Global Village opens its 31st season at 6pm on Wednesday, October 14, with a new roller coaster, two new anchor shows and a set of refreshed pavilions. Entry costs Dh25 on weekdays and Dh30 from Friday to Sunday and on public holidays, with tickets sold online, through the app and at the gates.
The Dubai attraction has 29 pavilions representing more than 90 cultures and more than 3,500 shopping outlets. The Sri Lanka, Russia and Azerbaijan pavilions have been updated, while Syria and Kuwait return with new façades. Visitors can collect stamps from every pavilion in a redesigned Season 31 Passport, and children now have a Kids Passport of their own. The Gardens of the World have new design touches, the Cultural Gate at the entrance has new LED lighting, the Sharjah tunnel entrance has been rethemed and the Dessert District has a new frontage.
Around 40,000 shows are scheduled across the season. Bollywood Idol, a new anchor show told through music and dance, follows two brothers on different paths, one chasing fame and the other focused on school. Fast Live 2: The Police Strikes Back adds a stunt show, and Bank Heist is an acrobatic production inspired by true crime stories. Slam returns as an anchor show, and the Kids Theatre features Care Bears and PJ Masks characters. The Carnaval area has more than 200 rides and games, the Festival Wheel has redesigned carts, and a new roller coaster called Tokyo Rush, with sharp turns and a loop, will open later in the season on a date yet to be announced.
Food remains a large part of the offer, with more than 250 options. Trabzon Turkish Restaurant is new, and Restaurant Plaza adds Robo Al Sham for Levantine dishes, Hawawshi Al Rabie for Egyptian food and the fried chicken chain Chicking. Three new cafés, Vinci Dolci, Emir Bey Gourmet and Uzungol Café, have also joined.
Operational changes target the queues and car parks. VIP parking users can now pay at self-service machines before the exit, the Happiness Gate has more ticket counters, and new signs guide drivers through the parking zones, with bilingual Arabic and English signage at the Gate of the World. Extra Family POD washrooms and a WhatsApp chatbot for visitor help have been added. Opening hours are 4pm to midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and 4pm to 1am from Thursday to Saturday and on public holidays.
