Azzam, the 593-foot megayacht linked to Abu Dhabi's ruling family, is currently the largest yacht in the world. But her decade-long reign is about to end. REV Ocean, a 639-foot research-and-luxury hybrid, is expected to take the title before the end of 2026.
Here's how the biggest yachts on the planet actually stack up, and what's about to change.
The Current Largest Yachts in the World
| Rank | Yacht | Length | Builder | Linked Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Azzam | 593 ft (180.6 m) | Lürssen | Al Nahyan family (UAE) |
| 2 | Eclipse | ~533 ft (162.5 m) | Not disclosed | Roman Abramovich |
| 3 | Dubai | ~528 ft (161 m) | Not disclosed | Dubai's ruling family |
| 4 | Blue | 525 ft (160 m) | Lürssen | Al Nahyan family (UAE) |
| 5 | Dilbar | 511 ft (156 m) | Lürssen | Alisher Usmanov |
| 6 | A+ (formerly Topaz) | 483 ft (147 m) | Lürssen | Mohammed bin Salman |
Yachts in the 150 to 165 m range get reordered depending on whether a source measures by length overall (LOA) or gross tonnage (GT), the two don't always agree. Treat ranks 2 to 5 as roughly tied rather than a strict order.
Azzam: The Reigning Champion
Delivered by German shipyard Lürssen in 2013, Azzam has held the "world's largest yacht" title for over a decade at 593 feet, nearly two football fields end to end. She's widely linked to Abu Dhabi's ruling family, though as with most yachts at this scale, formal ownership is never officially confirmed. Azzam can reportedly exceed 30 knots, an unusual feat of engineering for a vessel her size.
The Chasing Pack: Eclipse, Dubai, Blue, and Dilbar
Below Azzam sits a genuine cluster of megayachts all in the 150 to 165 meter range, each backed by a different fortune: Eclipse, Roman Abramovich's famously fortified vessel; Dubai, tied to the emirate's ruling family; Blue, another Al Nahyan family yacht; and Dilbar, built for Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov and long considered the volume champion by gross tonnage, even where she trails on outright length.
The Incoming Record-Breaker: REV Ocean
The yacht actually worth watching in 2026 isn't in the current top ranks at all, because she hasn't been delivered yet. REV Ocean, commissioned by Norwegian industrialist Kjell Inge Røkke, stretches to 194.9 meters (639 feet), roughly 46 feet longer than Azzam. She's currently completing final outfitting in the Netherlands after sea trials in Norway, with delivery targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026.
What makes REV Ocean unusual isn't just the size, she's built as a hybrid research and expedition vessel, with onboard labs, a submarine hangar, and hybrid-electric propulsion, developed in partnership with marine conservation science. She'll also be available for select luxury charters, meaning she'll debut as both the world's largest yacht and the world's largest charter yacht simultaneously. Once delivered, she's expected to top both major industry rankings, length overall and gross tonnage, at once.
What About the World's Largest Sailing Yacht?
Every ranking above is a motor yacht. Sailing yachts have their own separate hierarchy, currently topped by Jeff Bezos's Koru, a 417-foot, three-masted sailing yacht delivered in 2023 that displaced the previous record holder, Sailing Yacht A. Because sail-powered vessels face very different design constraints than motor megayachts, the two categories are rarely compared head-to-head.
How "Biggest" Is Actually Measured
Two different numbers get used interchangeably, which is where a lot of ranking confusion comes from:
- Length Overall (LOA) - bow to stern, the number most people mean by "biggest"
- Gross Tonnage (GT) - a measure of enclosed interior volume, not weight or length
A shorter yacht with a boxier hull and more enclosed deck space can out-tonnage a longer, sleeker one. That's why Dilbar, at 156 meters, has at times ranked above longer yachts on gross-tonnage lists despite being shorter by LOA, and why REV Ocean, at nearly 195 meters with an estimated 19,000+ GT, is positioned to lead both metrics simultaneously rather than just one.
Why Megayachts Keep Getting Bigger
Two decades ago, breaking 300 feet made a yacht newsworthy. Today, the largest private yachts stretch past 550 feet, and the leading edge is closing in on 650. The driver isn't just wealth, it's what that length actually buys: more onboard volume for helipads, submarines, spa decks, and support-vessel garages, plus longer range for genuine ocean crossings rather than coastal hopping. As the pool of buyers capable of commissioning at this scale keeps growing and shipyards keep pushing hull and propulsion engineering further, there's no obvious ceiling in sight. REV Ocean likely won't hold the record forever either.
Size is only half the story. For the vessels that command the highest price tags rather than the longest hulls, see our guide to the most expensive yachts in the world, or read how yacht pricing works in how much does a yacht cost. Browse current listings in the Gulf Edition yachts collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest yacht in the world right now?
Azzam, at 593 feet (180.6 m), built by Lürssen and delivered in 2013.
What yacht will be the largest once it's delivered?
REV Ocean, at 639 feet (194.9 m), expected to be delivered in Q4 2026, after which she'll surpass Azzam in both length and gross tonnage.
Who owns the largest yacht in the world?
Azzam is widely linked to the Al Nahyan family, the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, though formal ownership of yachts at this scale is rarely confirmed publicly.
What's the difference between the largest yacht and the most expensive yacht?
They're not always the same vessel. Size is measured in length or tonnage; price reflects build cost, customization, technology, and security features. A shorter yacht with military-grade security or an especially lavish interior can cost more than a longer one built more simply.
Is REV Ocean a private yacht or a research vessel?
Both. REV Ocean is privately funded and will be available for luxury charter, but her primary mission is marine research, a hybrid model that's new for a yacht at this scale.
