We know that yachts are a symbol of wealth and success among the world's rich and famous. Besides having multiple mansions, ultra-luxurious private jets, and garages full of the world's fanciest and highest-performing sports vehicles, yachts are a complementary addition to the ensemble. Hollywood's celebrities are known for their extravagant yachts, such as Giorgio Armani and even Cristiano Ronaldo, but none of these can come close to the Fulk Al Salamah, which is owned by the Omani Royal Family of the House of Busaid, also known as the Al Said dynasty. The Al Said dynasty is found most commonly in the Dubai region, where most of the billionaires own large estates and other pricey possessions. Let's see what sets the Fulk Al Salamah aside from the rest of the other yachts in the world.
Yachts are characterized and coveted by the number of specifications they carry, including the maximum speed of the vessel's engine. For example, the French fashion tycoon, Bernard Arnault, has a mega yacht called the Symphony that spans 101 meters and is powered by a 4x MTU 16V4000M73 engine, and these are some of the features that have made it sought after. But the Fulk Al Salamah is in a league of its own. But to better understand the caliber of the mega yacht you're dealing with, you need to also know the caliver of the person/people who own it, who in this case is the Omani Royal Family. When it comes to unofficial royalty, this family isn't as flashy or as renowned as Queen Elizabeth and the English monarchy. Nevertheless, the Oman Family, who hail from southeastern Arabia, are as rich and as powerful as they come. They were once under the economic rule of the United Kingdom and India but regained economic independence in the late 1890s. Since then, they have reigned as sultans in the Busaid dynasty.
Features Of Fulk Al Salamah
The Fulk Al Salamah may not be the longest yacht, but it is definitely among one of the more spacious luxurious yachts out there. According to Yacht Charter Fleet, the vessel's volume measured by gross tonnage is 22,000 GT (gross tonnage). The volume of a yacht is estimated by measuring from the keel to the funnel, and back to the outside of the hull framing. The enormous volume of the ship can easily give it the crown of the world's largest yacht by volume. However, that is yet to be made official, as the current holder for that title is the superyacht Dilbar, owned by Alisher Usmanov, which spans a gross tonnage of 15,917 GT.
Besides possessing an impressive gross tonnage, the Al Salamah mega yacht sports a crisp cream color with blue accents. In terms of speed performance, the vessel boasts 4 diesel 6-cylinder 9,177hp engines generating 750rpm and can reach a maximum speed of 22 knots. But if it's casually cruising the seas, it does an average of 15 knots. That's quite impressive for a yacht that is more voluminous in size than it is in length. But despite that fact, the Al Salamah measures a length of 508ft, and that's even bigger than Vladimir Putin's 490ft luxury yacht, which was unfortunately seized by the Italian government earlier this month.
Other Notable Specifications
Other than its massive size and length that can make one feel as though they're aboard a floating mansion, the Fulk Al Salamah is also decked with a few other remarkable features. The vessel was made to accommodate the newly elected Sultan of Oman since 2020, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, and is fitted with gold-plated fixtures all throughout its interior, which is a feature that the wealthiest people in surrounding areas, like Dubai, have a fetish for. Inside the private vessel is an abundance of space, from a modernly designed movie theater and lounging room with polished wood-panel floors to an elegantly decorated, massive dining room area with marble tables and large paintings embellishing the walls. The dining room alone is likely bigger than most Los Angeles apartments!
Also available is a separate passageway for the crew, which amounts to around 130 persons for the vessel to operate optimally. There is also an enormous salon area fitted with dark brown and white wooden tables that are also gold-plated, in front of beige and white sofas. The overhead lighting fixtures portray an ambiance of golden heavenly bliss. This ship may not be the Titanic, but Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio could've definitely used it as a substitute. The conference room is laid out with a sprawling joint U-shape wooden table that spans the entire circumference of the room and is decorated with huge traditional vases and an overhead mirror in the center of the room. As it is a multi-layered yacht, there is also a beautifully-crafted winding staircase and elevator.
VIP And Deck Area
The VIP area looks like the inside of one of Jack Nicholson's many properties, with pristine white and cream flooring and seating space complimented by wooden doors, countertops, and cupboards. The bathroom areas are made of marble and large vanity mirrors. The same color scheme follows into the VIP suites, giving a warm and cozy feel with the brown and wooden aesthetics. Also available is a fully-functioning gym, beauty salon, and beach club as well as air conditioning throughout the entire vessel. The luxurious experience also extends to the deck where there is a modest pool area featuring a comfortable shaded lounging area, outdoor seating and dining, and a helicopter platform. At least getting stranded at sea won't be on the list of worries for the lucky passengers aboard the $500 million marvel!
Sources: Mega Yacht Guy, Unofficial Royalty, Yacht Charter Fleet