Cairo Eye

Cairo Eye, also known as Ain Cairo (Arabic: عين القاهرة) is a ferris wheel under construction located on the banks of the Nile River in the Zamalek district of Cairo, Egypt.[1][2]

Cairo Eye
عين القاهرة
Alternative namesAin Cairo
General information
StatusUnder construction
TypeFerris wheel
LocationCairo, Egypt
Town or cityZamalek
Construction startedJanuary 21st, 2021
Completed2022
CostEGP 500 million ($32 million)
OwnerHawaii Tourism
Height120 meters (390 ft)
Technical details
Floor area5000 square metres (54,000 sq ft)
Other information
Parking500 vehicles
Website
cairoeye.com

It will be considered Cairo's first recreational and touristic observation wheel spanning over 5,000 square metres (54,000 sq ft) of land area and a height of 120 metres (390 ft),[3] making it the largest ferris wheel in Africa and the fifth largest worldwide,[4] expected to attract around 2.5 million visitors a year.[5][6]

In recent years, the adjacent city of Giza, home to the Sphinx and pyramids, has received the majority of tourism projects. From Giza's long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum to the new pyramids visitor center and the recently opened Sphinx International Airport, Egypt is betting big on Giza tourism and hopes the same for Cairo.[7]

In accordance with Egypt's 2030 Vision, Egypt aims to resuscitate its tourism sector with the new tourist attraction. As Egypt’s tourism authority anticipates that the wheel will certainly boost Egypt's economy, especially after the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.[8]

Facilities

Cairo Eye is placed near one of Cairo's major archaeological attractions, the Cairo Tower, and it aims to link both entertainment and cultural learning together, set to have an integrated recreational area established around the Ferris wheel to serve as a tourist destination.[9]

The wheel will have 48 total cabins with a panoramic 360 view of Cairo with a capacity of 6-8 passengers for each cabin, and will carry around 15,000 visitors a day.[10] The height of the wheel is 120 metres (390 ft), offers a bird's-eye view of the city for up to 50 kilometres (31 mi) which includes the views of downtown Cairo, the renowned Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx.[11][7][12]

The Cairo Eye will also include services and facilities like retailers of international brands, fine dining restaurants, a food court, an entertainment and events area as well as a 1,000 square metres (11,000 sq ft) multi-purpose hall overlooking the Nile River.[13]

As for the inevitable congestion and traffic jams, the project will be provided with a covered car parking area (two levels) with a capacity of 500 vehicles, 'Ain Cairo taxi services' and 'Ain Cairo free transport drop on/off buses' as well as river transportation.[14][15]

Tickets to ride the Cairo Eye are expected to range between $15 and $22, but prices will be reviewed once the project is complete.[8]

Construction

The beginning of construction on the Cairo Eye wheel was officially announced by the Governor of Cairo on January 21, 2021 and it comes to support the Egypt Vision 2030 strategy to boost tourism in Egypt and economic development launched by the president of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.[16][17] The project is owned by Hawaii Tourism, which are in negotiations with 4 banks to finance 50% of the investment cost of the Cairo Eye project.[18][19]

Cairo Eye is set to be completed and opened in 2022 at a cost of EGP 500 million ($32 million), providing 1,200 direct job opportunities and 4,000 indirect job opportunities.[20][21]

Concerns

Location

Zamalek residents have raised concerns over the project’s potential impact on the already-crowded district and its infrastructure.[22] In order to preserve the identity and entity of the district, while taking into account the preservation of all trees and palms in the area, the project has adopted a plan to achieve an increase in the total green areas of the project by 15%؜ to reach 7,000 square metres (75,000 sq ft) instead of the current 6,100 square metres (66,000 sq ft).[23][24]

Even after Cairo Eye officials stated that the project will actually increase total green space by 15%. Some stakeholders, such as Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris, suggest moving the attraction closer to Egypt's New Administrative Capital, an under-construction local designed to alleviate Cairo congestion.

Traffic

Cairo is notoriously gridlocked, and many residents and even government officials worry an attraction of this size could only worsen things.[22] Project leaders stated that they have studied traffic management and proposed solutions like the Cairo Eye Nile Taxi, a hop-on-hop-off bus, and a parking garage set to hold up to 500 cars.[25]

References
  1. "Egypt To Launch The Largest Observation Wheel in Africa 'Cairo Eye' in 2022". Egypt Today. 2021-01-21. Archived from the original on 2021-01-30.
  2. "مصر تطلق مشروع العجلة الدوارة "عين القاهرة" السياحي" [Egypt launches the "Cairo Eye" tourism project]. Reuters (in Arabic). 2021-01-21.
  3. "'Cairo Eye' to be Largest Observation Wheel in Africa". Egyptian Streets. 22 January 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-01-22.
  4. "Cairo Eye The Largest Observational Wheel In Africa". Egypt Today. 11 January 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-01-23.
  5. "عجلة "عين القاهرة".. مشروع سياحي يستهدف 2.5 مليون زائر سنويا" [The "Cairo Eye" wheel ... a tourism project that targets 2.5 million visitors annually]. Al Arabiya (in Arabic). 2021-01-21. Archived from the original on 2021-01-21.
  6. "Egypt to construct the Cairo Eye, Africa's largest Ferris wheel". Egypt Independent. 13 January 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16.
  7. "Africa's Largest Observation Wheel Will Make Its Debut in Egypt Next Year — and It Promises Views of the Famed Pyramids". Travel + Leisure. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  8. "Cairo Eye: Egypt aims to build the largest tourist wheel in Africa". The South African. 2021-03-02. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  9. "Egypt's world class tourism initiative 'Cairo Eye' to launch soon". Egypt Independent. 2020-07-10. Archived from the original on 2020-07-14.
  10. "بارتفاع 120 مترا في قلب القاهرة.. 10 معلومات عن "Cairo Eye" أكبر عجلة دوارة في أفريقيا" [With a height of 120 meters in the heart of Cairo ... 10 informations about "Cairo Eye", the largest ferris wheel in Africa]. Masrawy (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2021-01-30.
  11. "'Cairo Eye': Egypt's Newest World-Class Tourism Initiative is Launching Soon". Scoop Empire. 2020-07-12. Archived from the original on 2020-07-13.
  12. "Cairo Eye, Africa's largest observation wheel to debut in Egypt in 2022". Times of India Travel. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  13. "حقائق ومعلومات مشروع "عين القاهرة ".. تعرف عليها" [Facts and information about the "Cairo Eye" project ... know them]. Youm 7 (in Arabic). 2021-01-21. Archived from the original on 2021-01-24.
  14. "تدشين مشروع عين القاهرة Cairo Eye باستثمارات 500 مليون جنيه" [The launch of the Cairo Eye project, with investments of 500 million pounds]. اليوم السابع (in Arabic). 2021-01-21. Archived from the original on 2021-01-28.
  15. "أخيرًا .. عين القاهرة" [Finally ... Cairo Eye]. Ahram Gates (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2021-01-09.
  16. "Egypt to construct the Cairo Eye, Africa's largest Ferris wheel". Egypt Independent. 13 January 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16.
  17. "Cairo Eye to be inaugurated in 2022, investments worth EGP 500 mln: Officials". Ahram Online. Archived from the original on 2021-01-22.
  18. "«هاواي» للسياحة تعتزم إطلاق مشروع «عين القاهرة» كأكبر عجلة ترفيهية بأفريقيا فى 2022" [Hawaii Tourism intends to launch the "Cairo Eye" project as the largest entertainment wheel in Africa in 2022]. Gareedat Al Mal (in Arabic). 2021-01-10. Archived from the original on 2021-01-10. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  19. ""هاواي للسياحة" تتفاوض مع 4 بنوك لتمويل 50% من التكلفة الاستثمارية لمشروع "عين القاهرة"" [Hawaii Tourism is negotiating with 4 banks to finance 50% of the investment cost of the Cairo Eye project.]. Amwal Al Ghad (in Arabic). 2021-01-21. Archived from the original on 2021-01-21.
  20. "محافظ القاهرة: افتتاح "Cairo eye" بتكلفة 500 مليون جنيه" [Governor of Cairo: Opening of "Cairo eye" at a cost of 500 million pounds]. Al Mal News (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2021-01-21.
  21. "تدشين مشروع عين القاهرة باستثمارات 500 مليون جنيه" [The launch of the Cairo Eye project with investments of 500 million pounds]. www.shorouknews.com (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2021-01-21.
  22. "'Catastrophic': Outrage grows over Egypt's new tourist attraction".
  23. "محافظ العاصمة: مشروع "عين القاهرة" مهم ويأتي متكاملًا مع ممشى مصر" [The Governor of the Capital: The "Cairo Eye" project is important and comes integrated with the Egypt Walk]. Masrawy (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2021-02-07.
  24. "تدشين مشروع عين القاهرة Cairo Eye باستثمارات 500 مليون جنيه" [The launch of the Cairo Eye project, with investments of 500 million pounds]. Youm 7 (in Arabic). 2021-01-21. Archived from the original on 2021-01-28.
  25. "Cairo Eye The Largest Observational Wheel In Africa". EgyptToday. 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
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