According to AP journalists who saw the vessel on Tuesday, the vessel is owned by a Russian billionaire.

The $300 million Philippe Starck-designed Motor Yacht A was last reported in the Middle East.

The $600 million yacht of Melnichenko was seized by Italian authorities in March as a result of western sanctions against Russia.

The yacht is beyond the reach of western sanctions if it is left in the port.

The war in Ukraine has been publicly expressed by the United Arab Emirates. According to Insider, if you invest at least 10 million dirhams in a local company, you can get a golden visa.

ABC News and the Financial Times reported the story.

The Philippe Starck-designed boat is seen moored next to HMS Belfast on the River Thames on September 7, 2016 in London
The Motor Yacht A was moored in London in 2016.
Leon Neal/Getty Images

The superyacht used to sail under the UK flag.

The Isle of Man, a British crown dependency in the Irish Sea, said in March that it had deregistered Melnichenko's yacht because of western sanctions. Should the situation warrant it, we will act with appropriate robustness.

European officials told the Financial Times that they don't want their allies to become conduits for the Putin regime, and that they were worried that sanctions could be used to treat the United Arab Emirates as a financial haven.

One of Russia's most successful lenders is the MDM Bank, founded by Melnichenko. Eurochem and SUEK were founded by him.

Russian tycoons have turned to alternative routes for financial transactions.

Big banks are more cautious but smaller banks are helping those who want to relocate, according to a Russian businessman. It is taking a lot of time.