In the desert land of superlatives — home to the tallest building, largest shopping mall, and ironically, the largest indoor ski resort — Dubai is once again set to add another record-breaking monument to their landscape with the largest Ferris wheel in the world.
Construction of the Dubai Eye is set to begin this spring as part of a larger development project located off the Jumeirah Beach Residence coastline that hopes to draw more than three million visitors to the area a year.
At 210 meters tall, the Dubai Eye would trump US plans to build what they loudly declared was to be the world’s largest Ferris wheel in the word on Staten Island’s North Shore. The New York Wheel will measure 190 meters tall and is scheduled to open New Year’s Eve 2015.
Currently, the largest Ferris wheel in the world is the Singapore Flyer, which stands at 165 meters tall.
The 1 billion AED (€204 million) Ferris wheel, meanwhile, will be a major tourist attraction for the Bluewaters project that will feature a mix of retail, residential, hospitality and entertainment zones.
Riders on the Dubai Eye will get a sweeping view of the Dubai coastline, as well as a bird’s eye view of landmarks like the sail-shaped hotel Burj Al Arab, the Palm Jumeirah and the tallest structure in the world, the Burj Khalifa.
Another major attraction for the area will be a souk encircled by a promenade of alfresco dining outlets, retail stores and a traditional market atmosphere, along with a luxury five-star hotel.