Cairo Eye
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| Cairo Eye | |
|---|---|
عين القاهرة | |
 | |
| Alternative names | Ain Cairo |
| General information | |
| Status | Under construction |
| Type | Ferris wheel |
| Location | Cairo, Egypt, Zamalek |
| Construction started | January 21st, 2021 |
| Completed | Not completed |
| Cost | EGP 500 million ($32 million) |
| Owner | Hawaii Tourism |
| Height | |
| Height | 120 meters (390 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 5000 square metres (54,000 sq ft) |
| Other information | |
| Parking | 500 vehicles |
Cairo Eye, also known as Ain Cairo (Arabic: عين القاهرة) is a ferris wheel under construction located on the banks of the Nile River in the Zamalek district of Cairo, Egypt.[1][2]
It will be considered Cairo's first recreational and touristic observation wheel spanning over 5,000 square metres (54,000 ft2) of land area and a height of 120 metres (390 ft),[3] making it the largest ferris wheel in Africa and the fifth largest worldwide,[4] expected to attract around 2.5 million visitors a year.[5][6]
In recent years, the adjacent city of Giza, home to the Sphinx and pyramids, has received the majority of tourism projects. From Giza's long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum to the new pyramids visitor center and the recently opened Sphinx International Airport, Egypt is betting big on Giza tourism and hopes the same for Cairo.[7]
In accordance with Egypt's 2030 Vision, Egypt aims to resuscitate its tourism sector with the new tourist attraction. As Egypt's tourism authority anticipates that the wheel will certainly boost Egypt's economy, especially after the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.[8]
The project was set to be completed in 2022, but it seems to have been abandoned.
Cairo Eye is placed near one of Cairo's major archaeological attractions, the Cairo Tower, and it aims to link both entertainment and cultural learning together, set to have an integrated recreational area established around the Ferris wheel to serve as a tourist destination.[9]
The wheel will have 48 total cabins with a panoramic 360 view of Cairo with a capacity of 6-8 passengers for each cabin, and will carry around 15,000 visitors a day.[10] The height of the wheel is 120 metres (390 ft), offers a bird's-eye view of the city for up to 50 kilometres (31 mi) which includes the views of downtown Cairo, the renowned Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx.[11][7][12]
The Cairo Eye will also include services and facilities like retailers of international brands, fine dining restaurants, a food court, an entertainment and events area as well as a 1,000 square metres (11,000 ft2) multi-purpose hall overlooking the Nile River.[13]
As for the inevitable congestion and traffic jams, the project will be provided with a covered car parking area (two levels) with a capacity of 500 vehicles, 'Ain Cairo taxi services' and 'Ain Cairo free transport drop on/off buses' as well as river transportation.[14][15]
Tickets to ride the Cairo Eye are expected to range between $15 and $22, but prices will be reviewed once the project is complete.[8]