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AKA Dubai Ferris Wheel or Dubai Eye – here’s what you need to know
Having opened for just 6 months, then promptly shut again for nearly 3 years, what’s the current story with Ain Dubai, the world’s largest observation wheel?
We’re pleased to tell you Ain Dubai is again spinning around and ready to book!
Although no big fan-fare and the formal announcement have been made (yet!), our eyes on the ground in Dubai saw the wheel turning again this week, and tickets have once more been made available online – with plenty of new premium options and ‘elevated experiences’ being made available.
Here’s what we know so far!
We’ll cover for you here
No time to read? Jump here now to book your Ain Dubai tickets!
Background & Facts about Ain Dubai
Ain Dubai – or as it was referred to in the early stages of development, Dubai Eye – stands a staggering 250 metres high on the man-made development of Bluewaters Island – snuggly in between the Palm Jumeirah and popular tourist hotspot JBR.
Initially due to open in line with Expo 2020 in Dubai, unsurprisingly with COVID, the opening was pushed back a year in line with the revised Expo 2020 timings to October 2021.
It stayed open for just 6 months when bookings were abruptly halted in March 2022 for ‘enhancement’ works that were expected to last a month or two but took nearly 3 years.
Rolling the clock forward to late December 2024, here’s what you need to know about Ain Dubai, the largest observation wheel in the world!!
- The Ain Dubai project was announced in 2013, and construction commenced in 2015.
- Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Starneth Engineering are the primary design and construction contractors.
- The project for the wheel itself has an estimated cost of AED 1 billion ($270m).
- The wheel already stands at a staggering 250 metres tall.
- Upon its opening in October 2021, Ain Dubai became the tallest observation wheel in the world, surpassing the previous record holder, the 167.6m (550ft) High Roller in Las Vegas, by 42.5m (139ft).
- The wheel has 48 capsules and a total capacity of 1,900 passengers.
- One ride around the wheel will take 38 minutes.
- 9,000 tonnes of steel were used in the wheel’s construction.
- Each spoke cable that holds the wheel in place weighs 5 tonnes and is the length of one football pitch!
- 2,400 kilometres of cable wires are housed inside the spoke cables.
- A multi-purpose tourist attraction, one of the wheel legs will also host the highest climbing platform in the world.
Tickets to Ain Dubai – How much does Ain Dubai cost?
You can now purchase tickets to Ain Dubai directly from the official website, starting from AED 145 per person. Let’s take a look at each of the currently advertised categories:
1. Ain Dubai Views
Enjoy a shared cabin experience with 360-degree views, there are options to sit or stand during your journey. Cabins can fit up to 40 passengers. Timed entry slots are given but do expect to queue for your turn.
- Adults (12+): AED 145
- Children (3+): AED 115
- Infants: Free
- Family Pass (2A+2C): Starting from AED 415
2. Ain Dubai Views Plus
In addition to a shared cabin experience as described above, indulge in snack and soft beverage options added along with fast-track queueing.
- Adults (12+): From AED 195
- Children (3+): From AED 155
- Infants: Free
3. Ain Dubai Premium
With the addition of private check-in and a premium decked-out cabin, enjoy fast-track queuing and two complimentary beverages^
- Adults (12+): From AED 265
- Children (3+): From AED 215
- Infants: Free
^ Standard pricing includes a mocktail; you can upgrade to cocktails, bubbly or full F&B packages
4. Ain Dubai VIP + VIP Plus
Enjoy a private cabin experience with an exclusive VIP entrance, relaxation in the Seaview Lounge, house, sparkling and bubbly options and 8 complimentary digital images or photo folders per person.
- Party of 6 from AED 1260
- Party of 10 from AED 2800
- Party of 20 from AED 3400
5. Ain Dubai VIP Plus
The most exclusive of the private experiences on offer, ideal for special occasions and corporate group bookings, the Plus package also includes AED 800 redeemable in the lounge for food, mocktails, house beverages and more.
- Party of 10 from AED 2800
- Party of 15 from AED 6150
Ain Dubai Combo Tickets
At present, tickets appear to only be bookable 2 weeks out and direct with Ain Dubai using their platform Tickit; we are assuming after a soft launch period, tickets will become available with licenced ticket resellers such as Get Your Guide, Viator, Cobone etc., who can package your experience with other top attractions in Dubai.
Opening times for Ain Dubai
As advertised on their relaunched Website, Ain Dubai will be open 6 days a week (closed Mondays)
- Tuesday to Friday 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm
- Saturday & Sunday 11:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday
- Ticket holders will be asked to arrive 60 minutes before their booked time to prepare for boarding
What else is there to do in Bluewaters Island
Designed as a luxury urban retreat, you will find at the heart of Bluewaters a trendy dining and retail district marked by distinctive canopy structures that look particularly sensational when lit up at night.
With 132 leisure and retail units, many great restaurants have come and gone in the time it’s taken for Ain Dubai to reopen, but we expect the area to be flourishing again with the reopening of this key landmark attraction in Dubai.
The Ain Dubai Plaza has been launched, including evening DJs, hip-hop street battles and a ‘Light of Dubai’ Show at 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM.
You will also find in the area other fun attractions such as Madame Tussauds Dubai and popular family entertainment centre Tr88house.
You can find our full guide to Bluewaters here
How to Get to Ain Dubai
Ain Dubai is accessible via car, metro, foot and even by water!
Ain Dubai by foot
You can get to Bluewaters easily on foot from Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) – The Beach over a pedestrian footbridge known as The Wharf Link that connects the two beachside entertainment zones of the city.
Ain Dubai by Dubai Metro
The closest Metro station is DMCC, but it’s a long walk. It is better to alight at Jabal Ali Metro Station and take the F57 bus to Bluewaters Island.
Ain Dubai by water taxi
If you alight Red Line Metro at DMCC Station, you can catch a water taxi from Dubai Marina Mall Marine Transport Station (approximately a 15-minute walk). From there, take the BM3 water taxi to Bluewaters Marine Transport Station.
Water taxis operate between 7:00 am and 10:00 pm daily. See the RTA schedule, or arrange a private charter calling
Ain Dubai by car
There are over 2000 parking bays on-site, making it easy to self-drive. Alternatively, catch a taxi or ride-sharing service to the door. You need Exit 29 from Sheikh Zayed Road.
Where to stay near Ain Dubai
If you want to stay in the heart of the action on Bluewaters, you have a couple of luxury resort hotel choices:
Beyond this main hotel complex at the tip of the island, many private luxury apartments on Bluewaters can be rented directly from owners, providing access to superb modern facilities that are perfect for longer-term guests in Dubai. You can check out all the nearby options at Bluewaters here:
NB the Caesars Resort that originally opened on Bluewaters has been sold and replaced with the resorts listed here.
Hope you are as excited as we are about the reopening of Ain Dubai and the sensational new views it will bring of the city. You can check out our complete guide to the best views in Dubai here
Before you go… More important things you should know when planning a trip to Dubai
Take me back to all the best Dubai attractions
Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our hotel or tour recommendation links. This post is in no way sponsored by Meraas or Ain Dubai; facts sources from Meeras and correct at the time of writing.
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