15 January 2024 , 15:44
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The world's tallest Ferris wheel was left abandoned with no explanation.
The magnificent Ain Dubai is undeniably breathtaking. It towers over the other buildings on the artificial island where it is located. Each of the legs supporting the 250m tall wheel are as high as 15 double-decker London buses stacked on one another lengthways.
It took more steel than the Eiffel Tower to construct and is twice as high as the London Eye. Like many things in Dubai - home to the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, and the deepest swimming pool - it seems to have been designed to flaunt the city's ambition and desire to be the world's best.
The grand structure opened on Bluewaters Island in October 2021 to huge fanfare. The great and good were given a leg-wobbling view of the city from private pods made up to host private dinners. At full capacity the structure could hold 1,400 passengers - 600 more than the London Eye.
One day the wheel just stopped turning (Getty Images)The Ain Dubai looked set to further add to the city's reputation as the new playground of the rich and famous, until it suddenly stopped turning. A few days shut quickly turned into a month, and then another, until in March 2022 it was announced that the wheel would be closed indefinitely.
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Since then scaffolding has been erected around part of the structure which has otherwise attracted little activity. There is no official word about why the enormous attraction has closed, whether it is going to be fixed and, if so, when the world's tallest Ferris wheel may begin turning again.
Officials have remained silent about what is going on. A Mirror's request for information has so far gone unanswered. The Ain Dubai is owned by Dubai Holding, the investment portfolio of Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the Washington Post reports.
The newspaper contacted the firm and several others linked to its building for explanation but received no official comment. Germany’s Technical Inspection Association told the publication that it was involved in the Ain’s construction but has since withdrawn its certification.
Those who live in the shadow of the enormous wheel are none-the-wiser about what has happened in terms of official explanations, but they have their suspicions.
Some have claimed that the wheel started vibrating loudly during the five months it was operational, while others have said it made the ground shake. One shopkeeper reported that the windows of his business shattered when it was running.
“I’ve lived here for two years, and I’ve had zero notification about what’s happening,” one resident with an apartment facing the Ain told the Washington Post.
Another said: “Some from the building management say something broke inside the main axle mechanism, and others say it is sinking. I’ve heard hotel managers in the beach area facing the wheel say they’re calculating risk and damage estimates for the possibility that it falls.”
On the wheel's website, a statement reads: "Ain Dubai remains closed until further notice as we continue to rigorously work on completing the enhancement works that have been taking place over the past months. Once a reopening date is set, a further announcement will be made. In line with our commitment to offering guests an experience unlike any other, we look forward to introducing new and exciting offers when we re-open Ain Dubai for visitors to enjoy from across the globe."