Dubai: Visitors to Dubai’s Global Village fair can buy entry tickets at self-service machines starting next week, thus avoiding long lines at ticket counters, a senior official said.
There is typically a huge rush to buy tickets at payment counters before entering the sprawling outdoor shopping and entertainment “park”.
More than one million visitors entered the park within one month of its opening on November 6 — the highest opening month turnout in its 19-season history.
As a trial pilot project, management will install three self-services machines near Gate 3, said Ahmad Hussain, chief operating office, Global Village.
“Accordingly, we’ll see how to go forward. The machines will be placed to see the reaction of visitors to the new [self-service] system,” he added.
To cut waiting time in lines, Global Village is also studying the option of online ticket sales, Hussain said, but the plan has not yet been finalised.
Tickets cost Dh15 each while entry is free for children below the age of three, guests with special needs and their companion, as well as the elderly aged 65-plus.
Last year, Global Village attracted more than 5,000,000 people and officials expect the same footfall this season. The response so far has been “phenomenal”, with 250,000 visitors counted over a five-day period during the UAE National Day break earlier this month.
Besides entertainment, food, and cultural attractions, shopping is also a crowd puller at Global Village. The variety in prices and products, imported from dozens of countries, attracts bargain hunters looking for hard-to-find goods.
There are around 3,400 outlets at Global Village, Hussain said.
Hussain told Gulf News a price cap has traditionally been in place on “essentials” such as refreshments – tea, coffee, water, small snacks – and items sold at kiosks.
However, officials are also in the process of encouraging retailers – many of whom are visiting small family businesses from various countries – to place price tags on products. Management also “takes into consideration” the menu of restaurants when reviewing price regimes.
Still, in general, prices are not fixed and customers are free to haggle for deals, a practice many prefer over fixed prices. By comparison, prices in malls are almost always fixed, with most retailers there being international brands.
Global Village continues to grow every season with new attractions and this year’s additions include new country pavilions – America, Cambodia and Iraq, for example – Al Remal Pit, Prehistoric Oceanic, Animal Land, Illumination World and the introduction of the Global Village mascot Globo.
There is also a separate dining area housing 23 restaurants and a total of almost 50 rides and games this season.
Global Village has this season added a further 330,000 square feet to its 2.7 million square feet area.
