After much anticipation, Ain Dubai, the largest and tallest observation wheel in the world, opened to the public today.
With the wheel standing 250 metres tall in the backdrop, there was a jubilant atmosphere on Bluewaters Island on Thursday. The day was announced as a UAE holiday to mark the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday, so people of all backgrounds gathered to watch the moment the wheel began turning.
Earlier today, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai posted a video of himself to social media riding on top of the wheel as it prepared to open.
The first official ride began at 1.30pm.
Matteo Cesari, 26, a UAE resident from Rome, was among the first to step onto the wheel, having won a competition that included finding a lucky ticket on Bluewaters Island.
“The cabin is impressive, so quiet, really loved it,” he says. “You can see things of Dubai that you wouldn’t be able to see from the rooftop of any building. The whole experience … went by quite fast but was amazing. The quality of the cabin to the details, to the team, it was quite cool.”
I think the view will be even better at night
Sajan Antony,
UAE resident
His favourite part, he says, is when he got right at the top. “That’s when you get rid of the view of the front cabins 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 among the first to be on the wheel, he pauses. “I think it’s something to take note of in your life … It’s one of the main attractions of Dubai.”
Sajan Antony, 44, is a UAE resident and another of the first to experience the wheel. He told The National he has already experienced the London Eye, the Melbourne Star and the Singapore Flyer, but that this has been his favourite so far.
Being one of the first people on the wheel happened by chance. “We planned to go tomorrow but were able to get a slot today and then it happened to fall on a holiday, too, so it all worked out.”
Antony says they were trying to get an evening slot but it was all booked up. “I think the view will be even better at night.”
Tickets have sold out
A single rotation takes about 38 minutes, during which guests can view Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah from the attraction's 48 cabins. For safety reasons, Ain Dubai has kept a maximum capacity of 10 to 12 people per cabin.
Tickets for the first day were completely sold out, as were tickets for the sunset slot on Friday, says Ron Drake, Ain Dubai's general manager.
We’ve been blown away by the reaction from customers since tickets went on sale
Ron Drake,
Ain Dubai's general manager
“Open both day and night, visitors can experience two very different sides of Dubai – gazing at sunset’s golden rays glittering across the skyscrapers or watching Dubai’s spectacular neon lights switch on as darkness falls. However, I can safely say that so far our most popular spot is without a doubt our sunset slot. This has been sold out for today and tomorrow, and almost completely sold out for the next week,” he says.
“We’ve been blown away by the reaction from customers since tickets went on sale. Many of the products sold out well ahead of today."
To add to the celebratory 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 during 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 the observation cabins are popular for those who want to experience the view, Ain Dubai has also launched a variety of packages, from social experiences with VIP treatment to private cabins that can be booked for events such as birthdays or weddings.
“At Ain Dubai, we talk about it being ‘more than just a view’ and what we mean by that is, yes, people come to Ain Dubai for an incredible view, but beyond that Ain Dubai reimagines the observation wheel experience, translating it into a world-class, landmark entertainment venue," says Drake.
“Ain Dubai offers a range of event possibilities for both the MICE [Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions] market and larger private events … and with Caesars Palace Dubai on Bluewaters next door, we can even help with any accommodation needs. We’ll soon be announcing details of the calendar of events we have planned at Ain Dubai, from National Day to New Year’s Eve."
Ain Dubai is open daily. Prices from Dh130 for adults and Dh100 for children. Details on experiences, packages, parking and more are available here.
RIDE%20ON
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Larry%20Yang%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Jackie%20Chan%2C%20Liu%20Haocun%2C%20Kevin%20Guo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 160hp
Torque: 385Nm
Price: Dh116,900
On sale: now
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Sweet%20Tooth
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJim%20Mickle%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChristian%20Convery%2C%20Nonso%20Anozie%2C%20Adeel%20Akhtar%2C%20Stefania%20LaVie%20Owen%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES
UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
- Saturday 15 January: UAE beat Canada by 49 runs
- Thursday 20 January: v England
- Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
UAE squad:
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles
Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly,
Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya
Shetty, Kai Smith
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S
Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sri Lanka squad for tri-nation series
Angelo Mathews (c), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Janith Perera, Thisara Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Shehan Madushanka, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan and Wanidu Hasaranga
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Read more from Johann Chacko
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
