Want to have fun in Dubai? Then head to Global Village! The emirate is full of must-do attractions, like going to the top of the world's tallest skyscraper and enjoying the view, swimming with sharks in huge water parks, or skiing in a mall... This destination really has no shortage of amazing activities!
However, there is one that is not talked about enough even though it is one of the best entertainment parks in the United Arab Emirates and Dubai: the "Global Village" of Dubai. This gigantic entertainment and leisure center is very popular among Dubai residents, and it is unique in the world!
The "Global Village" of Dubai is kind of a wonderful world where you can discover cultures from all over the world while enjoying a funfair, a shopping area and many restaurants. In short, it's the perfect place to spend a day with your family, have fun and enjoy fascinating experiences!
Once you're in Dubai, you really must go and visit this curious tourist destination, especially since it doesn't cost much to enter!
Want to know more? I'll tell you everything there is to know about this theme park below.
WHAT IS THE GLOBAL VILLAGE OF DUBAI?
Dubai's Global Village is an entertainment park where Dubai families love to spend time.
When it was established in 1997, it had only a few kiosks on the banks of the Dubai Creek. However, the project has since grown to become one of the largest tourism projects in the Middle East.
The Global Village of Dubai is much more than just a tourist park!
The park consists of 4 main areas:- events and concerts,
- carnivals,
- food from around the world
- shopping
The Global Village is an open-air fair where locals and tourists come to shop.
The park is a big village full of culture, with 25 big pavilions representing 78 countries (like China, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Japan, Palestine, Jordan, Yemen or India...). Some stands are very impressive!
Visitors can discover the cultures of these different nations (architecture, dance, singing, traditional clothes...), their handicrafts as well as taste a great variety of their gastronomy. The smells and perfumes are just incredible!
The park contains many restaurants, cafes, fast-food outlets, kiosks as well as stalls along Kiosk Street.
My review of the park 🎪
Are you still hesitating to visit the Global Village? As far as I'm concerned, it's a place I really enjoy! I try to spend at least one night there every time I'm in Dubai. I'm not the biggest fan of rides in general, but I go there for the atmosphere, the quality of the decorations and the typical dishes from all over the world that are offered there. You’ll really feel like you left Dubai for a moment and are in another country!
Whether you are an adult or a child, you will be subjugated by the magic that emanates from this place; and if, in addition, you like strong sensations, all the elements will be gathered so that you will spend a very good moment there 🙂
Small precision: the entrance in the park is paying ($4.08) and does not include access to all the activities inside.
- The Global Village of Dubai is a very exotic theme park
In one place, you can go around the world and discover replicas of famous monuments like the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, the Big Ben or the Empire State Building, but also the Burj Khalifa!
- The Global Village of Dubai is an theme park where young and old can have hours of fun
In the "Carnival" zone, the park has more than 50 roller coasters and rides, some of which are thrilling.
The "Kids Fest" area is reserved for the little ones. They can paint, dance, play ball and board games. Many parades will also allow them to meet their favorite cartoon characters (especially those from the Middle East).
In the evening, in the "Kaleidoscope" area, many shows are organized on specially designed stages: dance, magic, acrobatics, stunts, speed, juggling with LEDs... Everything is perfectly choreographed!
The park also has an artificial river on which you can take a ride on abras and visit a floating market.
It is also possible to visit a museum of curiosities, the "Ripley's Believe It Or Not". It houses in its 6 thematic galleries lots of oddities (natural, scientific, artistic...) and animal or exotic exhibitions. There are also visual illusions and a labyrinth of mirrors. It takes at least an hour to do the whole tour.
In a Roman amphitheater, every Friday around 9 pm, a celebrity comes to perform. The park has already welcomed singers like Jason Derulo, Samira SaĂŻd, Elissa or actors like Shahrukh Khan.
Finally, fireworks are launched every Friday and Saturday at 9 pm.
The Global Village in a few figures:
- The park has an area of 17,200,000 sq. ft. (or 1,600,000 m².)
- More than 5 million people (from all over the world) visit the park every year.
- It contains 27 pavilions.
- 78 countries are represented.
- The current entrance fee is 15 AED (about $4 - or €3.5)
WHERE IS THE GLOBAL VILLAGE OF DUBAI?
The full address of the tourist site is:
Dubai Global Village
Sortie N° 37
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road
Dubai
Émirats Arabes Unis
HOW TO GET THERE?
The Dubai Global Village is located in the Dubailand district, in the southeast of the city.
ACCESSIBLE BY CAR
From downtown, take the main road, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, then the exit No. 37. It will take you between 25 minutes (from downtown Dubai) and 45 minutes (from another departure point in the city) to reach the park.
The park has a large parking lot. With more than 20,000 parking spaces, it is one of the largest parking lots in Dubai. It is divided into two main categories:
- a free zone: "General Parking Area P1 - P12";
- a paying zone, or "VIP Parking Area 1 & 2", with the possibility of opting for a valet service.
Here are the rates:
Categories of parking | On weekdays and weekends |
|---|---|
General Parking (Area P1 - P12) | Free |
VIP Parking (Area 1 & 2) | AED 200/day (around $54) |
Premium Parking | AED 100/day (around $27) |
All rates on the page are those of August 2021.
The parking lot has a free train and shuttle to and from the park.
There are also rickshaws that will take you from the parking lot to the entrance gate. Count AED 10/person ($2.70) for a full ride around the service road, and AED 5/person ($1.35) for a simple ride from the Global Village gates to your parking lot.
ACCESSIBLE BY BUS
There are 4 possible routes by bus:
- via route 102, departing from "Rashidiya" subway station;
- via route 103, departing from "Union" subway station;
- via route 104, departing from "Al Ghubaiba" bus station;
- via route 106, departing from “Mall of Emirates” subway station.
Depending on your departure point along those lines, you can expect to pay between AED 4 ($1.10) and AED 8.5 ($2.30) per trip.
ACCESSIBLE BY CAB
Cabs are also a good way to get around in Dubai.
The starting price for a taxi ride is AED 8 (about $2.20) during the day and AED 9 ($2.45) at night (between 10pm and 6am), to which you should add AED 1.96 per kilometer driven (or $0.53 per kilometer).
Inside the park, you can walk or ride on abras on the water.
WHAT ARE THE OPENING HOURS?
The Global Village of Dubai only opens for a few months a year, in the winter; usually from October/November to April. This is the period when the weather is much cooler! (see when to go to Dubai).
For this year, the season started on October 26th 2021 and will end on April 10th 2022.
The park opens every day of the week (Monday to Sunday):
- from 4pm to midnight from Saturday to Sunday,
- from 4pm to 1am on Thursdays and Fridays.
Please note that it is impossible to enter the park after 11:30 pm.
Monday is reserved for women and families only.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT THE PARK?
The best times to go are when the park opens at 4pm and from Tuesday to Sunday.
Don't forget to plan your day, as it takes several hours to do a complete tour of the entire park!
ENTRANCE FEES FOR GLOBAL VILLAGE
The entrance fee is 15 AED (around $4).
It is free for:
- Children under 3 years old,
- People over 65 years old,
- Disabled people.
WHERE TO BUY A TICKET?
In this period of Covid-19 pandemic, you can buy your tickets online (it is even recommended, to limit contacts). It will also allow you to avoid long lines and even sometimes to benefit from a discount on the tickets.
But it is of course possible to buy a ticket directly on the spot. You can pay by credit card (with or without contact) as well as in cash.
Please note that Global Village tickets will only allow you to enter the park. You will have to pay for certain activities inside the park (stores, rides, children's theater, concerts...)!
It is also possible to buy combo tickets with different offers, such as the combo ticket: Carnival Global Village + Global Village Dubai for 250 AED (about $68).
COVID-19 SECURITY MEASURES
The Global Village of Dubai remains open despite the pandemic. You will just need to follow the guidelines that have been put in place within the park. Don't worry though: everything has been designed to ensure that visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience.
However, the elderly as well as those with chronic illnesses are advised to avoid the crowded areas of the village.
Please note:
- Before entering, your temperature will be taken by thermal scan.
- You must respect social distancing.
- Wearing a mask is mandatory, including for children (they will be given free masks).
- There are over 600 disinfection points throughout the park.
- PCR tests are available upon request (at an additional cost) at a hospital clinic located inside the park.
- Some entertainment/activities may be temporarily suspended.
- The rides and games in the "Carnival" area operate at reduced capacity and are disinfected after each use.
GOOD TO KNOW!
- For a better experience of your visit to the Global Village of Dubai, download the free app of the site available on App Store and Google Playstore: Global Village Dubai
It is very useful, as it will allow you to better enjoy all the entertainment the park has to offer. You can even use the application to buy your entrance tickets, recharge your passes or pay for your parking space without even having to go through any line! You'll also find a map of Global Village, which will come in handy for getting around the village or finding the different stores, attractions and restaurants you want to see. - If you have the opportunity and want to get a good deal, visit Global Village at the end of the season when the products on sale are discounted. But don't forget to still haggle for better prices!
- Ladies, be sure to dress appropriately (no bare legs or deep necklines)
- Also, remember to bring comfortable shoes: the park is very big!
- Maps of the village are given at the entrance.
That's it for this article. I hope to have given you all the information you needed, and maybe even made you want to visit this park a bit! 🙂
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