Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, owner of English football club Chelsea, has been relegated to second place in the world's biggest yacht rankings by the emir of Abu Dhabi, Yachts France magazine reported Monday, dpa reported.
Abramovich's 536-foot Eclipse, which had held the title for three years, has been dethroned by the 591-metre Azzam, the magazine said in its July/August edition, which carried a photograph of the new king of yachts on its front cover.
Built in the German port of Bremen by Lurssen Yachts, the Azzam comes with six bridges and a massive 550-square-metre sitting room decorated in early 19th century Empire style by a French designer.
Commissioned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of United Arab Emirates and emir of Abu Dhabi, it has a top speed of 31.5 knots, making it one of the world's fastest yachts, according to Yachts France.
Most of the world's 100 biggest luxury yachts are owned by Middle Eastern clients, followed by Russians and Americans, the magazine's ranking showed.