The daredevil crown prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, better known as Fazza, is unwinding in the balmy waters of Tarragona, Spain. Back home in Dubai, the heat is soaring at 115 degrees, which likely pushed the 42-year-old, award-winning equestrian to trade the stables for his superyacht. Coming from one of the most affluent Middle Eastern families, the royal, who also serves as the Minister of Defence of the UAE, chose to sail aboard the $180 million Quattroelle.
No, she isn’t the largest in his fleet, which includes the $400 million Dubai superyacht, but don’t mistake her for being underwhelming. This 283-foot, five-deck private yacht is still among the most impressive to grace the Catalan coast this summer, according to Diarimes. For Sheikh Hamdan, Tarragona’s beauty offers the perfect backdrop for his many hobbies. The Sandhurst graduate can bypass the chaos of Ibiza and the crowded streets of Barcelona, finding peace and quiet instead. From his vast five-decker sun deck, he might even catch a glimpse of the iconic 2nd-century AD Roman Amphitheatre that sits just beside the Mediterranean.
A father of four, Fazza is passionate about animals, poetry, sports, photography, and adventure. Aboard Lürssen’s Quattroelle, the skydiver and scuba diver can engage in water sports, capture endless photographs of the breathtaking scenery, and explore the region’s history. The poet in him can easily draw inspiration from such a serene, unspoiled setting. Known for his romantic and patriotic poems written in Arabic under the pen name Fazza, perhaps he might even be moved to pen verses echoing Margaret Koger’s evocative “At Ease in Tarragona.” Her lines capture the city’s magic;
“Oh Tarragona! Why so comforting? Mornings at the Sant Jordi, old Domingo’s forty years of service, shuffling now, baskets of sticky croissants and butter, café con leche? Yes, and orange juice, before we watch rabbits and goats scamper across the scrub hillside below. Tarragona, where Sol and his sister sea renew us…”
Fazza’s life, fascinatingly documented on social media for his 17 million followers, offers a rare look into royal living. From private jets and towering views atop the Burj Khalifa to glimpses of the world’s most well-bred horses and tender moments with his children, his posts weave together the picture of a modern prince. Whether his family is with him this summer to explore Tarragona’s Roman ruins and medieval streets remains unknown, but the yacht itself is a perfect family vessel for a European summer.
Quattroelle, a sporty superyacht with an Usain Bolt-designed gym-
When Lürssen delivered Quattroelle in 2013, it was the largest yacht ever built at the shipyard. Originally commissioned by Michael Chin Lee, who envisioned a vessel inspired by his personal philosophy of the “Four L’s” (Love, Life, Liberty, and Luxury), the yacht later found its way to Dubai’s adventurous crown prince.
Fazza retained the original name but made one key change to suit his lifestyle: a bespoke gym designed with input from Olympic legend Usain Bolt. This athletic touch transforms Quattroelle from a luxury yacht into a floating sanctuary for an active life, perfectly aligned with Fazza’s spirit.
The royal unwinds on the owner’s deck while up to 12 guests are accommodated in six lavish cabins. Quattroelle also features a helipad, a full spa and salon, a cinema, an art gallery, and an expansive eight-person Spa Pool. Her arsenal of toys and tenders is stored aboard the support vessel Quattroelle Shadow, which, though not accompanying her on this journey, currently rests at Dubai’s Port Rashid. This young prince spends an annual budget of $15–20 million for the operation and upkeep of the $180 million Quattroelle yacht. The vessel is sailing in the balmy waters of Terragona according to Marine Traffic.
