“Le yacht “Azzam” acheté par la famille royale des Emirats arabes unis est désormais le plus long au monde avec une dimension de 180 mètres, selon le classement annuel du magazine Yachts France……….. “Azzam”, tout juste terminé par le constructeur allemand Lürssen Yachts, est doté de six ponts et d’un salon de 550 m2 décoré en style Empire par un designer français. Son propriétaire, le président des Emirats, cheikh Khalifa ben Zayed Al Nahyane, pourra atteindre à son bord 31,5 noeuds, une prouesse technique, écrit le magazine. Les plus nombreux restent en 2013 les ressortissants du Moyen-Orient (31 yachts), suivis des Russes (19) et des Américains (17). On retrouve ainsi en troisième position le yacht “Dubai” de 162 mètres, propriété de l’émir de Dubaï cheikh Mohammed ben Rachid al-Maktoum, suivi en quatrième position du “Al Said” de 155 mètres sous les couleurs du sultanat d’Oman……………….”
“Motor yacht Azzam is probably built for Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Emir of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE – Emirates). ………. Azzam means ‘determination’ in Arabic. So Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is probably the owner of luxury yacht Azzam. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, referred to as Sheikh Khalifa, is the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and emir of Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is considered to be one of the world’s wealthiest monarchs, with a net worth of USD 15 billion. Sheikh Khalifa also runs the world’s second-largest sovereign wealth fund, with reported assets of more than USD 600 billion. In 2010, the world’s tallest man-made structure, originally known as Burj Dubai, was renamed to Burj Khalifa, in honor of the Sheikh. Sheikh Khalifa is an active philanthropist. Among several donations, the Sheikh has pledged USD 150 million to the University of Texas… …………….”
It is a good think most Saudis are land-lubbers, desert people rather than sea-going people. It is a good thing the Al Saud are not sea-going types, otherwise you can imagine the size of ship King Abdullah will order. He’d have to make sure it is bigger than that of the UAE rulers, his manhood will be at stake. It has to be, given the size of his kingdom: he rules over some 15 million natives compared to about 1 million natives in the UAE. Imagine the poor shaikh (now king) of Bahrain: if it is to be proportional he would have to get a lifeboat for a yacht. He may still need a lifeboat one of these days, just to bail out.
Modestly they call it Jalboot Force One, others call it Kayak Force One. Modestly.
Cheers
mhg