UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. Dubai: On October 21 at Bluewaters Island, fireworks lit up the nightly skyline of Dubai to celebrate the official opening of Ain Dubai. The tallest and largest observation wheel in the world, Ain Dubai measures 250 meters and has set a new Guinness world record by beating High Roller in Las Vegas, USA. Currently, High Roller is ranked second with its 167 meters tall, and the third place is hold by the London Eye at 135 meters.
About Ain Dubai
Derived from the sixteenth letter of the Arabic alphabet Ayn (English: eye), Ain Dubai is the ultimate lifestyle destination along the lines of Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah and Burj Khalifa.
Accessible from the island, the Ain Dubai base will serve as an entertainment area. Three types of pods are made available to visitors: observation cabins, social cabins, and private cabins. It has a 80-meter LED screen mounted on the wheel that creates an electronic platform for broadcasts and announcements.
The observation booths provide the perfect platform for those spectacular 360-degree views of Dubai. Visitors with access to social cabins will have privileged access to the Seaview Lounge. Ain Dubai’s private cabin offers complete exclusivity and is currently available for those celebrating a special occasion.
The making of Ain Dubai
The Ain Dubai project was announced in February 2013 and Hyundai Engineering and Construction (Hyundai E&C) and Starneth Engineering were designated as the primary design and construction contractors for the project. However, the project took more than eight years to complete.
In May 2015, construction began with an expected completion date of early to mid-2019. The date was reportedly later postponed to October 20, 2020. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was delayed for another year. Built at an estimated cost of AED 1 billion (USD 270 million), the engineering marvel Ain Dubai has been designed to last for at least 300,000 cycles or 60 years.
Appointment of WSP as the Lead Consultant
Hyundai Engineering & Construction appointed WSP as their lead consultant and official architect for both the wheel and the terminal building.
WSP is one of the world’s leading professional services firms with a global network of 49,000 experts in 550 offices in 44 countries. The WSP team created a 4D model of the wheel, the terminal building and other temporary works to assess the feasibility and safety of each stage of the construction.
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Bluewaters Island
Bluewaters Island is an artificial island in Dubai built in 2013 for AED 6 billion. The island is 500 meters offshore from Jumeirah Beach Residence. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, had approved the project.
The artificial island was built on reclaimed land by Meraas Holding. The island has two five-star hotels with direct access to the beach. In addition, there are entertainment, hospitality, residential, and commercial zones.
Caesar’s Palace Dubai is a luxurious lifestyle resort with a variety of accommodation types and dining venues. Inside the ultra-luxury center, one can find the incredibly popular Cove Beach Lounge.
How to reach Ain Dubai
The mainland can be accessed via a bridge from Sheikh Zayed Road. Alternately, visitors can reach the island via a 15-minute walk using the pedestrian bridge from the nearest public transport station Jumeirah Beach Residence. On Bluewaters Island, there is also a Marine Transport Station for those who want to travel by ferry from Dubai.
Tickets for Ain Dubai start from AED 130 per person (USD 35.39). Options like Celebrate & Dine in the Sky and Celebrate Ain Dubai Plus cover a range of personalized services to encourage guests with the expectations of a world-class destination.
