The concept of the Global Village was created to show the whole world in miniature. It brings together the best from different countries “under one roof”, starting with UAE itself, going to all the countries of the MENA region, and then moving to central Africa, Europe and the Americas. It offers its guests a holistic experience of perceiving the whole world with all its diversity and richness.
Dubai and all the United Arab Emirates are rightfully proud of this concept, which is based on the ideas of the unity of cultures and the opportunity to collect all the best for the happiness and enjoyment of the UAE’s residents and guests of the country from around the world.
This is a multi-cultural theme park for the whole family to enjoy, with many attractions and a lot of amazing entertainment for children and adults, as well as cultural exhibitions from different countries and a huge number of retailers and restaurants.
The Global Village began in 1996 as a small project and a part of the Dubai Shopping Festival. It consisted of several small kiosks created in the theme of different countries. In the first season, about 500,000 people visited it, which proved the concept to be highly successful, and so its growth started.
As of its 23rd season of 2018/2019, the number of guests has already amounted to more than 7 million people (during 166 days of the season). Summing up the past 23rd season, the theme park reported financial transactions worth AED 13 billion.
The Global Village changed its location several times. Initially, it was opposite the Dubai Municipality in Bur Dubai, not far from Dubai Creek Park. The project later moved to Oud Metha, then to Dubai Festival City. But in 2005, a permanent place was found – now it is located on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and covers an area of 1,600,000 sq.m. An important factor in choosing a location for the Global Village was the simplicity of transport links and, above all, the ability to easily reach the place using public transport.
The Global Village often hosts musical performances and festivals. Every season, visitors can attend concerts of world-class stars. A variety of street entertainment shows for children, theatrical performances, musical fireworks shows, performances of stuntmen and circus artists, Ripley’s Believe it or Not galleries with the most unusual exhibitions – guests can enjoy top-level entertainment and get a lot of incredible emotions. It is simply impossible to cover all the entertainment of the Global Village in one day, it is better to return here again and again.
A stunning Сarnival awaits guests every day – FunFair Park for the whole family. The most exciting attraction, rides, and games are gathered here. Guests can enjoy the 60-meter Wheel of the World, take a ride on Mumbai Express, or tickle their nerves on even more extreme rides like Athens Slingshot or 85-meter high drop tower Global Burj!
But the trademark feature of the Global Village and its main attractions are the pavilions of various countries from around the world. There are already more than two dozen pavilions and the number is growing year after year. Each pavilion expresses the heritage and culture of a country it represents, where guests can admire thematic exhibitions representing the traditional art and crafts of a particular country, as well as purchase souvenirs and taste the best national dishes.
By visiting country pavilions you will get a unique cultural experience. An interesting and educative activity for both children and adults, and a rare opportunity to learn a lot from immersion in different – sometimes familiar, sometimes completely new – cultural traditions.
Also, there are many shops with souvenirs and gifts in the amusement park. If you will get tired and would crave a snack (which you most probably will), there are a large variety of places to eat, ranging from small street food kiosks, ice cream stalls, or coffee shops throughout the area, to a huge food court with a number of restaurants at your service. There, you can relax with your family while exploring the pavilions.
Global Village is a great place to enjoy for the whole family. It contains one the best entertainment, shops, and restaurants for every taste. All the details in its organization were thought out to the smallest detail – parking spaces, comfortable paths for long walks with children, green areas, and cozy locations for recreation.
Furthermore, guests of Global Village can enjoy a high-quality outdoor connection to the 5G network provided by Du company. It has been announced that the theme park will soon become the World’s First 5G-Powered Entertainment Destination. And this means expanded access to many latest technologies for visitors, for example, opportunities for streaming high-quality video, using virtual reality, and much more.
The family-oriented themed entertainment park is gaining popularity year after year. Today, the Global Village is one of the most common items from the to-do list for every tourist, and at least a once-per-season destination for every resident in the UAE!
The entrance to the park is AED 15 per person for one day. The Global Village is usually open five months a year, from late October – early November to early April.
