Construction has started on the Global Village's Dh800 million permanent home, an offical said.

Ebrahim Abdul Rahim, Director of the Global Village, said that starting in 2006 the national pavilions will be housed in a permanent air-conditioned facility.

Hadrian Hernandez/Gulf News
The UAE pavilion gets finishing touches at the Global Village due to open soon. Ebrahim Abdul Rahim, Director of the Global Village, said: "The Global Village, which used to open only during the 30-day Shopping Festival, will be a year-round feature once the permanent facility opens next year."

"Construction of the Dh800 million project covering 17.5 million square feet has already started," Rehim said.

He said the Global Village, which originally opened only during the 30-day Shopping Festival, will be a year-round feature once the permanent facility opens next year.

This year the Global Village will be open for 129 days until next March 3.

Abdul Rahim said the permanent site will be a commercial venture and all the pavilions and participants will work under the management of the Global Village. "We will provide them visas and all other facilities," he said.

The Global Village has been the largest visitor attraction of the Dubai Shopping Festival.

"Last year, more than five million people visited the facility, which offers shopping and entertainment at national pavilions of 40 countries," he said.

Phased development of the Global Village will see construction of about 50 exhibition halls, (to house national pavilions), restaurants, food courts, large car parking, accommodation facilities for participants and worker, hotels, warehouses, lakes, permanent walkways and boulevards as part of the landscape master plan that is intended to be one of Dubai's main attractions

The complex will complement the overall attractions of Dubailand, Dubai's Disneyland-type development. Entrance fees will be charged for the first time for visitors to the Global Village, which formally opens to the public tomorrow.

The fee will be Dh3 per person and there will be a group ticket priced at Dh15 for a family of six.

Ebrahim Abdul Rahim said coupons of family tickets will be entered in a draw and the winner will receive a flat at Jumeirah Residence.

Visitors will also have a chance to win Dh10,000 in vouchers in a weekly draw for shopping in the Global Village.

Factfile

Raffle winners to win valuable prize

  • This year, the Global Village will be open for 129 days until March 3, 2006.
  • Permanent site will be a commercial venture and all the pavilions and participants will work under the management of the Global Village.
  • Visitors will also have the chance to win Dh10,000 in vouchers in a weekly draw for shopping in the Global Village.
  • Coupons of family tickets will be entered in a draw and a winner will receive a flat at Jumeirah Residence.