Last week Global Village announced it was extending the current season to May 5 – much to the delight of tourists and residents looking to take last-minute trips to the venue before it shuts for summer.
The long-established family attraction was originally due to close on April 28. In the weeks running up to this date, heavy rains struck the UAE, forcing Global Village to cancel some of its major shows, including what would have been its final concert featuring Swedish pop star Zara Larsson.
However, the institute is promising a fun, action-packed week for everyone who makes it down before it closes.
Social media talks and DJ sets
While Larsson's performance has been completely shelved, the venue has announced new events featuring other artists in the coming days. First on the schedule is a talk and meet-and-greet with some of today's biggest Arab social media personalities – Ghaith Marwan, Sara Alwa, Islam Afro and Raghda. The talk will take place on May 1.
Ending the season with an electrifying set will be DJ Dany Neville, who'll take to the main stage on May 5.
Headline events aside, the theme park still has a daily programme of cultural shows within individual country pavilions, from India to Lebanon. America's Got Talent contestants Urban Crew, who are frequent Global Village performers, are also in the line-up, as well as comedic act Clowns to the Rescue.
Visit season debuts and all-time classics
Global Village is known to be an all-encompassing entertainment venue for the family, with many attractions and experiences designed for all ages.
The carnaval, for example, has more than 195 rides and games to check out. Horror lovers can enter House of Fear while those who fancy themselves as great marksmen can drop by the shooting zone. Children can spend some time at Diggers Lab, while family and friends are welcome to try the mini golf attraction.
Mini World, meanwhile, is the perfect spot for Instagram-worthy snaps. Debuting this season, it houses 25 miniature global landmarks, from the Eiffel Tower in Paris to the Colosseum in Rome. It also features a range of thrill-inducing activities in the Neon Galaxy Challenge Zone, such as wall climbing zones and obstacle courses.
Another main feature at the venue this season is the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! “Odditorium” which is home to wacky exhibitions, optical illusions and other interactive zones. There's a mirror maze, a 4D moving theatre and an immersive virtual reality adventure for the little ones. Since its Global Village debut in 2019, the space has added new exhibits year by year, keeping the experience fresh for visitors.
Head to the markets for worldwide cuisine and trinkets
Global Village attracts different kinds of visitors. There are those looking for family-friendly fun and adventure, while others sign up for the food and the proverbial retail therapy.
Firstly, the Dubai venue is a veritable rabbit hole of endless food outlets. This season, nearly 300 cafes, stalls and restaurants are on-site – a mixed bag of old and new vendors whipping up sweet and savoury dishes and desserts.
The Floating Market and Railway Market are abundant with Asian delights, from Korean street food Tteokbokki to Thai dessert mango sticky rice. There are Middle Eastern favourites, American classics and other cuisine staples for the intrepid foodies who visit Global Village with dining as the main motivation. If you want some help kick-starting the last-minute food trip to the venue, here's our guide.
Retail is also another major attraction with 3,500 outlets peppered across the vast site, selling everything from home decor to fashion pieces and other memorabilia. The 27 pavilions are also a treasure trove of such items, including carpets from the Morocco pavilion to a range of spices at the India pavilion.
Global Village is open from 4pm until midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and until 1am from Thursday to Saturday. More information is available at www.globalvillage.ae
Points tally
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
RESULTS
6.30pm UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Final Song, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m
Winner Almanaara, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Grand Argentier, Brett Doyle, Doug Watson.
8.15pm Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Major Partnership, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
Winner Universal Order, Richard Mullen, David Simcock.
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
UAE%20SQUAD
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Rating: 4/5
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Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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Ashraf Ghani: 923,592 votes
Abdullah Abdullah: 720,841 votes
UPI facts
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Honeymoonish
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15 under: Paul Casey (ENG)
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Kathryn Hawkes of House of Hawkes on being a good guest (because we’ve all had bad ones)
- Arrive with a thank you gift, or make sure you have one for your host by the time you leave.
- Offer to buy groceries, cook them a meal or take your hosts out for dinner.
- Help out around the house.
- Entertain yourself so that your hosts don’t feel that they constantly need to.
- Leave no trace of your stay – if you’ve borrowed a book, return it to where you found it.
- Offer to strip the bed before you go.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo 4-cyl
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 190bhp
Torque: 300Nm
Price: Dh169,900
On sale: now
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