The Ain Dubai Ferris wheel is made from 11,200 tons of steel, which is 33% more than the amount of steel used to build the Eiffel Tower.
Ain Dubai, the world’s largest and tallest Ferris wheel, will open to visitors on October 21 in Dubai, with ticket prices starting at $35. The wheel stands at a height of 250 meters, which is over 82 meters taller than the current tallest operational Ferris wheel, the High Roller in Las Vegas, USA. It is also double the height of the famous London Eye (135 meters) in the UK.
The Ferris wheel is located on Bluewaters Island in Dubai.
The figures related to this project are also considered impressive by many: 11,200 tons of steel were used, which is 33% more than the amount used to construct the Eiffel Tower. The maximum force required to lift the wheel is 2,500 tons. The main shaft and motor weigh 1,805 tons – equivalent to four Airbus A380 aircraft. The total weight of the rim and 48 passenger cabins is 7,500 tons.
The wheel features 192 spokes, with each spoke made from 107 strands of 9 mm thick wire. If we were to connect all the wires of the Ferris wheel, they would stretch the distance from Dubai to Cairo, Egypt (over 3,100 km). Each cabin can hold 40 people, meaning that 1,750 visitors can ride Ain Dubai at the same time. The 48 cabins are divided into three types: standard scenic cabins, VIP cabins with a bar in the middle, and private cabins (which can be reserved and include a three-course dinner).
Ain Dubai is designed to rotate 300,000 times, or for 60 years, adhering to strict design and safety regulations. To complete this project, many construction experts from around the world contributed their advice. The role of the operational director of Ain Dubai is held by Kevin Dyer, the former technical director of the London Eye.
The name Ain Dubai first appeared to the public in February 2013, and it took more than 8 years to complete. Construction began in May 2015, with an initial completion date set for mid-2019, which was later pushed to October 20, 2020, and then delayed another year.
There have been many rumors about the delays. Darren Brooke, a senior technical director at WSP (the construction firm), stated that his team continuously raised standards while addressing emerging issues. The Ferris wheel has an area four times that of a standard wheel. Therefore, the construction team had to focus heavily on design, ensuring it was efficient, safe, and cost-effective.
