Ain Dubai

Observation wheel in Dubai, UAE

25°04′48.4″N 55°07′26.6″E / 25.080111°N 55.124056°E / 25.080111; 55.124056Construction startedMay 2015Completed2021Opened21 October 2021 (2021-10-21)ClosedMarch 2022Height250 metres (820 ft)Technical detailsMaterialMetalDesign and constructionEngineerHyundai Engineering & Construction;
Starneth EngineeringOther informationSeating capacity1750Websiteaindubai.com

Ain Dubai (Arabic: عين دبي; ‘eye of Dubai’) was a Ferris wheel located in the UAE. When it opened it took the title of the world's tallest giant observation wheel located at Bluewaters Island in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It stands at 250 m (820 ft) tall. It opened in October 2021; however, it has not been operational since March 2022.

History

Ain Dubai and Bluewaters Island

Ain Dubai was previously named the Dubai Eye or Dubai-I.[1][2] It 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[update] the LED displays on the structure continue to be illuminated at night and are visible from miles away.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Dubai's Meraas eyes $234m loan for Ferris wheel scheme". Arabian Business. Reuters. 1 July 2015. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Ain Dubai is the new name for Dubai-I – update". Time Out Dubai. 11 July 2016. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b Lemire, Jonathan; Walsh, Michael (11 April 2020). "Dubai plans to outdo Staten Island in race for world's biggest Ferris wheel". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Dubai eyes world's tallest Ferris wheel". CNN. 15 February 2013. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  5. ^ Davids, Gavin (1 June 2015). "First leg of Dubai Eye big wheel lifted into place". Middle East Construction News. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Hyundai E&C awards Ain Dubai EPCI subcontract to France's Poma". Construction Week Online. 7 June 2019. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  7. ^ Browning, Oliver (22 October 2021). "Dubai Eye: World's largest ferris wheel opens with spectacular drone and fireworks show". The Independent. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  8. ^ Trejos, Nancy (31 March 2014). "Sneak peek: World's tallest Ferris wheel opens in Vegas". USA Today. Archived from the original on 1 April 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  9. ^ "Record-breaking ferris wheel opens in Dubai". BBC News. 23 October 2021. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Dh6b tourism project in Dubai unveiled". Gulf News. 13 February 2013. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  11. ^ "Ain Dubai to remain closed until further notice". Arabian Business. 5 April 2023. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  12. ^ Rohan, Brian (9 July 2023). "The mystery of the Ain Dubai, the world's largest (broken) Ferris wheel". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.

External links

  • Media related to Ain Dubai at Wikimedia Commons
  • Ain Dubai
Records
Preceded by
High Roller
 World's tallest Ferris wheel
2021–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
  • v
  • t
  • e
Landmarks and attractions in Dubai
  • flagUnited Arab Emirates portal
  • v
  • t
  • e
Americas
Brazil
Roda Rico
Rio Star
US
the original Ferris Wheel
High Roller
The Wheel at ICON Park Orlando
Asia
Europe
Oceania
Australia
Melbourne Star
Other conventional Ferris wheels
For a more extensive list, see List of Ferris wheels
Americas
Asia
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Observation Wheel
Indonesia
J-Sky
Japan
Amuran
Big O
Turkmenistan
Alem
Europe &
Eurasia
Other types of wheel
Transportable
Ferris wheels
Transportable
Ferris wheel
installations
Eccentric wheels
Double wheels
US
Giant Wheel (Hersheypark)
Triple wheels
Major Ferris wheel proposals
Construction in progress:
United Arab Emirates
Ain Dubai
Unfinished projects:
China
Turn of Fortune
US
New York Wheel
Abandoned projects:
US
Skyvue
Quiescent proposals:
China
Beijing Great Wheel
Germany
Great Berlin Wheel
India
Kolkata Eye
US
Great Orlando Wheel

For other quiescent (incomplete, delayed, stalled, cancelled, failed, or abandoned) proposals, see: Ferris wheel#Quiescent proposals

Designers,
manufacturers,
and operators
People
Popular culture
List of London Eye appearances in popular culture
The Great Wheel (novel)
The London Eye Mystery (novel)
Categories
Ferris wheels
Former Ferris wheels
Proposed Ferris wheels
Transportable Ferris wheels
Unbuilt Ferris wheels
Amusement rides
Ferris wheels @ Wikimedia Commons