Ain Dubai tickets and opening times: what to know ahead of the October 21 opening date

The Bluewaters Island attraction is set to open to the public on October 21, with tickets now available online

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  Ain Dubai will open to the public on October 21. Pawan Singh / The National

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  The reception hall of Ain Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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  An external view of an Ain Dubai cabin, one of 48. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Visitors watch as the Ain Dubai cabins sweep into view. Pawan Singh / The National

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  The entrance to Ain Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Ron Drake, general manager of Ain Dubai, believes the attraction will 'eclipse anything that’s come before it'. Pawan Singh / The National

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  A view of the Address Beach Resort from an Ain Dubai pod. Pawan Singh / The National

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  A cabin at the end of one of Ain Dubai's spokes. Pawan Singh / The National

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  One of the surprisingly spacious Ain Dubai cabins. Pawan Singh / The National

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  A visitor takes in the skyline from a cabin in Ain Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Dubai's spectacular coastline through the window of an Ain Dubai cabin. Pawan Singh / The National

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  The view of Ain Dubai from Bluewaters Island, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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  The Ain Dubai nighttime view is starkly different. Pawan Singh / The National

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  The view from a premium cabin of Ain Dubai at night. Pawan Singh / The National

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  At night, visitors can admire the lights of Bluewaters Island and JBR from Ain Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Before leaving the attraction, guests can pick up souvenirs from the gift shop. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Mugs, T-shirts, pens and keychains can be found at the Ain Dubai gift shop. Pawan Singh / The National

It has already become a well-recognised part of the Dubai skyline, and soon visitors will be able to set foot inside and experience Ain Dubai, the world's tallest observation wheel, in action.

Standing at more than 250 metres tall, this has been one of the most highly anticipated tourist attractions in the UAE since construction started in 2015.

What is Ain Dubai?

Ain Dubai is an observation wheel, located on Bluewaters Island. It’s nearly twice the height of the London Eye, and will provide sprawling views of Dubai’s skyline. On a clear day, visitors should be able to see everything from Bluewaters Island to Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah, to Burj Al Arab and even Burj Khalifa. The attraction has 48 cabins.

When does Ain Dubai open?

The attraction has recently announced that it is ready to welcome the public on Thursday, October 21, with tickets currently on sale, and the first ride taking place at 2pm.

Ain Dubai's opening celebrations

Guests can expect an action-packed, two-day opening extravaganza. On Thursday, October 21, the celebrations will kick off with family entertainment, activities, and food stations from 2pm to 6pm. At 5.30pm onwards, DJ Dany Neville will play a special one-hour sunset session and at 7pm onwards there will be roaming entertainment, with a DJ onstage. Ain Dubai's official celebration will commence at 8pm with an inaugural light and drone show, and with a DJ and more entertainment until closing time at 10.30pm.

For those who miss opening day celebrations, there's plenty happening again on Friday, October 22. There will be live entertainment and food stations from 2pm to 6.30pm. Starting from 6pm, Ain Dubai Plaza will host six regional artists until closing at 10.30pm. Light shows will take place on the wheel across the evening at 6.30pm, 7.30pm, 8.30pm and 9.30pm.

How much are Ain Dubai tickets?

A general ticket for an observation cabin is priced at Dh130 for adults and Dh100 for children (between ages 3 to 12). This covers one rotation, which lasts 38 minutes. Ain Dubai has also launched a family pass for two adults and two children for Dh370 and a family plus pass, which includes a snack and beverage per person, for Dh450.

The sun sets behind Ain Dubai. Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Where do I buy Ain Dubai tickets?

Tickets can be purchased from aindubai.com.

How do I get there?

Ain Dubai is opposite Caesars Palace on Bluewaters Island. While the attraction does not have its own car parking, you can park at Bluewaters parking area.

For those arriving via public transport, the closest station is Dubai Marina tram station, about a 6 minute's walk away. Those coming by bus can use the following bus lines: 8, 84, F55A.

Ain Dubai will be open daily from noon to 10pm. The ticket office is located at the base of the attraction, however advance bookings are highly recommended once the attraction opens.

Guests of all ages will be welcome, but those under the age of 16 will have to be accompanied by an adult.

What do I need to know before booking?

Passenger capsules on the Ain Dubai observation wheel at the Bluewaters Island in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

A single rotation takes 38 minutes and visitors are advised to arrive 30 to 60 minutes ahead of time to complete the entry process, buy snacks and to use the toilets.

A single cabin can accommodate up to 40 guests, but the attraction will operate under a reduced capacity of seven guests per cabin, or 10 from the same group, owing to Covid-19 restrictions.

Food and drinks bought externally or from home will not be permitted in Ain Dubai, but visitors will be able to purchase items from the lounge or the concessions inside the cabins.

Meanwhile, the experience itself will be smooth – even for those with motion sickness – as the cabin moves at a gentle walking pace.

What other experiences can be booked?

Apart from observation cabins (prices which are listed above), there are a number of other experiences on offer at Ain Dubai.

Crafted for those looking for a fun night-out idea, the social experience includes VIP treatment such as a premium check in, a welcome drink, and access to Ain Dubai’s Seaview Lounge. Prices for this start at Dh175 per person for access to the Seaview Lounge and go up to Dh380 per person for the Ain Dubai Premium cabin experience.

Finally, the attraction will also have some private cabins that can be customised to cater for all sorts of events “from intimate celebrations to cultural festivities”. This includes birthdays, engagements, weddings, business functions, and other such events.

Prices to rent out a private cabin for a group start at Dh1,800 for a single rotation. For those wanting to go all out with a celebration at one of the pods, for the Celebrate Ain Dubai Plus Experience will have to shell out Dh4,700-plus. Private Cabin experiences are for groups of up to eight.

There's also a special “Dine in the Sky” experience within a seated dining cabin arrangement. Guests can opt for different packages – from tasting and mezze, to karaoke.

What Covid-19 safety regulations do they have?

Wearing masks will be mandatory within the cabins. Besides this, Ain Dubai will have precautionary measures including: providing disposable masks and hand sanitiser; an online ticketing system; physical barriers between guests and staff; contactless payment; electronic devices for ordering food and drinks in the lounge; a limited number of guests within each cabin; and regular disinfection of frequently touched areas.

More information is available at aindubai.com