Ain Dubai

Ain Dubai (Arabic: عين دبي) is the world's biggest and tallest Ferris wheel, located on Bluewaters Island, near the Dubai Marina in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Ain Dubai
عين دبي
General information
TypeObservation wheel
Architectural styleModern
LocationBluewaters Island
Town or cityDubai
CountryUnited Arab Emirates
Coordinates25°04′48.4″N 55°07′26.6″E
Construction startedMay 2015
Completed2021
Opened21 October 2021 (2021-10-21)
ClosedMarch 2022
Height250 metres (820 ft)
Technical details
MaterialMetal
Design and construction
EngineerHyundai Engineering & Construction;
Starneth Engineering

Background
Ain Dubai and Bluewaters Island

Ain Dubai (previously named the Dubai Eye or Dubai-I[1][2]), at Bluewaters Island in the United Arab Emirates, is the world's tallest and largest observation wheel, with a height of 250 m (820 ft) and was announced in February 2013.[3] Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Starneth Engineering were appointed as the primary design and construction contractors,[3][4] together with KCI, the engineers who designed and engineered the complete wheel structure including the installation engineering. Construction began in May 2015,[5] anticipating completion in early to mid-2019. Further delays pushed the target opening to 20 October 2020, in order to coincide with Expo 2020,[6] but this itself was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The wheel opened a year later on 21 October 2021.[7]

Ain Dubai is 82.4 m (270 ft) taller than the previous world's tallest observation wheel, the 167.6 m (550 ft) High Roller, which opened in Las Vegas in March 2014.[8]

The wheel is designed to carry up to 1,750 passengers[9] in 48 cabins and to provide views of Dubai Marina and landmarks such as Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, and Burj Khalifa.[10]

Ain Dubai has not been operational since March 2022 for "periodic enhancements".[11] In April 2023, the operators announced that the Ain Dubai would remain "closed indefinitely", without any further explanation. The axle of the wheel was at that time surrounded by scaffolding, and the German TÜV Association, which was involved in the Ain's construction, withdrew its safety certification for the structure. However, as of July 2023 the LED displays on the structure continue to be illuminated at night and are visible from miles away.[12]

Ain Dubai, night time light show of the ferris wheel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

See also

References
  1. Dubai's Meraas eyes $234m loan for Ferris wheel scheme Archived 2015-02-17 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Ain Dubai is the new name for Dubai-I – update". Time Out Dubai. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  3. "Dubai plans to outdo Staten Island in race for world's biggest Ferris wheel". nydailynews.com. New York Daily News. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  4. "Dubai to build the tallest observation wheel". Travel. CNN. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  5. "First leg of Dubai Eye big wheel lifted into place". Middle East Construction News. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  6. Bhatia, Nehi (7 June 2019). "Hyundai E&C awards Ain Dubai EPCI subcontract to France's Poma". ConstructionWeek. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  7. "Dubai Eye: World's largest ferris wheel opens with spectacular drone and fireworks show". independent. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  8. Trejos, Nancy. "World's tallest Ferris wheel opens in Vegas". USA Today. Knight Ridder. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  9. "Record-breaking ferris wheel opens in Dubai". BBC News.
  10. "Dh6b tourism project in Dubai unveiled". Gulf News. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  11. "Ain Dubai to remain closed until further notice". Arabian News. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  12. "The mystery of the Ain Dubai, the world's largest (broken) Ferris wheel". Washington Post. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
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