Global Village reopened on Monday, resuming its 30th season after the popular family attraction was forced to suspend operations on February 28 at the start of the Iran war.
Led by the fanfare and marching band of the Dubai Police Academy, including the K9 unit and mounted police, visitors streamed into the venue at 5pm as the site sought to pick up where it left off.
The milestone season features 30 pavilions representing more than 90 cultures, alongside more than 3,500 shopping outlets and up to 200 rides and games.
While much of the site was back in operation, the Iranian pavilion appeared closed when The National visited on reopening day. Its familiar neon signage had been removed and a barrier placed across its grand entrance. Global Village has not publicly commented on its status at the time of publication, and the Iranian pavilion also appears to have been removed from its website.
Season 30 features several key additions including Gardens of the World, a landscaped zone running from the Egypt pavilion towards the China pavilion; Dragon Kingdom, an interactive walk-through attraction with 11 themed rooms; and The Little Wonderers at Carnaval, an indoor adventure park for younger visitors. The Main Stage has also been expanded, Fiesta Street extended and the former Railway Market reworked as Dessert District.
Popular pavilions such as Syria’s have largely remained unchanged.
“We are talking about cultures, my friend, so why should we change that?” says Muamar Al Attar, who runs the Balbola Balbalooky juice and sweets stall at the centre of the pavilion, laid out like an outdoor bazaar.
The stall serves Levantine drinks including toot, a Syrian berry juice; karkadeh (hibiscus) and tamarind juice.
Al Attar is usually behind the counter, but he also helps set the mood, trading call-and-response refrains with his team, each line praising the drinks and answered with a chorus of “balbola”, which translates to "nightingale", a reference to their melodic delivery.
This is Al Attar's 22nd year working in the pavilion, with his first five spent greeting visitors at the entrance in an embroidered waistcoat and red tarboosh, offering free samples of toot shami, or Damascene mulberry juice, poured from traditional brass jug carried on his back.
“I have been here a long time and yes, the world changes. There are times when things get difficult and there are times when it is smooth, but for me you really find your happiness by being with family,” he says. “So, this is the best part of working here. We work hard, of course, but we have fun and spread joy.”
Mama Dukhoon, a made-to-order oud and fragrance business that began with homemade social media orders, is making its third appearance at Global Village, with staff ready to resume trade.
“It is a little different for us because we do not leave our stock here, as much of it is handmade, so we had to set up parts of it again,” said Fatima, a staff member at the stall. “But I do not think we missed out on too much. Fragrance is for all seasons, so we will just continue serving people wherever they are.”
Other traders told The National they were informed last week that the attraction would reopen, after leaving their goods locked inside their stalls during the closure.
“It has been very smooth and easy to get back here again,” said Dileep, who runs the Ceylona Jewellery stall at the Bangladesh Pavilion. “To be honest, we are just happy to get back to work and let’s hope we just continue like before.”
Dileep has yet receive confirmation on whether the season would be extended beyond May 10, adding that Global Village had extended its season in previous years.
“The last time the season extended to Eid Al Adha, it was great because it was jam packed and peak time for many of us,” Dileep added. “The weather here is good and even if it gets a little hotter, people just love to come here because it is a real family destination.”
