Ain Dubai reopening soon? Enhancement work closure?

The tallest observation wheel in the world is ‘Ain Dubai’, located at “Bluewaters Island”, near the Dubai Marina in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

It was named the Dubai Eye or Dubai-I later changed to Ain Dubai, the latest attraction is twice the height of the London Eye, and was opened on Thursday for visitors.

The observation wheel soars 250 metres or 820 ft (0.25 km) high into the sky, allowing tourists to get a glimpse of the stunning Dubai skyline.

• Ain Dubai, announced in February 2013, the construction and final opening to the masses took total eight years and nearly eight months.

• Ain Dubai is 82.4 m (270 ft) taller than the “High Roller” in Las Vegas, which is 167.6 m (550 ft) and previously held the title of world's tallest observation wheel.

Ain Dubai's construction began in May 2015, and it was to be completed in early to mid-2019. But the target opening then delayed to October 20, 2020, in order to coincide with Expo 2020, but this itself was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ain Dubai was opened on 21 October 2021.

• The wheel can carry up to 1,400 passengers in its 48 capsules and provide views of Dubai Marina and landmarks such as Burj Al Arab, Palm Jumeirah, and Burj Khalifa.

Current status of Dubai Eye:

Ain Dubai is currently closed, and the reopening date is unknown: Ain Dubai, also known as the Dubai Eye, has been closed to the public since March 2022. The closure was originally for enhancement work, but was extended until the first quarter of 2023. However, the operation has now been postponed indefinitely.

It was initially planned to close for a few months, but later the closure dates kept on increasing.

The official website of Ain Dubai published the following statement just recently.

“Ain Dubai remains closed until further notice as we continue to rigorously work on completing the enhancement works that have been taking place over the past months. Once a reopening date is set, a further announcement will be made. In line with our commitment to offering guests an experience unlike any other, we look forward to introducing new and exciting offers when we re-open Ain Dubai for visitors to enjoy from across the globe.”

Promising developments:

According to news article published by What's On, states that its team in April 2024, “took a visit to Bluewaters and the Ain Dubai appeared to be in operation again.” The article further says “Although it wasn’t carrying any passengers just yet, the iconic attraction was certainly on the move, hinting a hopeful return soon.” The article states tha

Ain Dubai reopening date soon? According to the same report, the construction work was noticed ongoing “in front of Ain Dubai’s entrances,” “with new outdoor structures taking shape.” The report also confirms the enhancement work closure updates. The attraction is closed for more than 18 months now.

According to the What's On report, the LED light displays on the Ain Dubai were turned off during Ramadan 2024, observed in March 2024. But they’ve now returned, signalling a positive sign of a possible near future reopening.

Why Ain Dubai is special mega project one of its kind?

• The attraction has 48 large cabins, in which people enjoy the Dubai skyline and its beautiful views, and one rotation takes around 38 minutes to complete. This gives an unmatched 360 degree view.

• Ain Dubai, is also equipped with the largest LED screen in the world.

• The wheel can accommodate a total of 1,750 guests at a time.

• Each leg attached to the hub of the wheel is 126 meters high.

• The project initiated with investments amounting to 6 billion dirhams.

• The observation wheel is a 250-metre rotating attraction and has the title of “tallest observation wheel in the world.”