Dubai: Dubai’s ever-popular Global Village is set to open on November 1, and will feature more live shows and international acts, organisers said on Tuesday.
For the same Dh15 entry price, visitors can make their way through 30 pavilions representing 75 countries, sample food from 150 outlets, and watch dozens of stunt and stage shows.
Every Friday at 9pm, Middle Eastern and Asian stars will take to the main cultural stage. This year, the list of stars includes Indian singers Sunidhi Chauhan and Mika Singh and Pakistan’s Atif Aslam.
Arab stars include Palestinian heart-throb Mohammad Assaf, Algerian singer Cheb Khalid, and Moroccan sensation Sa’ad Lamjarrad.
Also new this year are two pavilions which contain architecture, music and dance shows, food stands, and shopping booths from different countries.
This year sees a Far East pavilion representing Indonesia. Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea. There’s also an Eastern European pavilion representing Ukraine, Romania, and Serbia. A separate Algerian pavilion has been added, while the Tunisian pavilion from last year has been removed.
Organisers say that that each pavilion has been revamped with brand new exteriors.
This year will also see the launch of a new stunt area where around 30 actors will recreate action movie scenes. The arena has 900 seats and the acts are included in the price of the entry ticket.
Organisers have also upgraded Global Village’s WiFi, and promise a far stronger signal that extends all over the complex.
Nature lovers can enjoy sitting in the shade of 4,200 trees that have been planted this year.
Last year, 5.3 million people visited Global Village. This year, organisers expect 5.5 million to show up.
A shaky regional economy won’t stop visitors coming, Ahmad Hussain Bin Eisa, Global Village’s CEO, told Gulf News. “We don’t believe that this is a threat for us because we do believe that ... we provide value for money,” said Eisa. The low entry price — unchanged from last year — and the variety of things to see and do will help attract more visitors, he added.
Around three in four visitors to Global Village are based in the UAE. This year, the organisers have signed deals with 30 local tour operators and several international ones, in a hope of targeting more tourists.
Meanwhile, at the Fantasy Island theme park, the operator has introduced more rides and games for younger children. Between 4pm and 6pm, visitors can access any of the 50 rides and games for half the price.
For those who want to avoid the queue, Global Village has introduced a new friendly ticketing system where tickets to the park can be bought online or on a Global Village smartphone application.
Global Village will run until April 8. It will be open from 4pm to midnight on weekdays, and will stay open until 1am on weekends.
What is Global Village?
Global Village is a multicultural, open-air festival park that showcases dozens of different cultures through specially built pavilions, entertainment, shopping booths, and eateries. This year marks Global Village’s 21st season.
When: This year, Global Village runs from November 1 until April 8 next year. It then closes over the summer months.
Where: Global Village is located along Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road (E311) between Al Ain Road (E66) and Umm Suqeim Road. Parking is free, except in the VIP area, and there are around 17,000 spaces.
Cost: Entry tickets are Dh15. Children under three years of age, people with special needs and their companion, and people over 65 years old, however, may visit free of charge.
