Yachts in…

Miami is a popular destination for yacht enthusiasts and those looking for a luxurious maritime experience. Known for its elegance and extravagance, Miami is the epitome of high-end sailing. As we step into 2024, the world of yachting unveils its most colossal gems—showcasing vessels that redefine luxury and scale. If you’re in the market for the grandest statement on the high seas or merely an enthusiast yearning to get a glimpse into the world of extravagance, this list is tailored for you. Join us as we navigate the azure expanses and reveal the biggest yachts in the world in 2024.

10 Largest Yachts Around the Globe

1. azzam – 179.70 meters.

Topping the charts and reigning supreme as the longest yacht on our list is the majestic AZZAM. Stretching an astonishing 179.70 meters, this vessel is not merely a yacht. It’s a floating palace. Commissioned by the royal family of Abu Dhabi, AZZAM is a testament to the fusion of engineering marvel and opulent design. With a top speed of over 30 knots, this superyacht is not just about luxury—it’s about making a grand entrance.

2. FULK AL SALAMAH– 164.0 METERS

The second biggest yacht in the world in 2024 is FULK AL SALAMAH, a vessel that epitomizes sophistication. At 164 meters, this yacht is a private haven for its owner, offering a retreat into the lap of luxury. While only a little is known about the interiors, the exterior design is a spectacle. FULK AL SALAMAH is a beacon of refined taste for those who appreciate exclusivity and allure.

3. ECLIPSE – 162.5 METERS

ECLIPSE, the third on our list, is not just a yacht. It’s a floating fortress. Measuring an impressive 162.5 meters, this vessel boasts features that redefine extravagance. Owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, ECLIPSE has a missile detection system, bulletproof windows, and a stunningly lavish interior. For those who seek security without compromising on luxury, ECLIPSE stands tall as a symbol of opulent refuge.

4. DUBAI – 162 METERS

Named after its home city, the DUBAI yacht is a marvel of design and engineering. At 162 meters, it offers an array of amenities that redefine what it means to live on the water. DUBAI is a floating paradise with its lavish interiors, helipad, and swimming pool that seems to stretch into the horizon. Whether cruising through the Mediterranean or anchored off the coast of Miami, this 4th biggest yacht in the world in 2024 is a symbol of elegance and sophistication.

5. BLUE – 160 METERS

Sailing into the fifth spot is the appropriately named BLUE. At 160 meters, this yacht is a canvas of azure luxury. Owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the deputy prime minister of the UAE, BLUE is a statement of refined taste and unparalleled elegance. Its sleek design and state-of-the-art features capture the essence of modern yachting at its finest.

6. DILBAR – 156 METERS

DILBAR, the sixth on our list, is a floating masterpiece that spans 156 meters. Owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, this yacht is a marvel of engineering, featuring one of the largest swimming pools ever installed on a superyacht. With its striking exterior and opulent interiors designed by Andrew Winch, DILBAR is a beacon of luxury and a testament to the limitless possibilities of maritime indulgence.

7. AL SAID – 155 METERS

AL SAID, at 155 meters, is a symphony of design and functionality. Commissioned by Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman, this yacht is a floating palace that exudes regality. Its majestic exterior is complemented by a lavish interior that reflects the owner’s commitment to the finer things in life. For those seeking a yacht that seamlessly combines luxury with cultural richness, AL SAID embodies Arabian opulence.

8. A+ (FORMERLY TOPAZ) – 147.25 METERS

Formerly known as TOPAZ, A+ secures the eighth position as the biggest yacht in the world in 2024 at 147.25 meters. This vessel is a tribute to contemporary design, featuring a sleek exterior that turns heads wherever it goes. A+ offers many amenities, including a cinema, a swimming pool, and a helipad, making it an ideal choice for those who desire a perfect blend of style and substance.

9. PRINCE ABDULAZIZ – 147 METERS

PRINCE ABDULAZIZ, at 147 meters, is a testament to timeless elegance. Commissioned by the royal family of Saudi Arabia, this yacht has been a symbol of luxury since its launch in 1984. With its classic design and opulent interiors, PRINCE ABDULAZIZ is a nod to the traditional values of yachting, making it an ideal choice for those who appreciate the grace of a bygone era.

10. OPERA – 146.4 METERS

Closing our list is the enchanting OPERA, measuring 146.4 meters. This yacht is a masterpiece of design, featuring an exterior that reflects a harmonious blend of modernity and classic elegance. Owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, OPERA offers a sanctuary at sea with its luxurious interiors and cutting-edge amenities. For those who seek a yacht that transcends trends and stands as a timeless symbol of maritime luxury, OPERA is a captivating choice.

Top 10 Biggest Yachts In The World Under Construction

1. rev ocean | 194.4m.

The colossal REV Ocean, a maritime titan stretching an impressive 194.4 meters, is topping our list. Set to be the world’s largest yacht upon completion, REV Ocean is not merely a vessel; it’s a floating testament to environmental consciousness. Designed to accommodate scientific research and exploration, this yacht is a beacon for those who appreciate luxury intertwined with a commitment to ocean preservation. The future owner of REV Ocean will command the seas and contribute to the greater good.

2. Luminance | 145m

Luminance, the second on our list, is a symphony of elegance and innovation. Anticipated to measure 145 meters upon completion, this yacht is designed by the renowned Italian studio Zuccon International Project. It is set to offer a unique blend of contemporary design and cutting-edge technology. For those seeking a yacht that seamlessly marries style with functionality, Luminance promises to be a radiant choice.

3. Project Ali Baba | 142m

With its intriguing name and awe-inspiring dimensions of 142 meters, Project Ali Baba will secure the third spot among the biggest yachts in the world in 2024. Little is known about this project’s details, adding an air of mystery and anticipation. We know that Project Ali Baba is poised to redefine luxury on the high seas, offering its owner an exclusive retreat into the lap of maritime opulence.

4. Project Deep Blue | 130m

As we delve deeper into the future of yachting, Project Deep Blue emerges as the fourth on our list, boasting an impressive length of 130 meters. This project is a collaboration between the iconic design firm Nuvolari Lenard and Oceanco, a name synonymous with superyacht excellence. With its sleek lines and expansive deck spaces, Project Deep Blue promises to be a vessel that turns heads and sets new standards for sophistication.

5. Amels 120 Full Custom | 120m

The fifth position is claimed by the Amels 120 Full Custom, a project that combines the renowned craftsmanship of Amels with the allure of a fully customized experience. Anticipated to measure 120 meters upon completion, this yacht offers potential buyers the opportunity to tailor every aspect of their maritime haven. For those seeking a yacht as unique as their aspirations, the Amels 120 Full Custom is a canvas awaiting personalization.

6. Abeking 6514 | 120m

Sailing into the sixth spot is the Abeking 6514, a vessel that exemplifies the German shipbuilding excellence of Abeking & Rasmussen. At 120 meters, this yacht is a testament to precision engineering and timeless design. With its expansive deck spaces and luxurious interiors, the Abeking 6514 promises an unparalleled yachting experience for those who appreciate the marriage of German craftsmanship and maritime splendor.

7. Feadship 821 | 118.8m

Feadship, synonymous with uncompromising quality, secures the seventh spot as the biggest yacht in the world in 2024 with the Feadship 821. Measuring 118.8 meters, this project is a collaboration between Feadship and the esteemed design firm Studio De Voogt. The Feadship 821 is set to redefine the boundaries of yachting, offering a harmonious blend of sophistication and functionality. For those who demand nothing but the best, Feadship delivers an experience that transcends the ordinary.

8. Oceanco Y722 | 111m

The eighth position on our list is claimed by Oceanco Y722, a project that encapsulates the Dutch shipyard’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of yacht design. Anticipated to measure 111 meters, this vessel is a canvas for visionary owners seeking a yacht that marries innovation with luxury. Oceanco Y722 promises an unforgettable journey into opulence and maritime excellence.

9. Freire NB729 | 105m

Freire NB729, the ninth on our list, is a project that emanates the spirit of Spanish shipbuilding prowess. At 105 meters, this yacht showcases Freire’s dedication to precision and craftsmanship. With its striking exterior and thoughtfully designed interiors, Freire NB729 promises to be a vessel that commands attention on the seas. For those seeking a yacht born of European expertise, this project embodies maritime artistry.

10. Feadship 824 | 98m

Closing our list is the Feadship 824, a project that signifies the relentless pursuit of perfection by Feadship. At 98 meters, this vessel may be the smallest on our list, but it certainly doesn’t compromise on luxury. Designed in collaboration with Redman Whiteley Dixon, Feadship 824 promises to be a testament to the Dutch shipyard’s commitment to craftsmanship and elegance. For those who appreciate a yacht that marries understated luxury with precision design, Feadship 824 is a captivating choice.

Explore Our Biggest Yachts for Sale in Miami

Explore our collection of the world’s largest yachts for sale in Miami and experience the ultimate in nautical luxury. Our selection of vessels boasts state-of-the-art technology, lavish interiors, and top-of-the-line amenities to ensure a comfortable and extravagant journey on the high seas.

Some of our best-selling yacht brands are:

• Bertram Yachts for Sale
• Ferretti Yachts for Sale
• Riva Yachts for Sale
• Westport Yachts for Sale
• Pershing Yachts for Sale
• CRN Yachts for Sale
• Feadship Yachts for Sale
• Sunseeker Yachts for Sale
• Hatteras Yachts for Sale
• Viking Yachts for Sales
• Azimut Yachts for Sale

Whether you’re an avid yacht enthusiast or a discerning buyer, don’t miss this opportunity to cruise on the azure waters of Miami or beyond in a stunning vessel that will turn heads. Our biggest yachts for sale invite you to discover a world where every journey celebrates the extraordinary. Click now to explore our collection and make your maritime dreams a reality. Contact us at +1-305-857-8939 or drop us an email at [email protected] to learn more.

Inquire Now

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

The 10 Largest Yachts in the World

There are a couple of yachts that can actually claim the title of biggest yacht in the world because the term yacht is a bit vague. There are sailing yachts and motor yachts and it’s not really fair to judge them under the same terms which means the Sea Cloud ranks as the biggest sailing yacht in the world while the Azzam ranks as the biggest motor yacht. 

The Biggest Yacht in the World

Built back in 2013, the Azzam still holds the record as the largest motor yacht in the world with an overall length of 180.61 meters. That’s over 592 feet in total which is absolutely enormous. But there are a number of yachts that also nearly reach the same length. The title of world’s biggest yacht changes more often than you’d think as new yachts are built, so let’s take a look at the current top 10 to get an idea of just what goes into making a true superyacht. 

We’ll divide the list in two to cover motor yachts and sailing yachts since both are out there.

The Biggest Motor Yacht in the World

These are the top ten biggest yachts that run under power rather than wind and sails. These largest yachts can usually handle dozens of passengers and feature things like a large swimming pool, dual helipads, a beach club, underwater observation room, and more.

10. El Mahrousa – 145 meters

Kicking things off is the El Mahrousa which is so much older than the rest of the boats on this list you might think the age is a typo, but it’s not. This vessel was first launched all the way back in 1865. This was commissioned as the royal yacht for Egypt and, as you can imagine, it’s had to undergo some dramatic changes over the years to keep up with the times. For instance, it actually had a paddle wheel on it back in the day but obviously that has since been replaced. In fact, it was all the way back in 1905 when it was refitted with turbine engines. By 1919 it had a diesel fuel system.

Interestingly enough, during the vessel’s long life, it was used to take three different Egyptian rulers into exile, sailing them abroad in style. 

The El Mahrousa has a beam of just 13 meters making it the narrowest of the super yachts by a wide margin. Its current length of 145 meters was not how it started life either, as it was lengthened first in the 1800s by about 12 meters and then again in 1905 by another 5 meters.

As you might expect, given its size, the El Mahrousa was the longest yacht in the world for an incredibly long time. It held the title for over 100 years and it’s doubtful that any yacht will ever pull that feat off again.  

9. A+ – 147 meters

Once upon a time this yacht was called the Topaz but the name changed to the much briefer and somewhat harder to Google “A+.” With a gross tonnage of 12,532 and a beam of 21.5 meters, it can also reach a top speed of 25.5 knots thanks to twin Pielstick diesel engines.

The yacht was launched in 2012 but despite that long history a lot of the details about the interior are still pretty private. We do know that actor Leonardo DiCaprio likes it because he’s chartered it more than once. It also features dual helicopter landing pads, deck jacuzzis, a movie theater, a swimming pool, dance floor and a gym among a handful of other features.

There is room on board for a total of 62 guests and also a crew of 79 people. 

8. Prince Abdulaziz – 147 meters

This yacht goes all the way back to 1984 so it’s quite a bit more classical and old school than most of the other entries, but it does retain its place in yachting history. For an impressive 22 years,this was both the longest and the tallest yacht in the world. It was overtaken by the Dubai in the year 2006 and, since then, several more that we’ll see shortly have surpassed even that.

The beam of the Prince Abdulaziz is a relatively narrow 18.3 meters and a grosse tonnage of an almost unbelievable 4,620. Obviously that’s still a lot of weight but when you compare it to other yachts of this length it’s barely a third in some cases. They made them light back in the 1980s.

Maximum speed is 22 knots provided by two 5,816 kW Pielstick diesel generator sets. It’s designed for a crew of at least 60 with room for 64 guests as well. To keep up with the times the vessel has gone through three significant refits in 1987, 1996 and 2005.

Word is that the vessel was designed with a lobby intended to mimic the one on the Titanic which seems maybe unlucky, but who knows? There’s also a hospital on board, a movie theater, a mosque, underwater surveillance and possibly one of those missile defense systems that yachts sometimes have since this was once the yacht of the Saudi King. 

7. Al Said – 155 meters

Once part of an entire squadron of royal yachts from the country of Oman, the Al Said has a gross tonnage of 15,850 and a beam of 24 meters, making it one of the widest of the yachts here. The crew capacity is a stunning 150 (though some reports say 174) and there is room for an additional 70 guests making this a real hotel on the water. Compared to other yachts, even some of the much larger ones, the Al Said may take the crown for the greatest number of passengers and crew it can hold. Of course that arguably just means everyone has less space than they do on the larger yachts that hold less people.

Maximum speed is 25.2 knots provided by nearly 22,000 diesel horsepower from two MTU marine engines. 

In 2022 the yacht was sold to Qatar and it’s said that the true standout of this yacht compared to its companions is that it features an actual orchestra space. There is a concert hall built for an entire 50-piece symphony on board, alongside the other amenities you’d expect from a boat of this stature like a movie theater and swimming pool and so on. 

6. Dilbar – 156 meters

The Dilbar was launched back in 2015 and boasts a 23.5 meter beam, making it somewhat wider than other yachts of a similar size, as well as a grosse tonnage of 15,917. That makes the Dilbar substantially heavier than most of these yachts as well, including the longer ones. 

Although we have ranked the Dilbar at 6 here, we’re going strictly by overall length. If you are looking at something like weight, the Dilbar was actually the biggest yacht in the world since was heavier than all the others until the Fulk Al Salamah. So where does all the weight come from?

To start with,the Dilbar has the largest swimming pool ever installed in a yacht. It’s 25 meters long. That’s half the length of an Olympic swimming pool. In terms of volume, it’s listed as 180 m cubed of water which works out to around 47,500 gallons in total. That’s adding substantial weight to any vessel.

The yacht doesn’t just have helipads, it has its own custom 7-passenger helicopter as well.The yacht is built to accommodate 40 passengers and over 80 crew. It can reach a maximum speed of 22.5 knots with its diesel-electric engines.

5. Blue – 160 meters

The newest yacht on the list, Blue was delivered in 2022 and built in Germany. With a grosse tonnage of 14,785 she’s a hefty ship but the four diesel electric engines she’s equipped with are up to the task though the top speed is just 20 knots which is less than some of the similarly sized vessels. The beam of the Blue is 22.5 meters. 

While it features many of the snazzy yacht amenities you’d expect, like a helipad for instance, it also has a cutting edge water treatment facility that is able to treat wastewater and convert it to drinking water quality, at least according to the manufacturer. 

It has been guessed but not confirmed that Blue has 24 guest cabins to accomodate 48 passengers at one time. In addition it runs with a crew of 80. This is speculation right now as the specs seem to still be under wraps.

Currently Blue sails under the Cayman Islands flag and is fairly active unlike some other large yachts which seem to do little actual sailing these days. 

4. Dubai – 162 meters

Made by Platinum Yachts, the Dubai was originally commissioned by the prince of Brunei. Part way through its development the prince backed out of the deal and the government of Dubai took over, finishing the vessel as a sort of flagship, literally, for the city.

It serves as a royal yacht for a Sheik and was the largest yacht in the world from the time it was finished in 2006 until the year 2009 when it was surpassed.

The yacht features a 10 m swimming pool, a dining room capable of seating 90, several VIP suites and accommodations for 115 including the crew and staff. It’s also manned by a crew of about 88 people. There are also a pair of 10 meter motor boats attached, a squash court, a movie theater, a disco, 24 water bikes, and a submarine.

There are two tender garages and while most yachts would store all the extra boating and fishing type gear in there, the Dubai also has two “water toy” rooms as well where they keep things like jet skis, just to keep business and pleasure separate, it seems. 

The Dubai has a beam of 22 meters and a grosse tonnage of 13,470. The top speed is 26 knots, making it one of the faster of these megayachts, and that’s thanks to the MTU-20V diesel engines. It can travel an impressive 8,500 nautical miles without fueling up, owing to a 1.2 million liter diesel fuel tank. 

3. Eclipse – 162 meters

The Eclipse is the third largest yacht in the world but it also takes the crown for being the most expensive yacht as well. You might have heard that a yacht called the History Supreme held that title but we explain why that’s not so in our article on the most expensive yachts in the world. The true honor is held by the 162 meter, $1.5 billion Eclipse, at least for now.

The registered value of the Eclipse was $438 million but it’s been rumored that extensive upgrades boosted the price up to $1.5 billion. The features of the vessel include helipads and a 16 meter swimming pool that can be covered and turned into a dance floor. It also has anti-paparazzi technology that makes it impossible to take digital photos, bullet proof glass and a missile defense system. 

In addition, the yacht has two helipads plus room to store a third in a storage hangar. There’s also room for a mini sub down there. There are 18 guest cabins and room for about 100 crew members on board as well. 

The Eclipse has a grosse tonnage of 13,000 and features a 22 meter beam. It features 4 diesel electric engines and can reach a top speed of 22 knots. 

2. Fulk al Salamah – 164 meters

Built in 2016, the Fulk al Salamah yacht is a royal support vessel for Oman. It serves in a sort of diplomatic capacity, traveling to other countries to foster relationships and, as such, it contains a lot of Omani art and photos as part of an on board museum.

The vessel runs on diesel electric engines and can reach a top speed of 16 knots with a cruising speed of 12 knots. The gross tonnage is 20,361 which is remarkably large compared to some of these similar vessels. In fact, as near as I can tell, this is the heaviest yacht in the world right now. The Dilbar is often quoted as being the heaviest, but it was made a year earlier and has a much lower GT than this vessel. 

The full length is 538’1” and the beam is 24 m or 78’9”. It can house a crew of 100 with room for up to 40 guests.  One thing worth noting is that sometimes this is not considered a proper superyacht in that it does seem to be more of a functional or support vessel than any kind of pleasure boat. For instance, if you look at photos you won’t see a lot of the cool amenities out on deck like jacuzzis and a pool or anything like that. 

1. Azzam – 180 meters

The most massive yacht in the world is the Azzam. The original plans did not have it as large as it currently is and, had it followed them, it barely would have made our list by coming in at 145 meters. However, during the design process the length was increased in order to optimize the build and everything that needed to be included. The goal, according to the designer, was never to have the largest yacht, just the best one, and the length became incidental. 

Extra space needed to be added for the engines as well as the fuel system and some other features, which tacked on nearly 40 more meters in total, or about 120 feet. That’s a considerable addition at the end of the day. 

The beam is just under 21 meters and the grosse tonnage is 13,136. It can also hit a top speed of 32-33 knots, impressive for a vessel of its size, thanks to two gas and two diesel turbines. At top speed it runs at 97,000hp and consumes 13 tonnes of fuel per hour. The vessel also has conventional diesel engines on board for long voyages. The speed drops down to 21 knots but it could cross the Atlantic without the need to refuel during the voyage. 

The cost of building the Azzam is believed to be north of $500 million. It also took four years to bring it to life with a team of over 4,000 people working on it. On the finished vessel there’s room for over 100, with as many as 80 crewmembers and 36 guests.

The Largest Sailing Yachts in the World

There are actually three yachts that can claim to be the largest sailing yacht so we’ll cover them all here as well. A sail boat this large has to be built to different standards than a motor yacht and they tend to not be pushed to the same length limits by any means. These are big boats, but they’re not up to the level of the largest motor yachts.

3. The Sea Cloud – 109.5 meters

At just shy of 110 meters the Sea Cloud could qualify as the largest sailing yacht in the world depending both on when you read this and how you define sailing yacht. Sound complicated? It is, unfortunately. 

The Sea Cloud was built in Germany back in 1931, so it’s held the title of the biggest sailing yacht for the better part of a century. It saw use during WWII and then made its way to the Dominican Republic before going back to Germany years later for a rebuild. It also underwent a handful of name changes in that time. These days it boasts a crew of 60 with room for 32 guests. 

Weirdly, this is just “technically’” the largest sailing yacht in the world because of the following two entries.

2. Project Y721 – 127 meters

At 127 meters, the Oceanco Y721 should handily beat the Sea Cloud for the title of largest sailing yacht but it can’t just yet. The project is still in development and since the yacht has yet to be finished and hit the water, we can’t technically say it’s the biggest. 

This is the yacht being built for billionaire founder of Amazon Jeff Bezos. The plans are for a 417 foot long, three-masted yacht that costs around $500 million. That will make it not just one of the biggest sailing yachts but the biggest and most expensive yachts.

Despite not even existing yet, the yacht caused controversy during its construction when plans to remove part of the Def Hef bridge in Rotterdam to allow the yacht through surfaced. As a historical landmark, many people were against the idea of taking it apart just to allow a billionaire’s yacht to pass through. The result was that the mayor of Rotterdam announced to one had even asked permission to take the bridge apart and there was no permit issued. 

Instead, the masts and the yacht traveled separately to their destination to finish the build and the bridge didn’t need to be dismantled as a result. Currently the size of the masts is unknown as much of the build is subject to confidentiality agreements. 

1. Sailing Yacht A – 142.8 meters

It doesn’t have the most creative name in the world but Sailing Yacht A is also a potential contender for the biggest sailing yacht in the world. Again, this one has an asterisk next to it because the A has caused controversy amongst sailing purists. It’s technically a sailing motor yacht, which means it also can run under engine power when needed. To some, that disqualifies it as a sailing yacht entirely, so we’ll leave it to you to decide if this is the biggest sailing yacht in the world or not.

In any event, it has 100-foot tall carbon fiber masts for when it does use the wind, which cut an impressive form on the water. In 2022 it was seized by Italian authorities since the yacht is owned by a Russian billionaire and many of their assets around the world have been taken into custody. It’s unknown when it will sail again or under whose ownership.

The Bottom Line

The Azzam is the current record holder for the largest yacht in the world in terms of length. The Sailing Yacht A is the largest sailing yacht though it does have engines that allow it to sail under engine power when necessary and that disqualifies it in some people’s minds. Finally, in terms of heaviest, the Fulk al Salamah would qualify as the largest yacht based on weight, as it is far heavier than even the Azzam.

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

Categories : Yachts

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

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

More in Yachts

Lonian Yacht: An Insider's Guide

A Closer Look at the Madsummer Yacht

Your Insider’s Look at Steve Jobs’ Yacht Venus

Your Insider’s Guide to the Aviva Yacht

The People’s Poncho Review and Ratings 

Oru Lake Kayak Review

What Is A Gunwale?

131 of the Best Hawaiian Boat Names

167 Patriotic Boat Names

About boatsafe.

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

Contact Boatsafe

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

Site Navigation

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

Our Reviews

All content is © Copyright 2024. All rights reserved.

The Stunning Ritz Carlton EVRIMA Yacht

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

CROCUS Yacht: An 48 Meter Beauty by Admiral

PHI Yacht – Royal Huisman’s $45 Million Superyacht

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

• Superyachts

DUBAI Yacht – World’s Third Biggest $500M Superyacht

The DUBAI yacht is one of the biggest yachts in the world .

The 162-meter vessel was built by Blohm + Voss in Germany and delivered to her owner the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, in 2006.

DUBAI yacht interior

Since DUBAI took nearly ten years to complete her interior was replanned several times.

Andrew Winch is thought to have influenced the design and the renowned studio Platinum Yachts also worked on DUBAI.

The interior of this gigantic vessel is just as you might expect it.

Luxurious furniture, opulent design, and extravagant features complement the beautiful exterior of DUBAI.

The interior is decorated in bright colors with a great variety of entertainment spaces and salons.

The glass staircase is a central focal point within the yacht and is reminiscent of a cruise ship.

DUBAI can welcome 48 guests in 24 luxurious cabins as well as a sizable crew of 88 members.

There is a nightclub, a spa, a beauty salon, a cinema, and a gym on board DUBAI.

Many rooms are decorated with mosaics or tapestries and only the finest and most expensive fabrics.

Specifications

DUBAI has a length of 162 meters (531.6 ft) making her the fourth largest yacht in the world.

She has a 22-meter (72.2 ft) beam, a 5-meter (16.5 ft) draft, and a total weight of 12,488 tons.

Her four diesel MTU engines allow her to reach top speeds of 25 knots with an average cruising speed of 20 knots.

Her 1,250,000 liter fuel tanks bring her total reach to an impressive 8,500 nautical miles. 

The exterior of the DUBAI yacht was developed by the well-known English yacht designer Andrew Winch.

His international design studio took special care with this project, and it is one of their largest to date.

The DUBAI yacht is an all-white yacht with a massive aluminum superstructure and steel hull.

She has a helipad and a beautiful mosaic swimming pool located aft.

Of course, there is plenty of space reserved for sunbathing on one of the vessel’s seven decks.

Two 10-meter tenders find space on board DUBAI as well as a large selection of water toys.

DUBAI yacht price

The sheikh purchased DUBAI for a price of US $500 million in 2006, which makes her one of the more expensive superyachts in her size category.

She generates an estimated US $35 to 50 million in annual running costs.

Do you have anything to add to this listing?

• Platinum Yachts
• Ruler of Dubai

Love Yachts? Join us.

Related posts.

ZEUS Yacht – Harmonious $50M Superyacht

CONSTANCE Yacht – Captivating $50M Superyacht

DUSUR Yacht – Stunning 52 Meter Superyacht

ROCKET Yacht – Epic $10 Million Superyacht

Find anything, super fast.

• Destinations
• Documentaries

The Largest Superyachts Launched So Far in 2023

By Frances Flannagan

In the lead up to the yacht show season, it is only fitting to take a look at the largest, most impressive launches of 2023 so far. From complex refits, to technically advanced, future-proof new builds, we take a look at the five largest launches of the year so far, according to Superyachts.com's Top 100 list of the largest yachts in the world.

145m - LUMINANCE

Builder: Lürssen

A highly anticipated project, LUMINANCE was launched in February this year; Lürssen’s eighth largest build and ranking as the 12th largest yacht in the world. Her details were kept tightly under wraps, contributing to her alluring nature, but it has been revealed that the exterior design is the work of Espen Øino , marking the thirtieth collaboration between the designer and shipyard. She is said to have an internal volume of 9,000 GT and a beam of 20 metres, whilst sporting a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. 

According to Superyachts.com's Top 100 list, LUMINANCE ranks at 12th largest yacht in the world. 

114m - Project Cosmos 

In March, Lürssen’s 114.2m Project Cosmos was technically launched. Otherwise known as Project 13759, this is the first time that she was seen. Like LUMINANCE, very little has been revealed about her details, aside from her having an interior volume of around 6300GT, a beam of 18m, and a steel hull and an aluminium superstructure. Project Cosmos is the first Lürssen superyacht to feature new fuel cell technology, significantly reducing emissions by avoiding greenhouse gases. 

From her technical launch, we can see that Project Cosmos has a large aft deck and swimming pool, as well as a cut-out that we can presume will house a tender. She is a highly impressive build, ranking as the 44th largest yacht in the world according to our Top 100 listings. 

105m - 1050H

Builder: Oceanco

On the 10th of January 2023, one of the industry’s most closely-kept secrets was brought to light as Oceanco’s Project 1050H was launched. Neither a newbuild, refit, or conversion, this has been a fundamental rebuild of unprecedented scale, completely transforming a heritage superyacht.

Project 1050H is the first vessel that has been recreated to such an extent that no single element remains the same. This launch set the benchmark of future innovation in the industry: a future-proof vessel that is a testament to Oceanco’s desire to perfect even the most complex builds. She has a modern exterior aesthetic, with a completely new superstructure, with a fresh interior designed by Reymond Langton Design. 

As well as being impressive aesthetically, her performance, technology and sustainable nature are all elements to be equally marvelled at. She is fully compliant with rigorous IMO Tier III standards alongside upgraded technological capabilities. 

The launch of 1050H was certainly a celebrated start to 2023, whilst also ranking 63rd on our Top 100 list. 

90m - Project 1601

Soon after LUMINANCE emerged from Lürssen’s Bremen facility, 90m Project 1601 was launched. Like LUMINANCE, her construction was kept very secretive, but her emergence  from the shipyard revealed a unique exterior profile, with prominent lines and a striking reverse bow design.

Espen Øeino is responsible for the exterior design, alongside the in-house team at Lürssen overseeing the naval architecture. Dölker & Voges Design have crafted the interior spaces, which are yet to be revealed. 

84m - Project 710

Builder: Feadship

On the 20th April, Feadship’s 80m Project 710 was launched. She has earnt the honour of being one of Feadship’s most technically advanced and dynamic designs, so her launch sparked nothing but excitement.

As well as being aesthetically beautiful, with a low profile, horizontal styling features and clean shapes, she is also the perfect next step in Feadship’s path towards achieving the build of zero-emission superyachts by 2030, with an expected 90% reduction of total CO2 emissions. She is the perfect vessel for relaxation as well as entertaining, with an Aqua Lounge with massive windows below water level allowing for connection with the outdoors, as well as the ability to accommodate up to 14 people, making her just as sociable as she is stunning.

"It is a proud moment for me to see the nearing completion of this transformation, having personally been involved in returning 1050H to her birthplace for this ambitious project." Dr. Barwani, Chairman, Oceanco

"It is a proud moment for me to see the nearing completion of this transformation, having personally been involved in returning 1050H to her birthplace for this ambitious project."

More news About…

Companies linked to this story, yachts in this story, more news from ..., largest yachts news.

India kicks off the world's largest elections this week. Here's what you need to know.

Indians head to the polls on Friday in what will be the world’s largest democratic election , as close to one billion voters pick their next government and decide whether to hand Prime Minister Narendra Modi a third term in office.

The  2024 general elections  will pan out in seven phases over the next six weeks, starting April 19.

Voters will decide who fills the seats of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India’s parliament, for the next five years. The Lok Sabha is the more powerful of the two houses of Parliament.

More from CNBC

• Google workers arrested after nine-hour protest in cloud chief’s office
• Tesla is laying off 285 employees in Buffalo, New York, as part of a broad restructuring
• Elon Musk says in email that Tesla sent ‘incorrectly low’ severance packages to some laid-off employees

Whichever party or coalition wins the majority will lead the government and pick the next prime minister. Analysts widely expect Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party to score another landslide victory in the upcoming elections.

Here’s why India’s elections matter.

India’s meteoric rise

Under Modi’s rule, India’s economy has scaled to new heights. It is now the world’s fifth-largest economy with a GDP of $3.7 trillion and has set its sights on  becoming the world’s third-largest economy  by 2027.

Home to 1.4 billion people, the world’s most populous country is the fastest-growing economy in the world . Its economy grew 7.2% in fiscal 2022-2023, the  second-highest among the G20 countries .

The  International Monetary Fund projects  that India’s economy will grow 6.8% in 2024 and 6.5% in 2025, compared with China’s predicted growth of 4.6% in 2024 and 4.1% in 2025.

That’s not all.

India’s stock market  overtook Hong Kong’s  in December to become the fourth largest in the world, and is now valued at over $4 trillion. 

Analysts expect Modi to win a third consecutive five-year term, further driving India’s growth trajectory.

“The growth story is not done. But private and foreign investments have been very subdued and exports have also declined,” Suyash Rai, deputy director and fellow at Carnegie India, told CNBC. “So I feel that there is some weakness building up.”

India has forged deeper ties with the West in the past year, and Modi’s reelection could further strengthen U.S.-India relations, said Chietigj Bajpaee, senior research fellow for South Asia at Chatham House. 

He said India is seen as a “bulwark against China” as the Biden administration continues to encourage U.S. companies to move electronics and technology manufacturing operations out of China into friendlier countries, like India. 

“If there are two countries where there’s the highest degree of consensus, it’s China as a long-term strategic rival and India as a long-term strategic partner. That won’t change,” Bajpaee said. 

Key contenders

There will be 543 contested seats in the lower house, and the party or coalition that wins at least 272 votes will form the government.

The two main contenders are the BJP-led coalition known as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), and the opposition bloc known as the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

The opposition coalition was formed last year when more than 40 opposition parties joined forces. It is led by the Indian National Congress, whose leading figure is Rahul Gandhi — the son of Rajiv Gandhi, a grandson of Indira Gandhi, and a great-grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, who all served as prime ministers of India.

The Congress party, which ruled the country for most of its post-Independence era, suffered stinging defeats in the elections in 2014 and 2019. 

In 2019, the  BJP secured a total of 303 seats . Together with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, 352 seats were clinched. The opposition Indian National Congress won 52 seats that year.

This time, the BJP’s coalition bloc is widely expected to once again trump the opposition parties and win a historic third term thanks to the political stability in the last decade, analysts said.

“Policy consistency and political stability are connected to each other deeply. So the expectation will be that the government that comes in will be able to maintain that,” said Amitendu Palit, senior research fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore.

“This will be a significant year for India, and I have a feeling that whoever be the government in India, the foreign policy direction and the economic policy direction are going to remain broadly unchanged,” he told CNBC.

Modi  reportedly  said in March that he was confident the BJP and NDA would secure a total of 400 seats.

Chatham’s Bajpaee said it’s a “foregone conclusion” that Modi’s BJP will take the reins again this year, but “what’s unclear is the scale of the victory.” 

“You don’t need the BJP to lose for the opposition to win. All they need to do is prove the Modi brand has weakened if they don’t perform as well as last time,” he highlighted.   

Voters’ concerns

According to a survey conducted by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies,  unemployment was the top concern  for 27% of the 10,000 surveyed.

More than half  (62%) of those surveyed also said it had become more difficult to find a job in the last five years during Modi’s second term.

“You still have a large proportion of the population which is impoverished, so there are large disparities across the country,” Bajpaee said.

Rising costs is the second-biggest concern, with 23% of voters surveyed saying it was their primary concern. About 35% of respondents said their  quality of life had declined  in the last five years.

About 13% said their biggest worry was the country’s development, while 8% said corruption was their top concern.

Election in numbers

This will be India’s biggest election yet, with some 968 million people registered to vote — 48% of them women, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. There will also be  18 million  first-time voters, Reuters reported.

Given the sheer number of voters, the seven-phase election will last 44 days, from April 19 to June 1, across 554 constituencies, according to the Election Commission of India. 

The six-week election is expected to cost more than the 2020 U.S. presidential election where $14.4 billion was spent, according to Washington-based research firm  OpenSecrets . 

Data from the company showed that India spent $8.6 billion on the 2019 general elections, $2.1 billion more than the 2016 U.S. presidential race. 

Results will be released on June 4. 

Electoral rules  state that since there must be a polling station within two kilometers of every registered voter, there will be about a million polling stations, 5.5 million electronic voting machines, and 15 million staff and security personnel overseeing the election,  data  from the election commission showed.

Charmaine Jacob is a digital news associate based out of CNBC’s Singapore office.

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.

Voters line up outside a polling station in Tamil Nadu, India, April 19, 2024. REUTERS/ Navesh Chitrakar

India’s Lok Sabha Election 2024: weeks of voting ahead as Modi bids for third term

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

Thomson Reuters

Text and video journalist, most recently in Ukraine and as bureau chief in Jerusalem. Stephen has reported from the Middle East, Iraq, South Asia, New York and UK. Previously worked at The New York Times and The Times of London. Co-author of the book 'Hamas: The Islamic Resistance Movement'.

Anisha De is an Editor on the Digital Production desk in Bangalore, India. She oversees a team of journalists responsible for curating the Reuters.com website, Reuters social media handles and multimedia packages for Reuters Ready news clients. In her previous role, she worked as a News Publishing Specialist, curating news for clients on the Eikon platform and various financial newsletters.

Mark Porter is a desk editor at Reuters, where he files a plethora of stories on numerous topics, from general news to business and political news. In his more than 20 years at Reuters, Porter has been on the initial teams for the Reuters Insider television project and the breaking news team, he started the entertainment blog and was the Reuters embedded editor at Yahoo. He has worked for almost 40 years as a journalist, with stints at the New York Times, TheStreet.com, Dow Jones and Knight-Ridder/Bridge News.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Indians vote in the first phase of the world’s largest election as Modi seeks a third term

Indians are casting ballots in the first round of voting across 21 states. Voting will take place over a six-week period and votes will be counted on June 4.

Millions of Indians are voting in a six-week long national election in a referendum on Narendra Modi, the populist prime minister who has championed an assertive brand of Hindu nationalist politics. The voters will cast ballots in the first round of voting across 21 states. Over 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years during the staggered elections that will run until June 1. The votes will be counted on June 4. (AP Video by Piyush Nagpal)

Millions of people in India began voting in a six-week election that’s a referendum on Narendra Modi, the populist prime minister who has championed an assertive brand of Hindu nationalist politics and is seeking a rare third term as the country’s leader. (AP video: Shonal Ganguly)

A Deori tribal woman shows the indelible ink mark on her finger after casting her vote during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Jorhat, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. Nearly 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years, during staggered elections that will run until June 1. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

• Copy Link copied

Women wait to cast their votes as one of them stands behind a selfie point during the first round of voting of India’s national election in Behror, Rajasthan state, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. Nearly 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years, during staggered elections that will run until June 1. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A policeman assists an elderly voter at a polling station during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Chennai, southern Tamil Nadu state, Friday, April 19, 2024. Nearly 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years, during staggered elections that will run until June 1. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

A child looks on from a sling on the back of her mother as she casts her vote during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Chedema village, in the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland, Friday, April 19, 2024. Nearly 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years, during staggered elections that will run until June 1. (AP Photo/Yirmiyan Arthur)

An elederly Deori tribal woman arrives as others of her tribe stand in a queue to cast their vote during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Jorhat, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. Nearly 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years, during staggered elections that will run until June 1. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Women wait to cast their votes during the first round of voting of India’s national election in Behror, Rajasthan state, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. Nearly 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years, during staggered elections that will run until June 1. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A polling official puts indelible ink mark on the index finger of a woman as she arrives to vote during the first round of voting of India’s national election in Chennai, southern Tamil Nadu state, Friday, April 19, 2024. Nearly 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years, during staggered elections that will run until June 1. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

A woman prepares to vote during the first round of voting of India’s national election in Neemrana, Rajasthan state, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. Nearly 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years, during staggered elections that will run until June 1. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Angami Nagas laugh as an elderly man reacts to the camera at a polling station in Chedema village, in the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Yirmiyan Arthur)

An elderly woman shows the indelible ink mark on her finger after casting vote at women only booth during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

Paramilitary soldiers guard a polling station during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

Women show their election cards before casting their votes during the first round of voting of India’s national election in Behror, Rajasthan state, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. Nearly 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years, during staggered elections that will run until June 1. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Deori tribal women stand in a queue to cast their vote during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Jorhat, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. Nearly 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years, during staggered elections that will run until June 1. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

An elderly woman sits on a chair as people wait to cast their votes during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Chennai, southern Tamil Nadu state, Friday, April 19, 2024. Nearly 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years, during staggered elections that will run until June 1. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

People wait to cast their votes during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Chennai, southern Tamil Nadu state, Friday, April 19, 2024. Nearly 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years, during staggered elections that will run until June 1. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

People wait in a queue to cast their votes during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Chedema village, in the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Yirmiyan Arthur)

A woman shows voting slip before she casts her vote during the first round of voting of India’s national election in Behror, Rajasthan state, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. Nearly 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years, during staggered elections that will run until June 1. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A polling 👮♀️ applies indelible ink on the finger of a voter at a polling station in Chedema village, in the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Yirmiyan Arthur)

A woman casts vote during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Bahona village, Jorhat, northeastern Assam, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. Nearly 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years, during staggered elections that will run until June 1. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Security personnel carry Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and other election material to a polling booth on the eve of the national election in Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, Imphal West district, in Manipur, India, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Bullu Raj)

Villagers check their names on a voter list of a congress party agent outside a polling station during the first round of voting of India’s national election in Bahona village, Jorhat, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. Nearly 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years, during staggered elections that will run until June 1. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Women wait to cast their votes during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Chennai, southern Tamil Nadu state, Friday, April 19, 2024. Nearly 970 million voters will elect 543 members for the lower house of Parliament for five years, during staggered elections that will run until June 1. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

NEW DELHI (AP) — Millions of Indians began voting Friday in a six-week election that’s a referendum on Narendra Modi , the populist prime minister who has championed an assertive brand of Hindu nationalist politics and is seeking a rare third term as the country’s leader.

People began queuing up at polling stations hours before they were allowed in at 7 a.m. in the first 21 states to hold votes, from the Himalayan mountains to the tropical Andaman Islands. Nearly 970 million voters — more than 10% of the world’s population — will elect 543 members to the lower house of Parliament for five years during the staggered elections that run until June 1 . The votes will be counted on June 4.

This election is seen as one of the most consequential in India’s history and will test the limits of Modi’s political dominance.

A Deori tribal woman shows the indelible ink mark on her finger after casting her vote during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Jorhat, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

If Modi wins, he’ll be only the second Indian leader to retain power for a third term, after Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s first prime minister.

Most polls predict a win for Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, who are up against a broad opposition alliance led by the Indian National Congress and powerful regional parties .

It’s not clear who will lead India if the opposition alliance, called INDIA, wins the election. Its more than 20 parties have not put forward a candidate yet.

The BJP controls much of India’s Hindi-speaking northern and central parts, but is now trying to gain a foothold in the east and south. Their toughest challenge is in the southern Tamil Nadu state, with 39 seats, where voting is being held Friday.

Voters in hot and humid Chennai, the state’s capital, began briskly filling the city’s nearly 4,000 polling booths. A number of them said they were voting for a change in federal government given rising prices, unemployment and religious polarization stoked by the BJP.

Women wait to cast their votes during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Chennai, southern Tamil Nadu state, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

“First thing I came to vote for is to have a country without any religious disharmony. In Tamil Nadu — Hindus, Muslims, Christians, we’re all together. And this unity should grow,” said 65-year-old Mary Das, who was waiting to vote.

P. Chidambaram, an opposition Congress party leader and the country’s former finance minister, said that the people of Tamil Nadu would not vote for the BJP as “it is imposing one language, one culture, one system and one kind of food.”

The BJP has long struggled to capture votes in the state, where two powerful regional parties — the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam — dominate. The BJP drew a blank in 2019, and won one seat in 2014.

In Rajasthan, people returning from polling stations covered their heads against dusty winds.

“If the new government is able to solve unemployment, then it will be good. People are migrating from this region to earn a living,” said Atinder Singh, 26.

Women wait to cast their votes during the first round of voting of India’s national election in Behror, Rajasthan state, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Voting is also taking place in the northeastern state of Manipur, where a near-civil war for a year has triggered ethnic violence . Mobs have rampaged through villages and torched houses, and more than 150 people have been killed.

The election comes after a decade of Modi’s leadership, during which the BJP has consolidated power through a combination of Hindu-first politics and economic development.

Modi has ratcheted up Hindu nationalist rhetoric on the campaign trail, and has sought to present himself as a global leader . His ministers tout him as the steward of a surging India, while his supporters celebrate his campaign promise to make India a developed nation by 2047, when it marks 100 years of independence.

But while India’s economy is among the world’s fastest-growing, many of its people face growing economic distress. The opposition alliance is hoping to tap into this, seeking to galvanize voters on issues like high unemployment , inflation, corruption and low agricultural prices that have driven two years of farmers’ protests .

The opposition — and critics — also warn that Modi has turned increasingly illiberal. They accuse Modi of using tax authorities and the police to harass the opposition, and they fear a third term could undermine India’s democracy. His Hindu nationalist politics , they argue, has bred intolerance and threatens the country’s secular roots.

“Modi has a very authoritarian mindset. He doesn’t believe in democracy. He doesn’t believe in Parliamentarianism,” said Christophe Jaffrelot, a political scientist who has written about Modi and the Hindu right.

Modi insists that India’s commitment to democracy is unchanged. He told a Summit for Democracy meeting in New Delhi in March that “India is not only fulfilling the aspirations of its 1.4 billion people, but is also providing hope to the world that democracy delivers and empowers.”

The Indian leader, who enjoys vast popularity, is targeting a two-thirds majority this time.

The BJP hopes for a landslide win powered by its popular welfare programs, which it says have improved access to clean toilets, health care and cooking gas, as well as providing free grain to the poor. Moves like the construction of a controversial temple to Ram on the site of a demolished mosque, and the scrapping of the disputed Muslim-majority region of Kashmir’s former autonomy , may resonate with supporters who hail him as the champion of the Hindu majority.

“Any party that comes back for a third term, and with a brute majority, is a scary prospect for democracy,” said Arati Jerath, a political commentator.

Modi’s two terms have seen civil liberties in India come under attack , while implementing what critics say are discriminatory policies. Peaceful protests have been crushed with force. A once free and diverse press is threatened , violence is on the rise against the Muslim minority , and government agencies have arrested opposition politicians in alleged corruption cases.

The BJP has denied its policies are discriminatory and says its work benefits all Indians.

Women wait to cast their votes as one of them stands behind a selfie point during the first round of voting of India’s national election in Behror, Rajasthan state, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

An elederly Deori tribal woman arrives as others of her tribe stand in a queue to cast their vote during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Jorhat, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

People wait to cast their votes during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Chennai, southern Tamil Nadu state, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Women show their election cards before casting their votes during the first round of voting of India’s national election in Behror, Rajasthan state, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A woman prepares to vote during the first round of voting of India’s national election in Neemrana, Rajasthan state, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

An elderly woman sits on a chair as people wait to cast their votes during the first round of polling of India’s national election in Chennai, southern Tamil Nadu state, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Villagers check their names on a voter list of a congress party agent outside a polling station during the first round of voting of India’s national election in Bahona village, Jorhat, India, Friday, April 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

AP writer Sibi Arasu contributed reporting from Chennai, India.