Before Dubai's Global Village shut in March 2020, guests were required to wear face masks as part of measures put in place to curb the spread of the Covid-19. The park will reopen in October 2020. Reuters
Before Dubai's Global Village shut in March 2020, guests were required to wear face masks as part of measures put in place to curb the spread of the Covid-19. The park will reopen in October 2020. Reuters
Before Dubai's Global Village shut in March 2020, guests were required to wear face masks as part of measures put in place to curb the spread of the Covid-19. The park will reopen in October 2020. Reuters
Before Dubai's Global Village shut in March 2020, guests were required to wear face masks as part of measures put in place to curb the spread of the Covid-19. The park will reopen in October 2020. Reu

What to expect from Global Village 2020: opening date, virtual rock concerts, new pavilions and more


Janice Rodrigues
  • English
  • Arabic

Popular multicultural Dubai tourist attraction Global Village is getting ready to reopen for another season.

This will be the 25th anniversary, or silver jubilee, of the park, and in keeping with the theme, the new season of Global Village will launch on October 25 and run for 25 weeks, concluding in April.

Because it will be open until April, for the first time in years, UAE residents will be able to experience Ramadan at Global Village, which is likely to make for diverse iftar options.

Another change for this season is that the opening hours on Saturday have been extended. The park will be open from 2pm until 11pm (it was previously open from 4pm until midnight).

What to expect from Global Village's 25th anniversary season

This year, the festival will have 26 pavilions including newcomers Russia and Cambodia.

Other pavilions to visit include Afghanistan, Africa, Al Sanaa and the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Syria, Thailand and the UAE.

Ripley's Believe It Or Not! museum attraction, which launched during the 24th season, will also be returning.

A rockin’ virtual concert

This season, Global Village has teamed up with Emirates and the Jumeirah Group to deliver a virtual rock concert that will take place on Friday, October 30.

The concert will be performed by the Rockin' 1000, a band of musicians and singers from around the world, and streamed on Global Village’s main stage and across its social media platforms (as well as on Emirates's in-flight entertainment system, Ice).

The Rockin' 1000 is a group of 1,000 rock musicians who originally came together as a "stunt" in 2015 to get the Foo Fighters to visit their home town of Cesena, Italy. It was organised as a crowdfunding effort by Fabio Zaffagnini who brought together the many musicians. Since then, "the world's largest rock band" have made appearances in stadiums around the world.

They are currently recruiting new members from the region to play in the coming Global Village Season 25 opening concert, which will be broadcast by Arabian Radio Network.

Singers or musicians of any level, within the UAE and outside, can take part by auditioning through the Rockin' 1000 website.

The performance will be made up of cover songs, including What a Wonderful World by the Ramones, Status Quo's Rockin' All Over the WorldYou Get What You Give by New Radicals and the classic We Will Rock You by Queen.

The 25th season of Global Village will run from October 2020 to April 2021. Courtesy Global Village
The 25th season of Global Village will run from October 2020 to April 2021. Courtesy Global Village

Safety first

The 24th season of Global Village was cut short by a month because of the pandemic. Before it shut in March, guests were required to wear face masks as part of measures put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19.

This year, the festival's organisers are working with local authorities and international organisations such as the Global Association for the Attractions Industry (IAAPA) to try and safeguard public safety during the pandemic. Global Village has already received the Dubai Assured Stamp awarded by Dubai Municipality, Dubai Economy and Dubai Tourism, in light of the stringent preparations for opening.

"Our 25th anniversary is a great milestone for us and the teams are working hard to make this year very special. We also feel that this is an important message for the country and the region," says Bader Anwahi, chief executive, Global Village.

"Over the years we have become a mainstay for family entertainment across the region, and we are proud to be able to play an important role in driving the 'open for business' message.

"Our team is working tirelessly to ensure that our guests return to Global Village with confidence. Whether it’s by using state-of-the-art technology for wayfinding and contactless payment or by adapting our entertainment offerings, we are breaking new ground across all our verticals for the comfort and happiness of our guests."

Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE fixtures:
Men

Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final

Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final

The Dictionary of Animal Languages
Heidi Sopinka
​​​​​​​Scribe

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Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.

The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates

Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company

HOW TO WATCH

Facebook: TheNationalNews  

Twitter: @thenationalnews  

Instagram: @thenationalnews.com  

TikTok: @thenationalnews 

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

How to help

Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.

Account name: Dar Al Ber Society

Account Number: 11 530 734

IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734

Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank

To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg

Rating: 4/5

SPIDER-MAN%3A%20ACROSS%20THE%20SPIDER-VERSE
%3Cp%3EDirectors%3A%20Joaquim%20Dos%20Santos%2C%20Kemp%20Powers%2C%20Justin%20K.%20Thompson%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Shameik%20Moore%2C%20Hailee%20Steinfeld%2C%20Oscar%20Isaac%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet

Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder

Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm

Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km

if you go

The flights

Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.

The hotel

Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.

The tour

Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg

Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin

Nepotism is the name of the game

Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad. 

Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics

 

EPL's youngest
  • Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
    15 years, 181 days old
  • Max Dowman (Arsenal)
    15 years, 235 days old
  • Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
    15 years, 271 days old
  • Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
    16 years, 30 days old
  • Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
    16 years, 68 days old
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
If you go…

Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.

Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days. 

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