Azzam (2013 yacht)

Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi directed the construction of Azzam, with technical engineering by Lürssen Yachts, design by Nauta Yachts, and interior design by Christophe Leoni.[4] Following a year of engineering, the yacht was built in only three years, a record for a ship of this size. Azzam possesses the ability to travel at high speed in shallow waters.[5]

Among many other features, the yacht has a main salon with a length of 29 m (95 ft) and a beam of 18 m (59 ft), an open plan, and no pillars. She can travel in excess of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph), powered by a combination of two gas turbines and two diesel engines with a total power output of 35,048 kW (47,000 hp) through four pump-jets.[6] Two of the pump-jets are nonmovable round water outlets in the middle of the stern, while the other two feature movable duct water outlets that provide thrust vectoring capabilities.[7]

At an estimated cost of $605 million, the ship cost approximately $100 million more than the third-largest private motor yacht, Eclipse.[8]

Azzam was commissioned by Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates (until his death in 2022). The yacht is listed for charter without a price; however, according to Motor Boat & Yacht magazine, she is not available for charter; the charter listing, similar to Roman Abramovich's Eclipse, is aimed to avoid European taxation, as charter yachts are exempt from property tax.[9]