After the world’s tallest building, the largest indoor ski hall in the world, the largest and highest fountain show in the world and the largest shopping center in the world, Dubai has also the world’s largest Ferris wheel.
In February 2013 Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the leader of Dubai, gave the green light for the new project, Dubai Bluewaters Island, which is a 6 billion Dirham (1.2 billion euro) project. This new artificial island lies just off the coast at the Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) and the Dubai Marina. The show place of the Bluewaters Island is without doubt the Ain Dubai which was previously known as the Dubai Eye. This Ferris wheel is currently under construction and will be completed in 2021.
In total, the Ain Dubai will be no less than 210 meters high, compared to the London eye is this new ferris wheel bizar high. In addition to the Ferris wheel, there are also an entertainment area, luxury hotels, shops, restaurants, luxury apartments and villas on the Bluewaters Island. In April 2013, the Dutch dredgers of the Van Oord company started the first work for the construction of the island and in early 2015 the island was strong enough to start construction of the Ain Dubai. In order to cope with the large influx of tourists, a special monorail with self-propelled capsules is being constructed between the island and the Dubai Marina metro station. In addition, a 265 meter long pedestrian bridge has been constructed which makes it possible to walk from The Beach at JBR Beach to the Bluewaters Island.
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The Ain Dubai, the largest Ferris wheel in the world
The biggest attraction of the Bluewaters Island is undoubtedly the Ain Dubai. This huge Ferris wheel become the largest Ferris wheel in the world with its height of 210 meters. With this, the Ain Dubai beats the Singapore Flyer, the London Eye and the High Flyer in Las Vegas, which with a height of 167 meters is currently the tallest Ferris wheel in the world.
The Ain Dubai has a total of 48 capsules that are on the road for 45 minutes to make one round. In total, a maximum of 1,400 people can enjoy the view of Dubai in the Ain Dubai. Due to a unique design of the step-up platform, the roundness of the wheel is not interrupted, when new guests get in the wheel, the wheel just keeps running. Thanks to the enormous dimensions, the gondolas of the Ferris wheel are a true living room in themselves.
Each gondola can carry up to 40 passengers and offers a 360 degree panoramic view of the Palm Jumeirah island and the impressive skyline of Dubai. A number of capsules will also be provided with tables so that you can enjoy the view and dinner with up to 12 people at the same time. There are also six capsules with a bar so that you can enjoy a drink during your ride in the Ferris wheel.
Not only the height of the Ferris wheel is impressive, the weight of the construction is also extraordinary. The entire wheel weighs 10,000 tons and another 7,000 tons of steel are needed to support the wheel. The four pillars on which the wheel will lean are a total of 130 meters high and in the pillars the axis of the wheel weighs 1,800 tons. After the opening, the foot of the Ferris wheel will act as an entertainment zone with a number of enormous LED screens where videos and light shows can be projected. The total construction of the Ferris wheel is estimated at 200 million euros, whereby the construction of each capsule will cost 1 million euros each.
Everything has been thought about at the Ferris wheel. The wheel is capable of surviving heavy sandstorms and earthquakes are no problem for the Ain Dubai. The wheel is designed so that if the bottom shakes the wheel remains stable. During a possible earthquake, the Ferris wheel is even one of the safest places to be, according to the developers. Safety comes first and that is why every capsule has a double air conditioning if the first air conditioning fails. That’s nice as temperatures in Dubai can rise to 50 degrees in summer. For the air conditioning to run for a long time each capsule is equipped with an emergency generator if the power fails in Dubai.
Tickets for the Ain Dubai
Do you want to enjoy the view from the largest Ferris wheel in the world? Then you need a ticket for the Ain Dubai, these can be booked at the Tiqets website and at the GetYourGuide website. There are different types of tickets available for the Ain Dubai. Regardless of which ticket you choose, the ride on the largest Ferris wheel in the world always takes around 38 minutes. It is recommended to be at Ain Dubai approximately 45 minutes before boarding the Ferris wheel as you will also need to go through a security check which may take some time. Please note, it is not allowed to consume your own drinks and food during the 38-minute trip on the Ferris wheel.
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Standard ticket
The standard ticket gives access to one of the 48 cabins of the Ain Dubai that can accommodate up to 40 people. All cabins of the Ain Dubai are equipped with air conditioning so that you are not bothered by the heat. If you want to enjoy the view in peace, you can do so thanks to the benches in the cabins. With the standard ticket it is possible to opt for the sunset option at an additional cost, where you have the opportunity to view the sunset from the Ain Dubai. An unforgettable experience! It is also possible to choose a time after sunset where you can admire the illuminated skyline of Dubai from a height of 250 meters.
The price for the standard ticket is 35,60 dollar for people aged 13 and older, a ticket for children between 3 and 12 years old costs 27,20 dollar. A standard ticket gives access to the Ain Dubai between 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM. You can book your Ain Dubai tickets at the Tiqets website and at the GetYourGuide website.
It is also possible to buy a ticket for the sunset for an additional fee. A ticket for the sunset costs 49 dollar for people aged 13 and older, a sunset ticket for children between 3 and 12 years old costs 40,80 dollar. The special sunset ticket can be booked online at this website.
Family Pass ticket
Are you a family with two children? Then you can use the affordable Family ticket which gives you access for two children (between 2 and 12 years) and 2 adults (13 years and older). If you have more than 2 children, you can also use the Family Pass ticket and order extra tickets separately.
The Family pass costs 370 dirham, the Family plus pass costs 450 dirham where you can choose a drink and snack for free.
Ain Dubai Experience tickets
Choose a VIP experience with one of the Ain Dubai Experience tickets. There are a total of three different experience tickets available, all tickets include a 38-minute ride in a shared cabin.
Ain Dubai Skybar Vibes ticket
See unbeatable views in a shared, air-conditioned cabin with a fabulous Skybar. Enjoy mocktails, cocktails or house drinks served by the bartender, plus music for those extra party vibes.
The Ain Dubai Skybar Vibes tickets prices are starting at 54 dollar euro per person. You can book this ticket online at the GetYourGuide website.
Ain Dubai Lounge Plus Ticket
With the Ain Dubai Lounge Plus ticket you don’t have to queue for the normal tickets. Thanks to the skip-the-line you will never have to wait long. After check-in you can use the exclusive Ain Dubai’s Seaview Lounge including one hour of free snacks and drinks. In addition, of course you also get access to the Ain Dubai and you get access to the normal cabins of the Ain Dubai, which people with normal tickets can also use.
The Ain Dubai Lounge Plus tickets cost 49 dollar per person and can be booked online at the GetYourGuide website.
Ain Dubai Premium Ticket
With the Ain Dubai Premium ticket you can also use the VIP entrance of the Ain Dubai and you also get access to the premium cabins. You can also opt for various free alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in the luxurious Ain Dubai Seaview Lounge.
The Ain Dubai Premium tickets cost 380 dirhams per person and can be booked online at the GetYourGuide website.
Private cabin ticket (private cabin)
Do you want a super exclusive experience? It is also possible to rent a private cabin where you can enjoy the view over Dubai with a small group. Ideal for parties, birthdays or company outings. With the Private cabin tickets you can choose from several packages.
If you choose a private cabin package you also get access to the luxurious Ain Dubai’s Seaview Lounge where you can wait in luxury until you can board the capsule. You can also use the premium check-in where you can skip the normal queue.
Celebrate Ain Dubai Club
the Celebrate Ain Dubai Club ticket gives you access to a private cabin in the Ain Dubai and thanks to the F&B credit in your ticket you can choose drinks and snacks which you can take with you during the ride on the Ferris wheel. The celebrate Ain Dubai Club costs 1800 dirhams per cabin.
Celebrate Ain Dubai Plus
To make the experience even more exclusive, there is the Celebrate in Dubai Plus package which includes 2 drinks per guest and a private bartender on board who will provide all guests with delicious drinks such as cocktails or champagne. This experience is only available to those 21 years and older when alcoholic beverages are served.
The celebrate Ain Dubai Plus costs 4700 dirhams per cabin.
Celebrate & Dine in the Sky
Do you want a unique experience? Then choose the Celebrate & Dine in the Sky option where you can dine with a small group of people on the largest Ferris wheel in the world. You get a three-course dinner and you can choose from various options in terms of dishes.
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Ain Dubai developed by a Dutch company
The Ain Dubai on the Bluewaters Island in Dubai has a considerable Dutch edge thanks to the dredgers of the Dutch company Van Oord which have sprayed the island, Mammoet who placed the frame of the Ferris wheel and the engineering office KCI which has the wheel of the Ain Dubai developed.
In 2021 there will be another opportunity to travel to the island with the Group Rapid Transit (GRT), a modern transport system that will have to connect the island to the metro network of the city. For this system, Dubai went to look around in the Netherlands and eventually ended up at the company 2getthere. This Dutch company will develop the autonomous vehicles and transport systems that will connect Blue Waters Island to the rest of the city. The innovative system with self-propelled capsules / cars goes and gets transport capacity of up to 5,000 passengers per hour per direction. This will make the system the largest in the world of its kind. This new connection will therefore become a showcase for the future in the area of autonomous transport.
Accessibility Bluewaters Island
The largest Ferris wheel has been open since October 21, 2021 and is open daily between 12 noon and 10 p.m. A round with the Ferris wheel takes about 38 minutes.
The Bluewaters island can be reached thanks to the overpass that connects the island to the mainland. From the Sheik Zayed Road you can easily travel to the island by car or taxi. In addition to the overpass, there is also a 265 meter long pedestrian bridge which connects The Beach and the JBR to the Bluewaters Island. From the bridge you have a magnificent view of the island itself and the skyline of the Dubai Marina with the JBR Beach in the forefront.
If you travel by car you can park in one of the parking garages on the island or at the valet parking which is available at various locations on the island. Parking in the parking garages is not free, the exact parking fees are not yet announced. After 2022 there will be another opportunity to travel to the island with the Group Rapid Transit (GRT), a modern transport system that will have to connect the island to the metro network of the city.
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