The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is not just a significant political figure; he’s also exceptionally tall. Standing at approximately 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters), he ranks among the tallest world leaders. It’s hardly surprising then, that Sheikh Tamim, who has served as the Emir of Qatar since June 25, 2013, commissioned a mammoth vessel to accommodate himself comfortably.
Delivered in 2017 by the renowned German shipbuilder Lürssen, the mighty superyacht Al Lusail features an exterior designed by H2 Yacht Design and an interior crafted by March & White. The 8,489 GT vessel also boasts custom tenders that mirror the charm and comfort of the 404-foot mothership. The design brief was clear, the tenders had to resemble a scaled-down version of Al Lusail, echoing the same distinctive shapes, lines, and aesthetic elements that define its striking profile.
One of the most unique aspects of the brief was to ensure that the journey was extremely comfortable for the 45-year-old royal. As the fourth son of the former Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his second wife, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Sheikh Tamim’s towering height was a key design consideration. At 6’3”, proper head clearance was non-negotiable. As both a royal and a head of state, he needed to be able to move freely inside the tenders without ducking or feeling confined.
To meet these requirements, UK-based Compass Tenders collaborated with H2 Design to build four custom tenders for Al Lusail: two 11.2-meter Limousine tenders, a 9.1-meter Utility Tender, and an 8.2-meter D-RIB.
While standard luxury tenders typically offer interior headroom between 5.5 to 6 feet, the Al Lusail tenders were custom-built with over 2 meters (approximately 6.6 feet) of standing headroom in the saloon to suit the Emir’s stature. In addition to the spaciousness, the elegant and modern interior features iPad-controlled RGB lighting and soft marine leathers for a tranquil and luxurious environment.
As H2 Design noted, “The tender garage on the mothership provided generous box dimensions, so there was plenty of freedom to be creative, but the challenge was to retain height while keeping the boat well balanced with nice proportions. I believe we were successful in achieving this.”
At 404 feet, Al Lusail narrowly trails in length behind Katara, the $400 million megayacht owned by Sheikh Tamim’s father. Though Al Lusail reportedly cost $100 million more, it was deliberately kept one meter shorter than the 410-foot Katara, a symbolic gesture of respect and tradition within the Qatari royal family. In every other aspect, however, the towering personality of Sheikh Tamim, who enjoys competitive sports like badminton and bowling, takes center stage.
