Built in 2006, the 162-metre superyacht Dubai currently holds the fourth position in the world’s largest superyachts’ ranking. Accordingly, the vessel belongs to one of the most premum owners, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Born in 1949, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was appointed Crown Prince of Dubai in 1995, while in 2006 he became prime minister and vice president of the United Arab Emirates, after the death of his elder brother.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was the one to support the development of the Palm Islands, the Burj Al-Arab hotel, the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, the Dubai World Cup and the Godolphin Stables, as part of the mission to transform Dubai into a lush and desired business location.
A number of businesses and economic assets of Dubai were created by two companies under the Sheikh’s ownership, Dubai World and Dubai Holding. The first one consolidates real estate, logistics and other business investments in the USA, the UK, and South Africa. The second one develops and manages hospitality, business parks, real estate, and telecommunications through different operation units.
What is more, Sheikh Mohammed holds in Meraas Holding that develops a number of retail, lifestyle and themed complexes in Dubai, including Legoland and a Bollywood movie theme park.
Sheikh Mohammed was also responsible for some of the significant steps of the development of the UAE, including the launch of Emirates Airline and development of two airports in Dubai.
During the 1970s, taking the position of the head of the Dubai Defence Force and the Minister of Defence, Sheikh Mohammed, among other things, led the development of Dubai’s civil aviation, with the first Emirates flight conducted in 1985. Furthermore, in 1989, Sheikh Mohammed inaugurated the first Dubai Airshow: in 2013 the exhibition had grown to over 1,000 exhibiting companies.
In 1991, Sheikh Mohammed merged the port of Jebel Ali, together with the free trade zone located in the port, and the port of Rashid, creating the Dubai Port Authority. In 1999, he founded Dubai Ports International, which in 2005, together with the Dubai Port Authority, was transformed into the port operator DP World. In less than four years, DP World has been able to become one of the top three port operators in the world.
In 1999, Dubai Internet City (abbreviated DIC), a free economic zone of Dubai, was created under the management of developer TECOM Investments, a member of the Dubai Holding group. Currently, more than 1,100 companies are registered on the territory of Dubai Internet City.
In November 2000, the Dubai government created the Dubai Media City free economic zone Dubai Media City, which serves as a starting point for the development of the UAE media, which became the regional centre for hosting news agencies, publishing houses, interactive media, and advertising organisations. production and broadcasting activities.
In 1995, an idea of building 'the most luxurious hotel in the world’ - Burj Al Arab - came to the mind of Sheikh Mohammed. The grand opening of the hotel took place in December 1999, part of Jumeirah tourist group.
In 2010, Dubai saw the opening of the Burj Khalifa skyscraper, currently the tallest building in the world. With 163 floors and 828-metre-tall structure, Burj Khalifa was reported to cost $ 20 billion, becoming a key part of Dubai’s business centre.
Another attraction, Palm Islands, the project of an archipelago of artificial islands is being implemented by Nakheel Properties. When all the planned Dubai islands are built, the territory of the emirate will increase by more than 500 square kilometres.
As to his personal life, Sheikh Mohammed has 16 children. Recently, his name has been hitting media headlines with one of the most viral scandals connected with the royal family, as his wife Princess Haya fled Sheikh Mohammed’s palaces in Dubai with two children, seeking political asylum in Britain.
M/Y Dubai
The ruler’s superyacht, Dubai, was constructed jointly by German leading ship builders Blohm + Voss and Lurssen. She was further transported to Dubai on a floating dock, where local yard Platinum Yachts completed the build and interior design.
It is speculated that the original order for Dubai had been placed by the Prince of Brunei. It was however suspended in 1998 (bare hull completed) and finally sold to the Dubai government.
Dubai features a beam of 22.4 metres and a draft of 5 meters, with interior volume of 12,488 tones. Accommodating for 24 guests in 12 cabins all with open balconies, the yacht features a 21-meter atrium, a swimming pool, cinema, black hawk landing platform, submarine garage and a dance floor.
Additionally, the superyacht disposes of her own specially constructed berth island next to Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah Island, in front of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s summer palace.
Royal Huisman has unveiled a 50-meter concept yacht named AERA. The design incorporates a wing sail system and fuel cell technology aimed at reducing emissions. The concept follows the shipyard's 2024 launch of Project Tidal Shift, an environmental initiative focused on ecological preservation.The yacht's wing sail, developed by Artemis Technologies and Rondal, measures 245 square meters and is capable of rotating 360 degrees. The unstayed wing sail system does not require traditional sails, sheets, blocks, or winches. Two electric motors inside the yacht rotate the mast, while hydraulic cylinders control adjustable flaps along its trailing edge.AERA is designed to operate under 500 gross tonnage. The concept results from a collaboration between Royal Huisman, Rondal, designer Cor D. Rover, and Artemis Technologies. The design allows the vessel to function under both sail and power.Royal Huisman previously delivered the world's first hybrid superyacht, Ethereal, in 2009. The shipyard states that AERA represents a continuation of its focus on integrating new technologies to address sustainability in yacht building.Royal Huisman is a Dutch shipyard established in 1884 in Ronduite, building and refitting custom luxury sailing and motor yachts at its shipyard in Vollenhove, the Netherlands.Credit: Royal Huisman
September 17, 2025
Tankoa Yachts has completed the acquisition of the business division of Otam. The transaction, finalized in agreement with both companies' founding families, includes the Otam brand and its historic shipyard in Genoa. The dockyard facilities in Santa Margherita Ligure remain under the current ownership.The acquired Genoa facility comprises approximately 4,800 square meters of covered areas, 3,300 square meters of open-air spaces, and a water basin of nearly 10,000 square meters. Tankoa Yachts plans to implement a restructuring program that will include extending concessions, reorganizing the areas, and constructing new production sheds.The operation includes the integration of Otam's workforce into Tankoa Yachts. All employees are being transferred to ensure job continuity and to add new skills and experience to the shipyard.The Otam brand, with its existing heritage and international reputation, becomes part of Tankoa's portfolio. Tankoa Yachts stated it will preserve the brand's legacy while defining a strategy aligned with its long-term vision.This acquisition represents a continuation of the expansion project Tankoa Yachts presented at the beginning of 2025 and strengthens the company's presence in the Genoa region.Credits: Tankoa Yacht
September 17, 2025
Sanlorenzo will present a fleet of eight yachts at the 65th Genoa International Boat Show, scheduled from September 18 to 23, 2025. The exhibition will be headlined by the Italian public debut of the new SL110A model.SL110AThe 33-meter SL110A represents the latest evolution of the shipyard's asymmetrical line. Its exterior design was developed by Zuccon International Project, with interior spaces curated by Piero Lissoni. The yacht achieves a top speed of 27 knots. Notable features include an owner's suite spanning the vessel's full beam with direct access to a forward pool area.SL86AThe display will include several other models from Sanlorenzo's product lines. The Smart Performance series will be represented by the SP92 sports yacht. The asymmetrical line will feature both the SL86A and SL90A models. The semi-displacement range will include the SD90 and SD96, designed for flexible interior layouts. The SX100 and SX88 crossovers, blending flybridge motor yacht features with explorer yacht characteristics, will complete the presentation.SD90This extensive showcase marks Sanlorenzo's participation in one of Italy's principal nautical events. The shipyard's presence at the Genoa show underscores its continued focus on the domestic market and its diversified product portfolio. Sanlorenzo was founded in 1958 in Viareggio by yacht builder Gionvanni Jannetti. In 2005, Massimo Perrotti became the majority shareholder in the shipyard. Sanlorenzo builds yachts ranging from 28.60 to 73 meters in length. Credits: Guillaume Plisson; all provided by Sanlorenzo
September 17, 2025
Zeelander Yachts will present its new flagship model, the 24-meter Zeelander 8, for the first time at the Monaco Yacht Show 2025. The yacht will be located at berth C27 Quai Chicane during the event, which takes place from September 24 to 27.The yacht features a layout with social areas on the main deck, including lounging and dining spaces, along with a galley. The lower deck contains three guest cabins. The master stateroom is positioned amidships and includes windows and a headroom exceeding 2.1 meters. The first hull includes customized modifications, such as relocating the galley to the starboard side of the salon and integrating the bar area with the cockpit.The yacht is equipped with a large targa sunroof and retractable aft doors. Sound levels are reported to measure below 65 dBA at its full speed of 32 knots. The yacht can reach speeds of up to 40 knots with optional larger engines.Each hull is built to owner specifications, with customization handled by the shipyard's engineering team. The exterior design maintains the stylistic features consistent with other yachts in the Zeelander range.Zeelander Yachts was founded in 2002 in the Netherlands by Sietse Koopmans. The first model was unveiled to the public in 2008. The launch model Z44 received positive reviews at the Monaco Yacht Show and drew enormous crowds, despite being at an event dominated by much larger yachts. Within three years, the Z44 had been successfully introduced to the US as well as Europe, and it was an obvious direction to add a larger model to the fleet. The first Z55 was delivered in November 2015, and the flagship Z72 was launched in March 2019.Credit: Tom van Oossanen/Zeelander Yachts
September 16, 2025
Pearl Yachts has established a new French dealership, Pearl France, with an office in Antibes. The facility is located at Avenue de Verdun, 06600 Antibes, in the Port Vauban area. The office is operated by Cenk Efe, Founder and Director of the Mallorca Marine Group 1994, and will serve as the brand's exclusive representative in France.Iain Smallridge, Founder and Managing Director of Pearl Yachts, stated: “France has always been one of the most important markets for Pearl Yachts. With the opening of Pearl France, we are strengthening our presence in the Mediterranean’s most vibrant yachting hub. Cenk’s expertise and reputation are second to none, and we are confident that this new chapter will bring our boutique philosophy and unique approach even closer to every client and brand enthusiast based in France.”Iain Smallridge and Cenk Efe Cenk Efe, Director of Pearl France, added: “We are honoured to be launching Pearl France in Antibes. French clients value elegance, craftsmanship, innovation, and discretion; qualities that Pearl embodies in every detail. The response so far has been exceptional, and we look forward to growing the brand’s legacy along the Côte d’Azur and beyond.”This opening follows the establishment of Pearl Germany and Pearl Gulf earlier this year.Founded in 1998, Pearl Yachts has established itself as one of the UK’s leading shipyards, specializing in designing luxury motor yachts known for their voluminous interiors, opulence, and design excellence. Credits: Pearl Yachts
September 16, 2025