The Ain Dubai, or Dubai Eye, which is nearly twice as tall as the London Eye and has more steel than the Eiffel Tower, has ceased to rotate in a city with several record-breaking icons.
Designed as a tourist-luring landmark in the United Arab Emirates' glam hub, which is home to the world's tallest building, it mysteriously stopped turning just months after opening, with its light fixtures being the only parts seemingly still working, according to AFP.
According to the official website for the attraction, the Dubai Eye remains closed until further notice.
The Dubai Eye, built by a consortium of international companies, was inaugurated in 2021 and it quickly dominated the official skyline.
The wheel serves as the focal point of Bluewaters, a man-made island that is home to some of Dubai's most expensive real estate, including opulent apartments, excellent dining, upscale shops, a mall, and a Caesars Palace.
The giant wheel features prominently on the list of Dubai's top tourist attractions. They include the Dubai Frame Monument and the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.
According to AFP, with no official explanation, rumours are rife about the Ferris wheel's apparent technical issues, especially among employees at Bluewaters.
Employees reportedly remain sceptical that the structure, which took around six years to build, will ever turn again, AFP said.
The Dubai Eye stands at a height of 250 metres (825 feet), with each of its legs the length of 15 London buses, according to Dubai's tourism department.
It is the largest of its kind in the world, with 48 air-conditioned passenger cabins that can carry around 1,750 passengers on a single ride.
Ticket prices range between 100 dirhams (about US$27) and 4,700 dirhams (about US$1,280), with luxury passes and private cabins on offer.
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