Dubai: If you're ready for some exciting outdoor fun in Dubai this winter, the Global Village is set to reopen its doors in three days — on November 1, 2017.
It will be the 22nd season for the festive destination, marked by fun treats for children and retail extravanganzas for adults and family-oriented entertainment.
This season, easier access through public transport is being arranged so more people can hop on and off the Dubai metro and the public buses to enjoy the cultural shows, back-to-back concerts, performances of top entertainers from the around the world at the Global Village.
For the young ones, the village hosted more than 50 rides and skill games at the fun fair area “Fantasy Island” during its 21st season. It's no surprise that the Global Village has become one of Dubai's top winter destinations and the region’s first and most successful multicultural festival park,
Last year, during its 21st season, Global Village clocked in 5.6 million guests, and achieved 9/10 in "Happiness Index" during its 159 days of operation. The desination has become one of the city's top tourist attractions as it offers a generous mix of cultural treats, unmatched shopping, dining and funfair experiences — bringing together a collection of treats from the world over.
Entertainment, too, has been at the forefront of the Global Village experience with some of the biggest Asian and Arab stars performing at its main stage. Each year, organisers take the Global Village experience up a notch to enhance the guest experience. Global Village has also become the one-stop destination for the world’s most delectable cuisines, from the East to the West, North to South — and, of course, the Middle East. The destination also offers big winning opportunities.
Last year, it gave away more than Dh2 million over the duration of 159 days, through a myriad of visitor engagements such as the ‘Catch the Cash’ (winners were given a chance to win up to Dh250,000), weekly raffle draws — allowing visitors to win pots of Dh100,000 by simply purchasing a Dh15 entrance ticket into Global Village).
— from Rashidiya metro station
— from Mall of the Emirates Station
Global Village general admission tickets are priced at Dh15 per person. During the season, the tickets are available online and at the gates from 3.30pm every day until half an hour prior to park closure.
"Our stadiums have remained empty. Now all that is poised to change, for the better... I foresee a full fledged restoration in the next two years," he told AFP. PCB officials are already setting their sights on bringing the West Indies to Pakistan for three T20 internationals next month.
But Sri Lanka's visit was not fully backed by its players: regular captain Upul Tharanga, Lasith Malinga, Niroshan Dickwella, Dushmantha Chamera, and Akila Dananjaya all pulled out, as did their South African head coach Nic Pothas and physiotherapist Nirmalan Thanabalasingham.
Suranga Lakmal, who still carries the splinter from a bullet wound in his leg, and fellow 2009 survivor Chamara Kapugedara also stayed away. Stand-in captain Thisara Perera, who played in Lahore last month as part of the World XI team, praised the security arrangements and said he had no concerns about safety.
"I am really satisfied with the security, so no problems there," he told AFP. Fans are also applauding Sri Lanka's decision to return to Lahore, and this week many headed out to buy last-minute tickets for Sunday's game. "I am very happy really, as I have purchased tickets for me and my family members," one woman said in Lahore's upscale Gulberg neighbourhood.
The country's most famous supporter, Sufi Jalil, fondly known as "Chacha Cricket" (Uncle Cricket), who aims to attend every Pakistan match regardless of the venue, was himself on the way to Gaddafi Stadium when the attack took place in 2009.
"They are welcome," he said of Sri Lanka. "What happened in the past is behind us, this match will be a new beginning and we are all united in this cause."
