Yacht Al Said: price, history and facts & figures for the Sultan of Oman’s yacht

Most often moored in the port of Muscat, the Al Said is one of the largest yachts ever built, and one of the most discreet. Her price is a frequent subject of interest, yet no verifiable figure exists. Here is what is known about her probable value, history and dimensions.

How much does the yacht Al Said cost?

No primary source provides the price of the Al Said. The German shipyard Lürssen never publishes the cost of its orders, and the Sultanate of Oman has never commented on the expense of its state yacht. Nor has the vessel been resold or valued by a foreign authority, unlike the Dilbar. The figures in circulation, in the region of 300 million dollars according to several estimates, are extrapolations based on her size and age.

The only solid benchmark is indirect: the Dilbar, built by the same shipyard eight years later and of comparable size (156 metres, 15,917 GT), was valued at between 600 and 735 million dollars by the US Treasury in 2022. The Al Said, being older and delivered at a time when construction costs were lower, logically falls below that figure, although no document indicates by how much.

The Al Said in numbers

A royal ocean liner for the Sultan

The Al Said was commissioned in 2006 by Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who ruled Oman from 1970 until his death in January 2020. Built under the code name Project Sunflower, she was launched by Lürssen in September 2007 and was then ranked as the second-longest yacht in the world. Lürssen highlights a profile “tailored according to the owner’s wishes”, echoing the ocean liners of yesteryear.

The Sultan was a renowned music lover and founder of the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra. The yacht reportedly houses a concert hall capable of accommodating a full orchestra, according to several reports, a detail that neither the shipyard nor the palace has ever officially documented. Since 2020, the vessel has remained in the royal fleet under the reign of his successor, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.

Why she is unranked

Our ranking of the world’s most expensive yachts only includes vessels whose value is backed by an authoritative document, a recorded resale or at least a recurring, dated valuation. The Al Said has none of these, hence her unranked status. For context, the ranking is topped by the Dilbar (600 to 735 million dollars, US Treasury, 2022), ahead of the Scheherazade (around 700 million dollars according to several estimates) and the Azzam (180 metres, around 600 million dollars according to industry sources), owned by the ruling family of Abu Dhabi.

Can you buy or charter her?

No. The Al Said is a state vessel, used for official travel and royal receptions by the Omani court, and she has never been offered for charter or sale. Between voyages, she is most often berthed in the port of Muttrah, Muscat, where she is one of the city’s most photographed silhouettes. Without a transaction, her value will remain speculative, and her maintenance costs, covered by the royal court, have never been made public.

Prices verified and updated on 13 October 2026. Sources: Lürssen (Al Said yacht datasheet), US Treasury (press release of 3 March 2022 regarding the Dilbar). No official price exists for the Al Said; the 300 million dollar figure is an undocumented estimate.