Ain Dubai to open to the public on October 21 with tickets now available to book

Prices start from Dh130 and a single rotation of the wheel takes 38 minutes

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

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

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

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

The entrance to Ain Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It’s been one of the UAE’s most anticipated launches of the year, and the wait is finally over.

Ain Dubai, the world’s tallest observation wheel, has announced that it will be opening to the public on October 21.

Tickets for the attraction will cost from Dh130 for adults and Dh100 children, and can be purchased now from the Ain Dubai website.

“I believe Ain Dubai is going to eclipse anything that’s come before it,” says Ron Drake, general manager of Ain Dubai. “It’s a new way of entertainment for Dubai.”

A single rotation takes about 38 minutes, and gives guests 360-degree views of the Dubai skyline from luxe air-conditioned pods. But it’s the hospitality offerings that separate Ain Dubai from other similar attractions around the world, says Drake.

“We offer a full selection of 19 unique entertainment experiences. These are multilayered experiences we offer to our guests so they keep coming back for more. There are different views during the daytime of Bluewaters Island views and during the night-time, the beautiful LED Lights of the Dubai skyline.

“We have packages where you can customise everything from the music to the decor to the food to the lighting.”

Prices go up to Dh4,500 for a group of eight, for the more exclusive dining experiences. Ain Dubai will be open daily from noon to 10pm.

Visitors are advised to arrive 30 to 60 minutes ahead of time to complete the entry process, buy snacks and to use the toilets.

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

The attraction, located on Bluewaters Island, has already become a permanent part of the Dubai skyline. Standing 250-metres tall, the record-breaking structure is nearly twice the height of the London Eye. It houses 48 pods, with each having the capacity to accommodate up to 40 guests, although that number has been reduced owing to Covid-19 safety regulations.

Covid-19 safety regulations

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 on parking and the experiences can be found here