Global Village Dubai: Stunning photos show the amazing changes to world's leading festival of culture
Dubai’s Global Village returns October 15 with upgraded areas and exciting new experiences
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1997: The first season of Global Village kicked off in a modest car park across from the Dubai Municipality building, with just 500,000 guests and 10 countries. It was a small beginning with big dreams. With only 50,000 square meters of space, Global Village's first season set the stage for Dubai's most significant cultural festival.
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2001: Global Village had grown significantly, and it was time for a bigger space. The move to Oud Metha near Wafi City marked the festival's first significant expansion.
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The Oud Metha location allowed more countries to join the celebration, offering a vibrant mix of cultures and experiences.
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2004: The festival moved again to Dubai Festival City, with a much larger footprint to accommodate even more pavilions and attractions. Global Village became a global sensation, drawing bigger crowds and offering a richer cultural experience at Dubai Festival City.
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2005: Global Village found its permanent home in Dubailand. The 17.2 million square feet space paved the way for a new era of growth and excitement.
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2011: A fire-eater entertains visitors at Global Village in Dubai.
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2015: More than 400,000 people visited Dubai's Global Village during the five days of the 44th National Day holidays.
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2018: Dubailand's massive expansion introduced thrilling funfair attractions, turning Global Village into a complete entertainment hub.
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2019: With more room to grow, Global Village continued to expand its international offerings, with over 90 pavilions and world-class entertainment.
Virendra Saklani/Gulf News
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2025: Global Village on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, at Dubailand
has become a must-visit destination, attracting millions every year
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Global Village, the UAE's favorite family destination, is all set to welcome guests back for its highly anticipated 30th season, which kicks off on October 15.
This season promises to be the most exciting yet, with a series of new attractions, enhanced experiences, and stunning visual upgrades that are sure to captivate visitors of all ages.
Virendra Saklani/Gulf News
Devadasan K PChief Visual Editor
Devadasan K P is the Chief Visual Editor at Gulf News, bringing more than 26 years of experience in photojournalism to the role. He leads the Visual desk with precision, speed, and a strong editorial instinct.
Whether he’s selecting images of royalty, chasing the biggest celebrity moments in Dubai, or covering live events himself, Devadasan is always a few steps ahead of the action.
Over the years, he has covered a wide range of major assignments — including the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, feature reportage from Afghanistan, the IMF World Bank meetings, and wildlife series from Kenya.
His work has been widely recognised with industry accolades, including the Minolta Photojournalist of the Year award in 2005, the Best Picture Award at the Dubai Shopping Festival in 2008, and a Silver Award from the Society for News Design in 2011.
He handles the newsroom pressure with a calm attitude, a quick response time, and his signature brand of good-natured Malayali humour. There's no fuss — just someone who gets the job done very well, every single time.
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