Dubai gears up for Global Village Season 31

Anif, from Pakistan, owns a fur coat shop where the goods range from around Dh300 to Dh1,000. He looks forward to Global Village when he is in Pakistan for four months of the year, "This is where work is. This is where business is. But when we are here, we do miss family."

Luna Anais Weyer, an Algerian-French Year 10 student based in Dubai, is among the visitors enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of Global Village, which she has been visiting for around six years.

Arriving with her friends, Nessya and Melodie, Weyer has noted that the destination’s diverse food offerings and multicultural community are among the biggest reasons she keeps coming back.

“I love the community and I love the food that they have. They have so many varieties of different countries and everything. It’s so fun to have,” Weyer told Gulf News.

For her, some of her fondest memories are not just about the food or cultural experiences, but also the fun of the fairground games.

“My most favourite memory is by the arcades and the games that you get to win things,” she said, adding that visiting with friends and family makes the experience even more enjoyable.

Global Village is winning over first-time visitors with its vibrant mix of cultures, entertainment, and family-friendly attractions.

Balbir Singh, a tourist from India, visited the popular Dubai destination with his wife and daughter, describing the experience as exciting and entertaining for the entire family.

“It's very exciting here because there are different types of culture and fun activities for kids and everyone,” said Singh, highlighting the attraction’s appeal to visitors of all ages.

He added that Global Village offers a welcoming environment where families can enjoy a wide variety of experiences, including entertainment and food from different cultures, all in one place.

For Singh and his family, the visit marked their first experience at Global Village, leaving them impressed by the destination’s diverse offerings.

“This is our first time experiencing Global Village. It's amazing,” he said, capturing the excitement of discovering one of Dubai’s popular multicultural attractions.

At the Yemen pavilion, we meet Fadil at the honey stall, who has lived in UAE for over 14 years, and has recently been splitting time between UAE and Yemen. "Eight months here, and four months in Yemen," he says. Currently, his wife and children are in Dubai, says Fadil, who has been selling honey at Global Village for 5 years now.

Dubai-based influencer Aishwarya who goes by the Instagram account Tanu_talkss is having a blast at Floating Market. She is all for the Thai mussels, and this is her first time trying the mango sticky rice. No complaints, it's perfect, she says.

Visitors get to enjoy a 25 percent discount on a collection of jalabiya, with prices ranging from Dh70 to Dh380, this new season of Global Village.

A jalabiya is a traditional, loose-fitting garment worn by women, commonly at home and also for social gatherings and special occasions.

“We’re selling this jalabiya for everyone and this season, we are giving a 25 percent discount,” said Mira Alacar, a salesperson at Al Hajis shop at the Bahrain pavilion.

The collection caters to customers looking for traditional outfits for everyday wear as well as special occasions.

“They mostly use jalabiya at home, but we also have for party,” shared Alacar, adding that local women are among the shop’s main customers.

Despite the discount, the shop has kept its prices unchanged from the previous season.

“For the prices, we have retained the same price from the previous season, but now we are giving a 25 percent discount."

The retailer was optimistic about business this year, with visitors showing enthusiasm for Global Village.

“This year, we are optimistic to have a good business here, especially visitors are excited to visit Global Village.”

The Floating Market is one of the hotspots of Global Village, that's where you get tomyum fried rice, dumplings, spring rolls, Thai shrimp fritters for between Dh45-Dh65. Here, we run into Izzy de Meo and Una de Meo. Izzy is no novice to Global Village as she in UAE. So what brings her back every year? "The food. Every time. Always the food." As she and Una say, there is just so much choice here. And what does first timer Una feel? "It is amazing. There is just so much to choose from."

Global Village is not just about exploring pavilions and sampling food from around the world. For children, there are rides to hop on, spooky attractions to brave and plenty of carnival games to test their skills.

The Venetian Carousel is a classic family-friendly option, with tickets costing around Dh15. Children can enjoy a spin on the colourful carousel, making it a good stop for younger visitors. Another option is the Californian Highway, which also costs around Dh15 and offers a fun ride for those looking for a little more excitement.

For older children and brave teens, the Horror Hotel promises jump scares, spooky encounters and plenty of thrills. At more than Dh70, it is one of the pricier attractions, so it may be worth checking the ticket price before heading in.

If your child prefers games to rides, the stalls scattered around Global Village offer plenty of opportunities to put their skills to the test. At one basketball game, players try to throw a ball through a hoop, with a round costing around Dh15. For children with a competitive streak, the challenge can quickly turn into a determination to land that perfect shot.

There are also simpler games for younger visitors, including a stall where players try to catch toy ducks floating in water. At around Dh4 per attempt, it is a more affordable way to keep children entertained, although winning is never guaranteed.

A look at the parade

A spectacular shower of confetti has brought a burst of colour and excitement to Global Village, with visitors treated to a dazzling display at the park’s iconic Gate of the World.

The signature confetti shower took place at the main entrance as part of the grand opening celebrations, creating a vibrant spectacle for guests gathered at the popular Dubai attraction.

The colourful display formed part of a wider programme of entertainment marking the occasion, with the World Parade and choir performances adding to the festive atmosphere.

The vibrant Parade of the World is among the opening-day highlights, showcasing cultures from around the globe through colourful costumes, music, and performances.

The signature live entertainment spectacle features colorful floats, dancers, musicians, and performers representing cultures from around the world.

People wait for Global Village Season 31 to open again. The parade is all set to take place soon. The lights are on, the cameras ready... it's time for the action.

This time, the kids theatre has gotten a makeover of sorts, with different animal figures everywhere, including bears and whales.

The Syria Pavilion at Global Village in Dubai returns with a brand-new facade, featuring fresh architectural and artistic details.

Visitors can enjoy authentic Syrian cuisine such as traditional food and regional specialties alongside artisan crafts.

Rami Mashini, Vice President of Operations at Global Village, welcomed guests and members of the media and highlighted the destination’s diverse offerings for the new season.

"Welcome to Global Village. I'm very happy with the name of the theme, even the investors, and everybody to welcome everyone to Season 31. We call it "A more wonderful word." We have so much in our pockets for the season. 29 pavilions, stories, and cultures of 90 cities within the pavilions. More than 250 kiosks, food and beverage, they offer restaurants, and coffee shops. The carnival this year, we have more than 200 rides and attractions. We have more than 40,000 shows within Global Village this year among the cross cities. So we have shows for all the ages, for kids, for adults, for the others. So, Global Village is ready.

Season 31 is more wonderful. We've been here for a while, and everybody knows how strong Global Village is. We are not only Global Village, we represent Dubai as a touristic destination. Between 1997, till today, we have welcomed more than 100 million people. We are looking forward for a successful season this year. Enjoy it yourself as well. Please look around. And thank you so much for coming."

With its combination of international cultures, live entertainment, shopping, and dining, Global Village is set to deliver another vibrant season for audiences of all ages.

All beaming and smiles, Jacintha, who owns the tea stall in the Sri Lanka pavilion is very happy that people can come to the Sri Lanka pavilion. "People have been asking and now they can come and get the world's best tea."

This time at Global Village, Sri Lanka gets a standalone pavilion. In past editions, it was a part of the Bangladesh pavilion. Residents can enjoy a comfortable walk through colourful stalls, and buy handicrafts, clothes, beauty products of their choice.

The Kuwait Pavilion at Dubai's Global Village returns for Season 31 featuring a brand-new exterior facade as part of the park's latest updates.

Visitors can explore traditional Arabic calligraphy, enjoy Kuwaiti Qahwa (coffee), and experience cultural music and arts inside.

A walk through the Garden of the Worlds will be a peaceful break for residents. It has now a new look with dancing dolls every few steps, and pink flowers wherever you go. The walls too are adorned with plants and flowers and there are strict instructions not to pluck them.

Priscilla Abban, visiting Dubai from Ghana for the first time, said Global Village was the final stop on her itinerary before heading home.

“I was told it is a must-see if you've been to Dubai,” she said. “My ChatGPT told me to visit Global Village before I go back. I am doing that!”

The waiting time might take a bit, but residents are keeping themselves busy. While some are queuing up for Karak chai, others are planning selfies. Madagascar expats Areff issack Saïrah and Gabiolla Rasoarinasy are ready for the fun and the feast. Sairah has already been thrice, while Gabiolla is attending for the first time. "We are looking forward to food. All the food. We want to test all food, like Chinese food and Indian food;" says Sairah. Her favourite part about Global Village? "I love the views," she says.

Urvi Battol, a Pakistani expat, is excited for her first time at Global Village. "I am here to explore different food, and see the different kinds of culture for myself." So what does she want to buy? As she says, unique items that represent different countries such as shawls, rings and more. And obviously, food is a given as she says. And why not: This time Global Village has different plans for food, too.

Trabzon Turkish Restaurant joins the line-up alongside Robo Al Sham, Hawawshi Al Rabie and Chicking, all at Restaurant Plaza. The dining area sits beside Carnaval and overlooks the Falcon Stage, so you can eat well and not miss the fun.

And there is coffee and dessert, too. New cafés Vinci Dolci, Emir Bey Gourmet and Uzungol Café are worth checking out, while Dessert District returns with a fresh new look.

Lamees Kadhim is a tourist from Iraq residing in Germany. She is visiting Global Village with her husband and son.

"I am a tourist here and I never visited the Global Village, so I'm excited about sightseeing all the places, from all areas and all the countries.

"I know about it from before. I heard a lot about it. I see it on the media, so I thought it is a good opportunity to visit it while I'm here."

Ok, so technically, the family-friendly spot will open for its 31st season at 6pm, but people, like us, are already here.