ABU DHABI // It is a dilemma for the mega-rich. In this global recession, where does one go for the ultimate luxury holiday away from prying eyes if you do not want to flash your wealth around?
A solution sailed into Abu Dhabi this week in all its gleaming white, 85.3-metre glory. The Alysia, a so-called gigayacht, is the perfect retreat for the reclusive royal, the discreet duchess or the modest superstar. For a mere Dh466,000 (US$127,000) a day it could be your very own floating palace, an ocean-going boutique hotel where a 34-strong crew is on hand 24 hours a day to pander to your every wish.
Cocktails at sunset on the upper deck, a massage at midnight in the spa, a banquet for 36 guests whipped up by a five-star chef or a quiet evening in the private cinema watching the latest movies - all are just a phone call away and can be summoned from your private suite.
Five years ago when the spectacular yacht was commissioned, there was not even a shadow of the worldwide financial downturn on the sun-kissed horizon. This year, its owners predict it is going to be more in demand than ever. The kind of people who charter it do not have to worry too much about recession. As the yacht makes its gilt-edged way from the Genoa Boat Show to the Cannes Film Festival via the Monaco Grand Prix and on through the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, dropping in on Corsica, Sardinia or Ibiza along the way, the greatest concerns of its passengers are privacy and discretion.
Alysia, which has just sailed in from the Maldives, is the centrepiece of next month's Abu Dhabi Yacht Show, where a collection of the world's most exclusive and luxurious super-yachts will compete for attention. It is one of several luxury vessels owned by Liveras Yachts, now run by Dion Liveras, son of the company's British Cypriot founder, Andreas Liveras, 73, who was killed in the Taj Mahal Palace hotel attacks in November.
"My father decided that this was an area of the market that was ready to be opened up. Despite the recession our clients are still there, although maybe we won't get so many new ones. They range from royalty to other high-profile individuals. We used to get more movie stars before 9/11; many of them have their own yachts now. There are still a lot of people in this world who do have money and are willing to spend it. Alysia was built before the recession and she will be here long after it is over."
The presence of the gigayacht, along with the 20 or so other super-yachts making their way towards the capital from exotic locations around the world, is designed to underline the UAE's credentials as a yachting destination for the super-rich.
With 3,500 new berths in 14 marinas under construction by Aldar Marinas, along with the forthcoming cultural attractions of Saadiyat Island including the Guggenheim, Louvre and Maritime museums and a performing arts centre, the aim is to make Abu Dhabi somewhere new to go for people who are often described as "high net worth individuals".
Franck Dailles, group director of the Abu Dhabi Yacht Show, said: "To have this yacht here is in line with what Abu Dhabi is trying to achieve. The show is the first of its kind in the region and will feature the largest gathering of super-yachts ever. The aim is to attract owners to come here and enjoy the maritime world and also to invest, to build up businesses and to live here. The event will put the spotlight on Abu Dhabi and is clearly targeted towards the very high-end network."
Visitors invited on to Alysia are asked to remove their shoes and given soft white bath slippers to wear before stepping into the yacht's vast main saloon with its hand-woven Iranian carpets and light gold silk furnishings. A massive television screen, a present from a wealthy client, dominates one wall and a grand piano looks positively dwarfed amid the splendour.
In the adjoining dining room, two 18-seater dining tables groan under Villeroy & Boch crystal and elegant Wedgewood bone china. More than 80 tons of marble from five countries were used in the en suite bathrooms and all the furniture is carved from fine oak.
The five spotless teak decks are connected by a guest lift and a separate lift whisks staff from one level to another so as to be practically invisible. The yacht has four jacuzzis, including one on deck and another in the spa with its fibre-optic star ceiling and glass panels that subtly change colour. There is also a gym, a hairdressing salon and a small medical centre with a full-time nurse.
For the person who pays the bills, the master suite is suitably grand. More than 122 square metres, it has a king-size bed and 180 degree panoramic windows controlled by a bedside console that also works the retractable 42-inch television and DVD equipment. The suite also has a guest bedroom and a study.
Naturally the yacht is equipped with a selection of "boy toys", including five jet skis and three fast tenders. It also has two lifeboats and four life rafts. And if all that luxury becomes tiresome there is a helicopter pad on the top deck ready for a quick getaway.
pkennedy@thenational.ae
Read about the UAE's luxury yacht market in tomorrow's M magazine
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Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman
Key features of new policy
Pupils to learn coding and other vocational skills from Grade 6
Exams to test critical thinking and application of knowledge
A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance, Assessment, Review and Analysis for Holistic Development) will form the standard for schools
Schools to implement online system to encouraging transparency and accountability
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
About Tenderd
Started: May 2018
Founder: Arjun Mohan
Based: Dubai
Size: 23 employees
Funding: Raised $5.8m in a seed fund round in December 2018. Backers include Y Combinator, Beco Capital, Venturesouq, Paul Graham, Peter Thiel, Paul Buchheit, Justin Mateen, Matt Mickiewicz, SOMA, Dynamo and Global Founders Capital
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
How%20to%20avoid%20getting%20scammed
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Leap of Faith
Michael J Mazarr
Public Affairs
Dh67
DUBAI%20BLING%3A%20EPISODE%201
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
A%20QUIET%20PLACE
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Company%20Profile
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
RESULTS
6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Lady Snazz, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Rich And Famous, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Rio Angie, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB) Dh 92,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Kinver Edge, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded