A Look at the Dubai Bluewaters Island Opening in 2018

If you’ve been anywhere around JBR recently, you couldn’t have missed the enormous structure being constructed there. The world’s largest observation wheel, Ain Dubai, is starting to come together on the new Bluewaters Island.

We’ve just got a sneak peek at what to expect the Dhs6 billion island to look like once it’s all complete. And we can’t contain our excitement!

What's in it?

The observation wheel, standing 210 metres high, will be the focus of attention, featuring 48 capsules large enough to walk inside. Ain Dubai, literally meaning Dubai Eye, has a capacity of 1,400 people at a time and it would take around 48 minutes to complete a full circle.

SEE ALSO: A huge public park is being developed in Dubai

The island will feature 10 waterfront residential buildings, with 689 apartments and 17 townhouses. For the lucky rich, there are also four luxury penthouses featuring stunning ocean views and private swimming pools.

Aside from the residential aspect, there will be two five-star hotels, many restaurants, retail shops and beach clubs as well as entertainment options.
 
The island will be accessible from The Beach at JBR through a 256-metre pedestrian bridge as well as from Sheikh Zayed Road and a monorail system.

When to expect it?

You can look forward to this new attraction coming to life next year! The residences have a move-in date for the first quarter of 2018 while the observation wheel is expected to open sometime in 2018.

Last September, it was announced that the access bridges were about 85 percent complete, so the timeline seems on track. 

The World’s First 3D-Printed Skyscraper Coming to Dubai

Dubai has been at the forefront of 3D printing lately. Last year, we were introduced to the Office of the Future, the first 3D-printed office ever created.

At the time, Dubai Media Office had also disclosed that by 2030, 3D-printed buildings will make up 25 per cent of Dubai’s new buildings.

Now, a Dubai company is reportedly building the first 3D-printed skyscraper in the world. Cazza, a 3D printing construction technologies company, will be the one designing the building.

The company will be using its crane-printing method to build 3D structures of heights from 80 metres and up. The method involves using cranes modified specifically for 3D printing. There would be a variety of materials used, including concrete and steel.

SEE ALSO: A look at the Dubai Bluewaters Island opening in 2018

The idea is to combine mobile 3D printing robots with existing construction methods in order to make the process faster, more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.  Not all of the building would be 3D-printed, but rather only the parts that make sense and the rest will still include reinforcements, such as rebar.

This approach saves time as you’re able to 3D print parts directly from the design. It also reduces construction costs and make the delivery time shorter.

At this point in time, this simply an idea in the works as the company has been very selective with the information it’s releasing regarding this project. But Dubai is no stranger to 'firsts' so we have no doubt this could soon become a reality.