Fantastic food, authentic cultural entertainment and excellent retail options….you can find all this and much more in the sprawling fun fair called the Global Village! The 28th season of the attraction will commence on 18th October 2023, and its doors will be closed on 28th April 2024. This year, the much-loved leisure and entertainment hub has been bigger and better than ever, with millions visiting during the season.
Much-loved attractions, hundreds of eclectic dining choices, breathtaking music shows and stunning retail antiquities — here’s everything you need to know about this cultural extravaganza.
HIGHLIGHTS OF SEASON 27
From handcrafted souvenirs to tasty meals from around the world, Global Village 2022 had it all — an event that featured 27 pavilions spanning an amazing 78 cultures.
This year, the hub of good times will also feature a host of different activities packed with lots of fun for people of all ages. As we are eagerly waiting for the attractions to be revealed, let’s revisit the memories of season 27.
HOUSE OF FEAR
Visitors enjoyed some spooky and exhilarating moments in an all-new horror house! Arriving just in time for Halloween, House of Fear was the scariest new experience in Global Village. There were nine unique adventures, including a haunted cemetery, a hospital psych ward and a screaming tree.
Cave Entertainment curated this 660-square-metre space. The unique concept featured the latest animatronic technology creating an immersive experience.
DIGGERS LAB
Diggers Lab, the hydraulic digger experience, was another new attraction of Global Village. Here the little ones could don a construction hat and be a part of an entertaining edutainment activity. The lab allowed young builders to operate dumpers, diggers, and other construction equipment near the Carnaval entrance.
Road of Asia
A brand-new concept called “Road of Asia”, a special boulevard with kiosks from 13 Asian countries, was unveiled as an exciting new addition. Genuine arts and crafts from the countries were available for purchase in this new area of Global Village. The represented countries include Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Brunei, Laos, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and the Philippines.
The Big Balloon Ride
There have always been some fabulous rides in the Global Village for adventure lovers, the newbie on the scene last season was the “Global Village Big Balloon” ride. The unique helium balloon ride soared more than 200 feet above the ground, offering those onboard a breathtaking bird’s eye view of the entire venue.
Meet The Wonderers
We met The Wonderers, the mascot of the global attraction. Fascinated by the famous Legend of the Staff, Waleef, Zoya, Ozka and Aiyah set off on an adventure that gave them the power to go anywhere in the world. And guess where they decided to go??? Yes. They landed in this enchanting tourist attraction we call Global Village!
Global Village also released a new line of products related to these special guests.
Cabanas
Last season at GV, friends and family groups of up to eight could hire cabanas. With a private butler attending to their every need, guests could unwind while taking in the scenery. For great views of the award-winning and awe-inspiring stunt acts, visitors had a choice to upgrade to the Star Seating experience.
Happiness Gate
There were three entrances to Global Village 2022 Dubai: The Gate of the World, the Cultural Gate, and the newly developed Happiness Gate. This new gate maintained the traffic flow and ensured shorter distances from parking areas. Valet parking was also available near the new gate. Though, Gate of the World was used for the self-parking option.
THINGS TO DO AT GLOBAL VILLAGE
Shopping
The Global Village Fair is ideal for anyone who wants to experience “bazaar-style” shopping at its best. In the last season, numerous retail brands and businesses worldwide had set up their pavilions and outlets at the festival.
Dining
What’s a fair without food? There were plenty of street food stalls and dine-in restaurants at Global Village. Guests savoured flavours from around the world! Some delicious street food items offered were pizza in a cone, steamed dumplings, doner kebabs, upgraded hot dogs and more.
The Railway Market, inspired by Thailand’s Umbrella Market, had pastries and other delicacies from Asia and other destinations.
For a more offbeat foodie experience, there was the Floating Market – with stalls aboard boats offering East Asian cuisines.
Shows
Aside from retail therapy, Global Village Dubai had street shows and kid-friendly entertainment. These include the signature shows with performances of artists from all around the world.
Additionally, there were various scintillating street acts like the Double Dutch Skippers, Bollywood Flash Mob and more. The death-defying stunts at Global Village Dubai 2022 also vowed the audience in the 26th season of the grand attraction. Last but certainly not least were the firework and fountain shows.
Dubai Global Village Carnaval
Global Village is the perfect family-friendly destination. The’ Carnaval’ area topped the list of kids’ activities in Global Village in the last season. There were more than 160 rides, arcade games, attractions and an array of skill-based games to keep kids and adults busy for hours.
RIPLEY’S, BELIEVE IT OR NOT!
Every season, the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum — the region’s first “Odditorium” — showcases the newest wonders. Last time, visitors were thrilled to visit themed galleries with interactive exhibitions, curiosities and antiques.
The Wonderers’ Kids Fest
Kids loved the adventure-packed “The Wonderers’ Kids Fest” at Kids’ Theatre! PJ Masks and Peter Rabbit — all took to the stage to entertain their little fans. The event started on the 10th of February and continued till the 28th of the month, from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm daily. It comprised classic board games, interactive shows, exciting skill competitions, fantastic prizes and much more!
That’s not it. All kiddos participating in the festival enjoyed a free ride at the Carnaval…now that’s what we call the next-level fun!
Global Village timings
In the last season, Tuesday was the family day. The Global Village timings usually remain the same in all seasons, entry is only allowed to women, couples and families. This is unless Tuesday is also a public holiday.
The opening hours of Global Village, season 28, are expected to be:
- Monday to Thursday: 04:00 pm to 12:00 am
- Friday and Sunday: 04:00 pm to 01:00 am
Ticket prices
Here is an overview of the ticket prices for season 27:
- Global Village Ticket Price: AED 20 (Value day ticket) | AED 25 (Any day ticket)
- Free entry for children under three and senior citizens above 65.
- People of Determination with one carer can enter free of charge.
- Children under the age of three and seniors over 65 also enjoy complimentary entry.
The mobile app or online is the best option for saving money on tickets because you receive a 10% discount. This means that the Value Ticket costs you just AED 18, and Any Day just AED 22.50.
The following terms and conditions usually apply to the purchase of Global Village entry tickets:
- Entry tickets are valid till the end of the season.
- All purchased Global Village tickets are non-refundable.
- A ticket is only valid for a single entry for one person on the day of purchase. The same cannot be used for multiple entries.
- Free entry for people of determination is guaranteed based on their ID cards.
- The ticket price includes 5% VAT.
Aside from ticket pricing, visitors must be mindful of these regulations:
- Pets and animals are not permitted inside the Global Village park.
- Smoking is prohibited in all park areas, including restaurants and the funfair.
- You cannot bring hoverboards, tricycles, bicycles, roller skates or skateboards inside the Global Village park.
Global Village Location
- Location: Exit 37, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road
- Contact: +971-4-362-4114
FAQs
What was the Dubai Global Village opening date for the 27th season?
The Global Village opening date for Season 27 was the 25th of October, 2022. It continued till 29th April 2023.
How to go to Global Village?
The Global Village location is conveniently accessible for those living in Motor City or villas in Arabian Ranches. A location along Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, close to the Cityland Mall, means that the park is easily reachable by car. The best way to get to Global Village is to drive or use one of the car-sharing services in Dubai.
If you’re looking for public transport options, you can take buses 102, 103, 104 or 106. All four buses will bring you straight to the Global Village. This option is the cheapest way to reach the venue. It’s also important to keep track of the Global village opening and closing times to ensure you do not miss the last bus out of the area.
As for parking, there are spaces available for around 23,000 cars at the venue with multiple exits and entry points.
A visit to Global Village is one of the best things to do in Dubai. You can consider going there with your family during the public holidays in the UAE. Once you do, you will know that it is a celebration of diversity in its truest sense.
If you are looking for budget-friendly pursuits for your children, check out the several free activities in Dubai for kids. For a better experience, you can consider the many play areas for kids in Dubai.
Stay tuned to MyBayut for more updates on the ultimate shopping extravaganza of the year.
Note: The cover image is courtesy of the official Facebook page of Global Village.
