Global Village features a total of 27 country pavilions this season. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Global Village features a total of 27 country pavilions this season. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Global Village features a total of 27 country pavilions this season. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Global Village features a total of 27 country pavilions this season. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Lifestyle

Things to do

When will Global Village close for summer?

More than a month remains until the Dubai favourite bids its fans a temporary goodbye

One Carlo Diaz

March 13, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Global Village's 27th season is scheduled to end on April 30.

The open-air entertainment destination in Dubai, which reopened in October last year, only runs during UAE's cooler months. The venue shuts down for the summer annually.

In the past, the destination's season has been extended due to popular demand. Last year, for example, Global Village was due to close on April 10 but remained open until May 7, adding four extra weeks.

  • Global Village reopened for its 27th season on October 25, 2022. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Global Village reopened for its 27th season on October 25, 2022. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The family-friendly destination returned with various new attractions
    The family-friendly destination returned with various new attractions
  • Drum group Aainjaa perform at the reopening of Global Village
    Drum group Aainjaa perform at the reopening of Global Village
  • The first of many visitors for the new season
    The first of many visitors for the new season
  • The team behind Global Village said they worked all summer to improve existing attractions and dream up new ones
    The team behind Global Village said they worked all summer to improve existing attractions and dream up new ones
  • Global Village is one of Dubai's longest-running and most popular attractions.
    Global Village is one of Dubai's longest-running and most popular attractions.
  • Global Village season 27 ran until April 30, 2023
    Global Village season 27 ran until April 30, 2023
  • Confetti rains on visitors at the opening of season 27
    Confetti rains on visitors at the opening of season 27
  • Global Village opened from 4pm to midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and 4pm to 1am from Thursday to Saturday.
    Global Village opened from 4pm to midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and 4pm to 1am from Thursday to Saturday.
  • The attraction is hugely popular with residents and tourists — especially families with young children.
    The attraction is hugely popular with residents and tourists — especially families with young children.
  • The attraction comes alive at night
    The attraction comes alive at night
  • Entry to the new Road to Asia.
    Entry to the new Road to Asia.
  • Afghan music is played in the country's pavilion
    Afghan music is played in the country's pavilion
  • Joan Capers sells her Vietnamese gifts along the Road to Asia
    Joan Capers sells her Vietnamese gifts along the Road to Asia
  • Mohammed Ayan sells jackets at his stall in the Afghanistan pavilion
    Mohammed Ayan sells jackets at his stall in the Afghanistan pavilion
  • There are plenty of sights and sounds to take in
    There are plenty of sights and sounds to take in
  • The amusement park at Global Village is popular with people of all ages
    The amusement park at Global Village is popular with people of all ages
  • Dancers at the China pavilion
    Dancers at the China pavilion
  • Preparing halwa, a traditional dessert, at the Oman pavilion
    Preparing halwa, a traditional dessert, at the Oman pavilion
  • The fair features performances by singers, dancers, acrobats and many others
    The fair features performances by singers, dancers, acrobats and many others
  • The House of Fear is a fixture for thrill-seekers
    The House of Fear is a fixture for thrill-seekers
  • Many pavilions are given makeovers each season
    Many pavilions are given makeovers each season
  • Preparing traditional Emirati food
    Preparing traditional Emirati food

Every year, there are new pavilions and attractions for guests to visit when the park reopens. In October, when the park launched its 27th season, the Dubai venue celebrated several new attractions, including a 660-square-metre House of Fear, Big Balloon observation experience, Diggers Lab for children to play at construction work and Heroes Gallery, a movie memorabilia exhibition. An eco-friendly ice rink also made its debut this season.

Also new was Road of Asia, a pedestrian street with 43 kiosks that offer food and products from countries not represented in the pavilions. The 13 destinations featured along the street include Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Brunei, Laos, Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan and the Philippines.

A total of 27 country pavilions were set up this season, with new participants such as Qatar and Oman. Visitors can also enjoy more than 170 rides and games in its carnival section.

Global Village is also known for its extensive food offerings and there are more than 200 restaurants, cafes and culinary kiosks for visitors to try.

How much do Global Village tickets cost?

For entry from Sunday to Thursday, tickets are Dh18 online and Dh20 at the gate. On Fridays and Saturdays, it's Dh22.5 online and Dh25 at the gate.

Entry is free for children under the age of three and senior citizens aged 65 and above, as well as people of determination.

Tuesdays are reserved for ladies and families only, except for public holidays.

What are Global Village opening hours?

Global Village is open from 4pm to midnight from Sunday to Wednesday, and 4pm to 1am from Thursday to Saturday.

More information is available at globalvillage.ae

How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries

• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.

• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.

• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.

• For more information visit the library network's website.

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Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870

Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder

Transmission Seven-speed PDK

Power 300hp @ 6,500rpm

Torque 380hp @ 1,950rpm

Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km

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Company name: Nybl 

Date started: November 2018

Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence

Initial investment: $500,000

Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)

Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up 

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1. Australia 52; 2. New Zealand 44; 3. South Africa 36; 4. Sri Lanka 35; 5. UAE 27; 6. India 27; 7. England 26; 8. Singapore 8; 9. Malaysia 3

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Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm

Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km

Price: from Dh94,900

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- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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Uefa Nations League: How it Works

The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.

The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.

Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.

Silent Hill f

Publisher: Konami

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Rating: 4.5/5

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Director: Ridley Scott

Starring: Charlie Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer

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Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu

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Updated: April 20, 2023, 5:42 AM
Global Village