What to see aboard the Ain Dubai Ferris wheel?
Ain Dubai (formerly known as Dubai Eye or Dubai-I) is the tallest and largest observation wheel in the world. It is located on the artificial island of Bluewaters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The Ain Dubai Ferris Wheel is certainly one of the city's most iconic attractions. This gigantic iron wheel offers breathtaking views of the skyline of Dubai and the famous Palm Jumeirah - but also of the Arabian Gulf
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History of Ain Dubai
The Ain Dubai Ferris wheel rises to 250 meters and is considered the world's largest Ferris wheel: it is 82 meters longer than the Las Vegas High Roller, 84 meters longer than the Singapore Flyer in Singapore and 114 meters longer than the London Eye in London.
It is also the third tallest iron structure on the planet, after the Burj Khalifa and the Taipei 101 Tower.
In numbers
The Ain Dubai - built by the Swiss company Ropes Courses International - cost 1 billion dirhams and took 3 years to complete.
The wheel weighs the equivalent of 16 Airbus A380 aircraft and the pillars that support it are 126 meters high. Each of the cables holding the wheel weighs 5 tons and measures the equivalent of a professional football stadium. 192 cables (for a total of 2,400 km in length) and 11,200 tons of steel were necessary for its construction, i.e. 33 % more than the amount of iron used for Eiffel Tower.
Its construction
Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Starneth Engineering have been named as prime design and construction contractors, along with KCI, the engineers who have designed and engineered the complete wheel structure, including installation engineering.
Announced in 2013, its construction began in May 2015, and was originally scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2019. Its opening was then postponed to October 20, 2020, to coincide with the World Expo in 2020 - but this itself has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ain Dubai finally opened a year later, on October 21, 2021.
The wheel is made up of 48 air-conditioned cabins of 30 m² - all equipped with leather seats and panoramic windows - which can each accommodate up to 40 people, for a maximum capacity of 1750 visitors.
It rotates at a speed of 1.6 km/h and takes approximately 40 minutes to complete a full revolution.
Its inauguration
The Ain Dubai Ferris Wheel was opened on October 21, 2021. Its highly publicized inauguration attracted visitors from all over the world and was marked by several ceremonies and events.
The first was an official opening ceremony, during which dignitaries were able to take the first spin of the wheel. This event was followed by a grand party, with fireworks and concerts, which fascinated thousands of people.
Aboard the Ain Dubai
There is no minimum age requirement to board the Ain Dubai - however, children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years old.
Day or night, the Ain Dubai Ferris wheel offers an unprecedented panorama of the city of Dubai and its surroundings: on a clear day, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the island of Bluewaters to the Dubai Marina and the Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), passing by the Burj Al Arab and the Burj Khalifa.
The Ain Dubai offers a 38-minute tour in an air-conditioned cabin with a 360 degree view. During the journey, the Ferris wheel stops several times so that its visitors can take photos and fully enjoy the scenery. Informative LED screens are also available in the cabins.
At night, the wheel is illuminated by LED lights that make it visible from afar and make it a real spectacle.
The 48 cabins of Ain Dubai offer different modalities:
- Observation cabins (classic cabins)
- Social cabins: which have a small bar with drinks included - for an exclusive experience!
- VIP cabins: ideal for celebrating engagements, weddings, birthdays or any other private event. By reservation only.
The Social and VIP cabins also offer access to Ain Dubai's Seaview Loungee, a waiting area located at the base of the wheel.
The cabins of the Ferris wheel do not have toilets, it is strongly recommended to use the toilets of the terminal before boarding!
Accessibility
The Ain Dubai is accessible to people with reduced mobility: the cabins have been specially designed to accommodate them and have seats and handles.
The Ferris wheel staff are also trained to help them and are on hand if needed.
Ain Dubai tickets
Get the best price by buying your Ain Dubai Ferris Wheel tickets from one of our partners:
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In order to benefit from the best prices and avoid queues, it is recommended to buy your tickets in advance, on the internet.
Dubai is not particularly popular for its nocturnal illuminations, the view from Ain Dubai is more beautiful during the day than at night.
Opening hours
The Ain Dubai Ferris wheel is open all year round:
- Tuesday and Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Thursday to Saturday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Getting to Ain Dubai
The Ain Dubai Ferris Wheel is located near Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), in the heart of the Bluewaters Island resort, on the artificial island of Bluewaters, near Dubai Marina.
Address: Bluewaters, Bluewaters Island, Dubai
Nearby
Take advantage of your visit to the Ain Dubai Ferris wheel to visit:
- The Burj Khalifa: the tallest skyscraper in the world, located just a few minutes drive from Ain Dubai.
- Dubai Mall: The largest shopping mall in the world, which is also near the Burj Khalifa.
- Jumeirah Beach: a beautiful white sand beach, located a few minutes drive from Ain Dubai.
- The Gold Souk: a famous flea market where you can find gold and jewelry at great prices.
- The Spice Souk: a colorful and fragrant market, where you can find a wide range of spices and herbs.
