Yes, Ain Dubai is open. As of 9 October 2026, the official website lists the wheel on Bluewaters Island as open every day from 10am to 9pm, with last admission at 8:15pm, and tickets are on sale from AED 145. One rotation takes about 38 minutes. The confusion online comes from its long closure between 2022 and 2024 and a shorter precautionary closure in March 2026.
At a glance
- Status
- Open, tickets on sale, no closure notice on the official site
- Hours
- 10am to 9pm daily, last admission 8:15pm
- Tickets from
- AED 145 (Ain Dubai Views)
- Rotation
- About 38 minutes, arrive 30 to 60 minutes early
- Parking
- Up to 4 hours in the Bluewaters underground car park with a same-day ticket
- Best time
- The last hour before sunset, then a night rotation for the city lights
- Under 16
- Must ride with an adult aged 21 or over
Last verified: 9 October 2026 against aindubai.com.
On this page
Is Ain Dubai open? The status history
Ain Dubai is the 250-metre observation wheel on Bluewaters Island, off JBR. It has opened and closed several times, which is why so many pages still call it closed.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| February 2013 | Announced as the Dubai Eye |
| May 2015 | Construction starts on Bluewaters Island |
| 21 October 2021 | Opened to the public |
| March 2022 | Closed for “periodic enhancements”; in April 2023 the operator said it would stay closed indefinitely |
| 26 December 2024 | Reopened to visitors after more than two and a half years |
| March 2026 | Closed temporarily as a precaution, alongside other major UAE attractions, during regional tensions |
| By May 2026 | Bookings back on sale with published opening hours |
| 9 October 2026 | Open daily 10am to 9pm, tickets on sale on the official site |
The wheel also stops for the day in strong wind, sandstorms or rain, or after a technical fault. If the forecast looks rough, check the official site or call 800 2629464 before you drive out.
Ain Dubai tickets and prices
Ain Dubai tickets are sold in tiers. Prices below are the official starting prices; the final price depends on the date and time slot you pick, and sunset slots sell out first.
| Experience | From | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Ain Dubai Views | AED 145 | One rotation in a shared cabin |
| Ain Dubai Views Plus | AED 195 | The step-up shared ticket, with extras listed at checkout |
| Premium | AED 265 | A rotation with soft drinks or mocktails in the cabin |
| VIP private cabin (up to 6) | AED 1,260 | A cabin for your group only |
| Child (age bands at checkout) | About AED 115 | A shared-cabin child ticket; under 3s ride free |
| Family pass (4 people) | About AED 415 | Four standard tickets in a shared cabin, sold by some ticket sites |
Child prices and age bands vary between sellers: some treat ages 3 to 10 as children, others 3 to 11 or 3 to 12, so check the band at checkout. Premium ticket holders wait in an exclusive lounge before boarding, and premium cabins have an onboard bar; some lounge products are for guests aged 21 and over. Combo tickets with Madame Tussauds Dubai, The Green Planet or Aquaventure are also sold, usually non-refundable.
Child tickets are sold separately and priced at checkout. Book on the official Ain Dubai website, which also runs the ticket office at the base of the wheel. Reseller sites often add a mark-up, and some standard reseller tickets are non-refundable, so read the cancellation terms before you pay.
Ain Dubai timings and the best time to go
| Slot | What to expect |
|---|---|
| 10am to noon | The quietest slots and the clearest views on winter mornings |
| Midday to 4pm | Hazy light in the warmer months, easy to book |
| The hour before sunset | The most popular slot: golden light over the Palm and the Marina. Book days ahead. |
| After dark, to 8:15pm last entry | The city lit up, from Dubai Marina to the Palm |
Sunset in Dubai falls at roughly 5:30pm to 6pm through October and November, so a slot starting about 45 minutes earlier catches the light change during the rotation. Winter, from November to March, gives the clearest air for long views.
Inside the cabins
Ain Dubai has 48 air-conditioned glass cabins and can carry up to 1,750 people at once. Most riders share a cabin with other visitors and can stand, sit and move around for photos. Each cabin has an intercom, CCTV, fire sensors and fire extinguishers, and the wheel moves at walking pace, so the ride is smooth and quiet.
On the way up you look over Dubai Marina, JBR and The Beach, Palm Jumeirah and the Atlantis hotels, the Burj Al Arab, the Arabian Gulf and, on a clear day, the Burj Khalifa in the distance.
Ain Dubai facts and records
- Height: 250 metres (820 feet), the tallest observation wheel in the world since October 2021.
- Record: 82.4 metres taller than the previous record holder, the 167.6-metre High Roller in Las Vegas.
- Name: “Ain Dubai” means “eye of Dubai” in Arabic; it was first announced as the Dubai Eye.
- Built by: Hyundai Engineering and Construction with Starneth Engineering.
- How it turns: hydraulic motors drive the wheel through 64 rubber-tyred friction rollers at the base.
- At night: LED displays on the rim are visible across the Marina and JBR.
Rules worth knowing before you ride
- Anyone under 16 must ride with an adult aged 21 or over.
- No outside food or drinks. You can take food and drinks bought at the Ain Dubai lounge into the cabin.
- There are no toilets in the cabins, so plan for a 38-minute ride.
- The wheel turns at walking pace, so motion sickness is rare.
- Guests who are pregnant or have a serious medical condition should contact guest services before booking.
- Ain Dubai is certified autism friendly and takes part in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme. Ramps and lifts make it wheelchair accessible.
- Every guest passes a security check, so arrive 30 to 60 minutes before your slot, or 45 minutes with a premium ticket to use the lounge.
Getting there and parking
Ain Dubai stands on Bluewaters Island, about 500 metres off JBR and Dubai Marina, with its main entrance opposite Caesars Palace Bluewaters. It is reached by car over the bridge from Sheikh Zayed Road, and in the cooler months you can also walk across from JBR. Ticket holders get up to 4 hours in the Bluewaters Island underground car park: show your same-day ticket at the ticket office to validate parking before you leave.
What else is on Bluewaters Island
- Madame Tussauds Dubai: wax figures of celebrities and UAE icons, about a 5-minute walk from the wheel.
- Caesars Palace Bluewaters: restaurants including Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, about 600 metres away.
- The Wharf and the promenade: waterfront cafés and restaurants facing JBR.
- JBR and The Beach: across the bridge, for the beach, shops and dinner.
Make an evening of it: arrive an hour early, walk the Bluewaters promenade, ride at sunset, then cross to JBR for dinner on the beach side. On big nights such as New Year’s Eve, special Ain Dubai tickets sell out weeks ahead.
Ain Dubai change log
- 9 October 2026: official site lists daily hours of 10am to 9pm and tickets from AED 145.
- May 2026: bookings back on sale after the March 2026 precautionary closure.
- 26 December 2024: reopened after the 2022 to 2024 closure.
- Dubai Fountain show timings: the best free show in the city, every evening.
- Dubai Frame: old and new Dubai from a 150-metre glass bridge.
- Burj Khalifa views: observation decks and restaurants with a view, compared.
- Dubai landmarks: tickets, timings and the best time for each.
- Things to do in Dubai at night: what else is open late.
Ain Dubai FAQs
Is Ain Dubai open now?
Yes. As of 9 October 2026, Ain Dubai is open daily from 10am to 9pm, with last admission at 8:15pm, and tickets are on sale on the official website.
How much is the Ain Dubai ticket?
Ain Dubai tickets start from AED 145 for the standard Views experience. Views Plus starts from AED 195, Premium from AED 265 and a private VIP cabin for up to 6 from AED 1,260.
How long is the Ain Dubai ride?
One rotation takes about 38 minutes. Arrive 30 to 60 minutes before your slot.
Why was Ain Dubai closed?
It closed from March 2022 to December 2024 for enhancement work, then briefly again in March 2026 as a precaution during regional tensions. Bookings were back on sale by May 2026.
Is parking free at Ain Dubai?
Ticket holders get up to 4 hours of parking in the Bluewaters Island underground car park. Validate it at the ticket office with your same-day ticket.
Can children ride Ain Dubai?
Yes, but anyone under 16 must ride with an adult aged 21 or over. Child tickets cost about AED 115 and children under 3 ride free.
How tall is Ain Dubai?
Ain Dubai is 250 metres (820 feet) tall, making it the world’s tallest observation wheel. It has 48 cabins and holds up to 1,750 people.
Is Ain Dubai wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Ramps and lifts give wheelchair users access, and the attraction is certified autism friendly.