World's Tallest Ferris Wheel Ain Dubai Officially Launched, First Day Tickets Sold Out

Ain Dubai. (Wikimedia Commons / Paasikivi)

JAKARTA - After a long wait, the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, Ain Dubai, was officially opened to the public on Thursday 21 October. Get great enthusiasm from the community.

Against the backdrop of a 250 meter high wheel, there is a happy atmosphere on Bluewaters Island where Ain Dubai is located. The day is a holiday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) related to the Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, so people gather from various backgrounds.

Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, had uploaded a video of himself at the wheel, as it prepared to be opened and uploaded to social media. Exactly at 13.30 local time, Ain Dubai officially opened.

Matteo Cesari, a UAE resident from Rome, Italy, was among the first to ride the Ferris wheel, having won a competition that included finding a lucky ticket on Bluewaters Island.

"The cabin was impressive, very quiet, loved it. You can see things of Dubai that you can't see from the roof of any building. The whole experience went by pretty quickly, but was amazing. The quality of the cabin down to the details, for the team, was pretty cool," he said quoting The National News October 21.

Ain Dubai. (Wikimedia Commons/Paasikivi)

His favorite part he calls it, when he's right on top. "That's when you get rid of the front cabin view and have a clear view, Caesars Palace Bluewaters, Cove Beach, Jebel Ali, JLT, it's a clear day, it's amazing. You get a lot, especially right at the top."

When asked about whether it was important to be the first to get on the wheel, he paused. "I think it's something to pay attention to in your life. It's one of the main attractions of Dubai."

Meanwhile, Sajan Antony (44), a UAE resident who was also one of the first to ride the ride, said that he had ridden the London Eye, Melbourne Star and Singapore Flyer. But, so far Ain Dubai is his favourite.

"We were planning to go tomorrow but were able to get a slot today and then it just happened to fall on a holiday too, so it all worked out," he said.

Antony said they were trying to get a night slot, but they were all booked. "I think the view will be better at night."

One round of Ain Dubai takes approximately 38 minutes, during which guests can see Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah from the attraction's 48 cabins. For safety reasons, Ain Dubai has maintained a maximum capacity of 10 to 12 people per cabin.

Tickets for the first day were sold out, as were tickets for Friday's sunset slot, said Ron Drake, general manager of Ain Dubai.

Ain Dubai. (Wikimedia Commons/Jpbowen)

"Open day and night, visitors can experience two very different sides of Dubai, gazing at the golden rays of the sunset glistening on the skyscrapers or watching Dubai's spectacular neon lights glow as darkness descends. However, I can safely say this is by far our best spot." the most popular, without a doubt is our sunset slot. It has already sold out for today and tomorrow, and is almost completely sold out for next week."

"We were blown away by the reaction from customers since tickets went on sale. Many products were sold out long before today."

To add to the festive spirit, an action-packed two-day opening extravaganza is planned for Thursday and Friday at Ain Dubai Plaza, free for all to enjoy. Visitors heading there over the weekend will find family entertainment, activities, 12 food stations and more.

Drake expects more demand in the coming months, coinciding with Dubai's busy tourist season.

While Ferris wheel cabins are popular for those who want to enjoy the view, Ain Dubai has also launched a variety of packages, from social experiences with VIP services to private cabins that can be booked for events such as birthdays or weddings.

"At Ain Dubai, we talk about it as 'more than just a sight' and what we mean is, yes, people come to Ain Dubai to see the incredible views, but beyond that Ain Dubai is reimagining the Ferris wheel experience, translating it into a place famous world-class entertainment," said Drake.

"Ain Dubai offers a wide range of event possibilities for the MICE [Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions] market and larger private events and with Caesars Palace Dubai at Bluewaters next door we can even help with any accommodation needs. We will announce details soon calendar of events we have planned in Ain Dubai, from National Day to New Year's Eve."