01 May 2019
Leading UAE developer Meraas has confirmed that its ambitious project, Ain Dubai, coming up in its Bluewaters island destination, will be completed in time for Expo 2020 Dubai gala event.
Standing at over 250 m high, the structure will be over 200 per cent taller than the first ever Ferris wheel.
On completion, Ain Dubai will become the world’s tallest observation wheel, towering over the sophisticated Bluewaters island destination, said Meraas.
A destination built to Meraas’ exacting global standards, Bluewaters features distinctive residential, retail and hospitality zones bordered by walkways and a private beach and is located off the coast of JBR and close to Dubai Marina.
Giving an update on the ambitious project, Meraas said the eighth and final 450-tonne temporary spoke had been successfully removed from the structure and the last of the permanent spoke cables had been installed. This process marks the first time the modern observation structure has been one complete wheel since construction began, it stated.
The eight temporary spokes and braces were originally installed to hold the rim segments in place during the construction of the visually-striking wheel, it added.
As construction on Ain Dubai progresses, the colossal magnitude of the project becomes ever-clearer. With the removal of the final temporary steel spoke, the weight of the wheel rim has been entirely transferred to 192 spoke cables, which ensure the structural integrity of Ain Dubai through the process of permanent compression, said Meraas.
Cumulatively, the eight temporary steel spokes and rim braces weighed more than 5,000 tonnes, it added.
Ain Dubai forms the towering centrepiece of Bluewaters, and the backdrop for The Wharf, the retail zone that houses over 150 retail and food and beverages (F&B) outlets in low-rise buildings.
Bluewaters Residences comprise 10 buildings that house 698 apartments, 17 townhouses and four penthouses in minimalist, open plan contemporary design, each with stunning views and state-of-the-art facilities. Caesars Bluewaters, the hospitality zone, consists of two five-star hotels, with world class amenities and access to a private beach.