Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Monday, Mar 09, 2026

Saudi prince MBS bought this $400 million megayacht from a Russian Oligarch and immediately kicked him out. The 439 feet long vessel has two helipads, a submarine, and a nightclub. The royal has also hung a $450M painting in it.

Saudi prince MBS bought this $400 million megayacht from a Russian Oligarch and immediately kicked him out. The 439 feet long vessel has two helipads, a submarine, and a nightclub. The royal has also hung a $450M painting in it.

Serene, the $400 million superyacht initially owned by Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler, then by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and chartered by Bill Gates, is a marvelous creation worth every praise coming its way. The vessel has iconic names attached to it, but it is not the owner that makes this ship. Instead, it is the sheer grandeur of the goliath that complements the stature of its owners.

According to Forbes, serene was the first superyacht built by Italy’s Fincantieri yard and once featured among the world’s three biggest yachts. At 439 feet, it fell behind Roman Abramovich’s 550- feet long Eclipse and steel tycoon Viktor Rashikov’s 459-feet Ocean Victory. Let’s take a closer look at the charm of the Serene superyacht and how it enticed the man who has everything, the Saudi prince:



The spectacular Serene yacht:


Serene, owned by Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s deputy crown prince, may not be the largest yacht in the world. When it comes to striking features and a seemingly endless list of amenities, Serene is a vessel that is tough to beat. With a massive beam of 60 feet, the ship boasts seven decks and 4,500 square meters of interior space designed by Pascale Reymond of Reymond Langton Design.


Made in 2011, Serene comprises a steel hull and aluminum superstructure. Its USP is numerous amenities and luxuries that are hard to find. This aspect has attracted the wealthiest of the world. Paul Ashton, the editor of SuperYacht World, said: ‘The interior is a closely guarded secret, as is often the case with the very private yachts at the top end. But it is the work of Reymond Langton, who is one of the most exclusive design teams in the world, so it will be breathtaking.”


He added, ‘A yacht like this is not really like anything else – a company or a football club and even property is there to make money – a big yacht will only cost money.’ Pretty sure the costing money part is accurate as Serene comes with a giant internal seawater pool, and if that wasn’t enough, one of the two helipads converts to yet another pool or dance floor.


The lavish owner’s suite is a stately double cabin with a private swim platform and private lift. In addition, 12 elegant cabins accommodate 24 guests who can also hop into the yacht’s submarine to explore the world below. The more you learn about the onboard amenities, the more Serene seems like the perfect yacht to charter for a family.


There is much to do from an uncommon snow room, several children’s playrooms, a climbing wall between the decks’ slides, and an exciting underwater viewing room.


Adults too will be kept occupied enjoying a classic in the outdoor cinema, while music and conversations take place in the piano room and bar. The wellness and beauty center is the best spot, outfitted with spas, hammams, and more to unwind and relax. The award-winning Serene flaunts a private beach club with a sheltered sunbathing area.


There are also two Jacuzzis and a sundeck dance floor. Most will fall for the ship’s observational deck, a fully stocked wet bar with extra sun loungers. The yacht that has everything cant be complete without an exhaustive collection of tenders and toys. No wonder even one of the richest men globally, Bill Gates, couldn’t resist its charms and chartered the Serene superyacht for an estimated $5 million per week in 2014. The family enjoyed a week together on the yacht just off the coast of Porto Cervo, Sardinia.

Mohammed Bin Salman


Prince Mohammed bin Salman owns Serene motor yacht:


Speaking of the Serene charm, so taken was the Saudi prince by this superb megayacht that he kicked its Russian oligarch owner off the $400 million yacht immediately after buying it. While on holiday in the south of France, the Saudi prince leveled up the meaning of holiday shopping after spotting this luxury vessel and wasted no time acquiring it.


According to the New York Times, he dispatched an aide to buy the ship, and the deal was supposedly done within hours, with Mr. Yuri Shefler moving out of the yacht on the same day. Billionaire businessman Yuri Shefler is the owner of SPI Group, an international consortium that sells alcohol in 160 countries, most notably the Stolichnaya vodka brand. As of March 2022, his net worth was estimated at $1.5 billion.

The Salvator Mundi


Serene is home to Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi:


As per CNBC, Mohammed bin Salman enjoys a family net worth of over $1 trillion. It is expected he owns a lavish superyacht that will give palaces on and a run for their money. But the sparkle goes beyond the vessel and her umpteen amenities. Inside Serene, one will find the world’s most expensive painting, Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, purchased for almost half a billion dollars in 2017 (that’s more expensive than the yacht itself).

For the longest time, the whereabouts of this Leonardo Da Vinci masterpiece were a mystery. According to Al Jazeera, Mohammed bin Salman reportedly brought the painting and hung it on a cabin wall on the superyacht Serene. Both purchases together amount to over $1 billion. The painting meant to grace the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi never showed up at the scheduled events. This left people perplexed and wondering about the whereabouts of the expensive painting. All except one!

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Oil Prices Retreat From Peak as G7 Weighs Release of Strategic Reserves
Pentagon Identifies U.S. Soldier Who Died After Iranian Strike on Saudi Air Base
Why Saudi Arabia’s $50 Billion ‘The Line’ Megacity Slowed — and How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping the Plan
United States Withdraws Diplomatic Staff from Saudi Arabia and Southeast Turkey as Regional Conflict Escalates
Fanatics Moves Tom Brady Flag Football Showcase from Saudi Arabia to Los Angeles Amid Regional War
Saudi Arabia Seeks Strategic Support from Pakistan After Iranian Missile and Drone Attacks
Saudi Arabia Begins Oil Output Cuts as Hormuz Disruption Forces Storage Limits
Saudi Arabia Travel Advisory Tightened as Middle East War Triggers Regional Security Alerts
Saudi Arabia Warns Iran It Will Be ‘Biggest Loser’ as Drone Strikes Spread Across Gulf States
Lindsey Graham Urges Saudi Arabia to Join US Effort Against Iran as War Expands
Saudi Crown Prince Holds Strategic Calls With Spanish and Ukrainian Leaders Amid Regional Tensions
Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways Shifts Operations to Saudi Arabia Amid Regional Airspace Disruptions
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Why Jeddah’s Night Race Has Become One of Formula One’s Most Distinctive Events
F1 Leadership Addresses Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Races as Middle East Conflict Raises Safety Concerns
Zelenskyy Offers Saudi Crown Prince Assistance to Counter Iranian Drone Threat
Seventh U.S. Service Member Dies from Injuries After Iranian Strike in Saudi Arabia
Civilian Infrastructure Increasingly Hit as Iran Conflict Expands and Saudi Arabia Reports First Fatalities
Saudi Arabia Warns Iran to Halt Attacks and Signals Potential Retaliation
US Embassy in Riyadh Issues Security Alert Urging Americans to Shelter in Place Amid Regional Attacks
Projectile Strike on Saudi Residential Building Kills Two as Regional Conflict Expands
Saudi Arabia Warns Iran While Expanding Diplomatic Efforts to Contain Widening Middle East War
Iran’s President Rejects U.S. Surrender Demand as Drone and Missile Strikes Hit Gulf States
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Drone Swarm Targeting Strategic Shaybah Oil Field
Pakistan Faces Growing Pressure to Balance Ties With Iran and Saudi Arabia as Regional War Intensifies
Middle East Conflict Tests Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision to Transform Saudi Arabia Into a Global Hub
Proposed U.S.–Saudi Nuclear Deal Could Ease Traditional Nonproliferation Requirements
Iran Claims Strike on U.S.-Linked Oil Tanker Near Saudi Waters as Maritime Tensions Escalate
Saudi Arabia Says Air Defences Destroyed 23 Drones and Three Missiles Amid Escalating Regional Conflict
Saudi Arabia Warns Iran Against ‘Miscalculation’ After Missile and Drone Attacks Across Gulf
Iranian Missiles Intercepted Across Gulf as Air Defences Activate in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Bahrain
U.S. Justice Department Pursues Criminal Cases Against Cuban Officials in New Legal Push
Abrupt Cancellation of U.S. Army Exercise Sparks Speculation Over Possible Middle East Deployment
Saudi Arabia Led OPEC Output Surge Ahead of Iran Strikes, Survey Finds
Cristiano Ronaldo Travels to Spain for Hamstring Treatment After Injury in Saudi Pro League Match
Saudi Aramco Reroutes Oil to Red Sea as Strait of Hormuz Disruptions Hit Gulf Exports
Saudi Arabia Presses Ahead With Economic Diversification Despite Fiscal and External Deficits
Middle East Conflict Puts Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula One Races at Risk
Iran Targets Israeli Diplomatic Site in Bahrain and US Air Base in Qatar as Regional Conflict Expands
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Three Ballistic Missiles Targeting Prince Sultan Air Base
Iran Launches Fresh Missile and Drone Attacks Across Middle East as Regional War Intensifies
Saudi Arabia Opens Direct Communication Channel With Iran in Bid to Prevent Wider Regional War
Saudi Arabia Maintains Strong Fiscal Position Despite Global Uncertainty, Finance Ministry Says
Saudi Arabia Considers Response After Iranian Drone Strike Hits Major Northern Oil Refinery
Saudi Carrier Flynas Plans Limited Flight Resumption to Dubai Amid Regional Tensions
Saudi Arabia and UAE Pledge Close Coordination to Secure Oil Supplies for Japan
Middle East Conflict Casts Doubt Over Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula One Races
Iran Rejects Claims of Attacks on Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia and Oman
Saudi Arabia Condemns Iranian Strikes Targeting Türkiye and Azerbaijan
Saudi Pro League Orders Clubs to Continue Matches Despite Escalating Regional Conflict
U.S. Embassy in Riyadh Issues Emergency Security Alert After Drone Strike and Escalating Regional Threats
×