Ain Dubai

Giant observation wheel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Ain Dubai

عين دبي

Ain Dubai seen from Jumeirah Beach

General information
Type| Observation wheel
Architectural style| Modern
Location| Bluewaters Island
Town or city| Dubai
Country| United Arab Emirates
Coordinates| 25°04′48.4″N 55°07′26.6″E﻿ / ﻿25.080111°N 55.124056°E﻿ / 25.080111; 55.124056
Construction started| May 2015
Completed| 2021
Opened| 21 October 2021 (2021-10-21)
Height| 250 metres (820 ft)
Technical details
Material| Steel
Design and construction
Engineer| Hyundai Engineering & Construction;
Starneth Engineering
Other information
Seating capacity| 1,750
Website
aindubai.com

Ain Dubai (Arabic: عين دبي; lit. 'eye of Dubai') is a giant Ferris wheel located at Bluewaters Island in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is the world's tallest observation wheel, at a height of 250 m (820 ft), since October 2021.

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.[1]

The wheel is designed to carry up to 1,750 passengers[2] in 48 cabins and to provide views of Dubai Marina and landmarks such as Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, and Burj Khalifa.[3]

It is powered by hydraulic motors through 64 rubber tyre friction rollers of 310/80R22.5 size located at the ends of the boarding platform.[4]

## History

[edit]

Ain Dubai was previously named the Dubai Eye or Dubai-I.[5][6] It was announced in February 2013.[7]

Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Starneth Engineering were appointed as the primary design and construction contractors,[7][8] together with KCI, the engineers who designed and engineered the complete wheel structure including the installation engineering. Construction began in May 2015,[9] anticipating completion in early to mid-2019. Further delays pushed the target opening to 20 October 2020, in order to coincide with Expo 2020,[10] but this itself was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The wheel opened a year later on 21 October 2021.[11]

Ain Dubai closed to the public in March 2022 for "periodic enhancements".[12] 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, since July 2023 the LED displays on the structure continued to be illuminated at night and are visible from long distances.[13]

In April 2024, Ain Dubai was seen to be in operation, however it was still closed to the public.[14] Ain Dubai officially reopened to visitors on 26 December 2024.[15]

## See also

[edit]

* List of tallest buildings and structures in the world

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 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.
2. ^ "Record-breaking ferris wheel opens in Dubai". BBC News. 23 October 2021. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023.
3. ^ "Dh6b tourism project in Dubai unveiled". Gulf News. 13 February 2013. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
4. ^ Thomas, William (6 April 2022). "Continental tyres help turning Ain Dubai - Move It Magazine". Retrieved 10 February 2025.
5. ^ "Dubai's Meraas eyes $234m loan for Ferris wheel scheme". Arabian Business. Reuters. 1 July 2015. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015.
6. ^ "Ain Dubai is the new name for Dubai-I – update". Time Out Dubai. 11 July 2016. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023.
7. ^ 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.
8. ^ "Dubai eyes world's tallest Ferris wheel". CNN. 15 February 2013. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
9. ^ 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.
10. ^ "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.
11. ^ 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.
12. ^ "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.
13. ^ 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.
14. ^ White, Tamara (3 April 2024). "Video: It looks like Ain Dubai could be reopening". What's On.
15. ^ Munyal, Panna (26 December 2024). "Ain Dubai observation wheel back in circulation". The National.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Ain Dubai at Wikimedia Commons

Records

Preceded by

High Roller

|  World's tallest Ferris wheel
2021–present  |  Succeeded by

Incumbent

* v
* t
* e

Landmarks and attractions in Dubai

* Ain Dubai
* Al Bastakiya
* Al Fahidi Fort
* Atlantis, The Palm
* Atlantis The Royal
* Burj Al Arab
* Burj Khalifa
* Deep Dive Dubai
* Deira Clocktower
* Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
* Dubai Autodrome
* Dubai Butterfly Garden
* Dubai Dolphinarium
* Dubai Fountain
* Dubai Frame
* Dubai Gold Souk
* The Dubai Mall
* Dubai Marina
* Dubai Marina Mall
* Dubai Miracle Garden
* Dubai Opera
* Dubai Parks and Resorts
* Dubai Spice Souk
* Dubai Textile Souk
* Dubai Trolley
* Dubai World Trade Centre
* Emirates Towers
* Global Village
* Hatta Heritage Village
* Heritage Village Dubai
* Hyatt Regency Dubai
* Jumeirah Beach
* Jumeirah Beach Hotel
* Madame Tussauds Dubai
* Madinat Jumeirah
* Museum of the Future
* National Bank of Dubai
* One Za'abeel
* Orbi Dubai
* Palm Islands
* Queen Elizabeth 2
* Real Madrid Resort Island
* Real Madrid World
* Saeed Al Maktoum House
* Ski Dubai
* Souk Al Bahar
* Waterfront Market
* Wild Wadi
* The World
* Zabeel Park

* United Arab Emirates portal

* v
* t
* e

Ferris wheels

World's tallest Ferris wheels (over 80 m)

| Americas|

Brazil
Roda Rico
Rio Star

the original Ferris Wheel
High Roller
Orlando Eye

|

Asia|

China
Bailang River Bridge Ferris Wheel
Bay Glory
Changsha Ferris Wheel
Harbin Ferris Wheel
Shanghai Ferris Wheel
Star of Lake Tai
Star of Nanchang
Suzhou Ferris Wheel
Tianjin Eye
Zhengzhou Ferris Wheel

Dubai
Ain Dubai

Japan
Aurora Wheel
Cosmo Clock 21
Daikanransha
Diamond and Flower Ferris Wheel
Igosu 108
Redhorse Osaka Wheel
Sky Dream Fukuoka
Space Eye
Technocosmos / Technostar
Tempozan Ferris Wheel

Singapore
Singapore Flyer

Taiwan
Sky Wheel

Europe|

France
Grande Roue de Paris

Italy
Eurowheel

United Kingdom
Great Wheel
London Eye

Oceania|

Australia
Melbourne Star

Other conventional Ferris wheels

For a more extensive list, see List of Ferris wheels

Americas|

Canada
Niagara SkyWheel

Capital Wheel
Colossus
Myrtle Beach SkyWheel
Seattle Great Wheel
SkyStar Wheel
Texas Star
Uniroyal Giant Tire

Asia|

Hong Kong
Hong Kong Observation Wheel

Indonesia
J-Sky

Japan
Amuran
Big O

Turkmenistan
Alem

Europe &
Eurasia|

Austria
Wiener Riesenrad

Azerbaijan
Baku Ferris Wheel

Russia
Sun of Moscow

Other types of wheel

| Transportable
Ferris wheels|

designs
Bussink Design R80XL

wheels
Roue de Paris
Steiger Ferris Wheel

see also
List of transportable Ferris wheels

|

Transportable
Ferris wheel
installations|

Australia
Wheel of Brisbane

India
Delhi Eye

Malaysia
Eye on Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur and Malacca)

United Kingdom and Ireland
Belfast Wheel
Brighton Wheel
Royal Windsor Wheel
Wheel of Birmingham
Wheel of Dublin
Wheel of Liverpool
Wheel of Manchester
Wheel of Sheffield
Yorkshire Wheel

Eccentric wheels|

Pixar Pal-A-Round
Wonder Wheel

Double wheels|

Giant Wheel (Hersheypark)

Triple wheels|

Sky Whirl

Major Ferris wheel proposals

| Construction in progress:|

United Arab Emirates
Ain Dubai

|

Unfinished projects:|

China
Turn of Fortune

New York Wheel

Abandoned projects:|

Skyvue

Quiescent proposals:|

China
Beijing Great Wheel

Germany
Great Berlin Wheel

India
Kolkata Eye

Great Orlando Wheel

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

Related topics

| Designers,
manufacturers,
and operators|

Allan Herschell Company
Chance Morgan
Chance Wheels / Chance American Wheels
Eli Bridge Company
Great City Attractions (previously World Tourist Attractions)
Great Wheel Corporation (merged with World Tourist Attractions in 2009)
Intamin
Maurer German Wheels
Mondial
Ronald Bussink (Nauta Bussink / Bussink Landmarks / Bussink Design)
Sanoyas Rides Corporation
Vekoma (Dutch Wheels)
Waagner-Biro
Wheels Entertainments

|

People|

George Washington Gale Ferris Jr.

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
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