Dubai Frame to open next week

The long-awaited Dubai Frame will open to the public next week, an official has said.

Dubai Municipality director general Hussain Nasser Lootah confirmed the plans to Gulf News, stating the general public would be able to visit the day after an inauguration event.

Unlike the recently opened Dubai Safari, however, the attraction will not be free for its opening week.

Read: Dubai’s $272m safari park opens

The giant frame, located in Dubai’s Zabeel Park, features a viewing deck on its upper structure claimed to offer views of old and new Dubai.

Last month, the ticket prices for the attraction were confirmed at Dhs50 for adults, and Dhs30 for children. At the time Lootah said it would open in November.

Read: Dubai Frame ticket prices revealed ahead of November opening

Property developer Emaar has entered an agreement with Dubai Municipality to manage the attraction under its At The Top unit, which also manages the Burj Khalifa observation deck experience.

The attraction is expected to have a paperless ticketing system, with visitors using their smartphones to gain entry after purchasing tickets electronically.

Work began on the 150-metre-high landmark in 2013, and it was originally due to open in 2015.

Lootah attributed the delay to a decision to bring in higher quality materials, including the gold-tone stainless steel cladding that covers the structure.

Earlier this year, the architect who won the international competition to design the attraction filed an intellectual property lawsuit against Dubai Municipality, claiming it was built without his involvement.

Read: Dubai Frame subject to copyright lawsuit in the US