Some visit Global Village for retail therapy. Others go for the vibe.
After all, the open-air theme park, one of Dubai's most popular winter destinations, is dotted with hundreds of vendors selling everything from quirky trinkets to natural beauty products, while live entertainers are scattered across the sprawling venue.
Over the years though, a new breed of Global Village visitor has emerged: Intrepid foodies who embark on an annual culinary pilgrimage to identify the best dishes the multi-cuisine destination has to offer.
Here, The National embarks on a Global Village food trail to create a bite-sized guide of highlights.
Floating and Railway markets for Asian cuisine
At first glance, Global Village is a veritable rabbit hole of endless food outlets. This year, 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.
Thankfully, the park has designated areas where these are clumped together, some on a random basis, others based on cuisine. The Floating Market houses Asian delights.
This area alone has 32 outlets. Most of them serve the same street food-inspired dishes, notably cheesy baked mussels, grilled baby octopus and chicken barbecue skewers.
The pineapple fried rice from Zubaidah Kitchen is visually exciting and large enough to share. Jasmin rice is tossed with mixed seafood bites and chunks of sweet fruit, all served on a pineapple boat.
All manner of dumplings can also be found here. The filling and tasty Sichuan chicken and prawn dumplings at Sus Dim Sum are a must-try. They're complemented by a spicy sauce.
Another Asia-inspired food-focused area is the Railway Market, modelled after the popular Mae Klong market in Bangkok. Make this your go-to for desserts.
When in the Middle East ...
Asia aside, many other cuisines are represented across Global Village, including delicacies native to the Middle East.
Middle Eastern food stall Fatteh serves Palestinian musakhan rolls. These are crispy on the outside, with the shredded chicken filling within bursting with a tangy sumac-laden flavour.
Excellent lamb chops await at Skewers. Priced at Dh40 for two, the dish delivers on its smoky promise and is served with a tangy sauce that cuts through the meat's richness.
Turkish street food is well represented, too, with many outlets dishing out Turkish-style ice cream, baked potato and pitta sandwiches. Turkish Kofte & Grill House serves a traditional Inegol kofte sandwich, which I can smell from afar. The kofte, made from ground beef, is juicy, peppery and utterly delicious.
Two dishes I would not reorder are the lobster roll from the aptly named Lobster Roll, as the meat is a bit bland for my liking (although the melt-in-the-mouth bun will appeal to bread lovers); and the stir-fry from Nodo, as the sauce-to-noodle ratio is such that the dish is overly savoury.
Sweet surprise
Not all mango sticky rice are made alike.
While Global Village is teeming with dessert options, if I have to choose one, it's Mango Tango's eponymous dish, which is as authentic as it can get.
The shop uses Thai mangoes and glutinous rice, served with a refreshing coconut sauce (ask for an extra serving if you want your mango sticky rice drowning in tropical goodness).
Food is no longer an afterthought at Global Village. For many, it's the main event. And it doesn't have to break the bank either, with prices ranging from Dh20 to Dh60.
Perhaps the most useful tip is to go on an empty stomach – because just when you think you have no room for more, another mouth-watering plate will catch the eye.
The five pillars of Islam
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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The specs: 2018 Maserati Ghibli
Price, base / as tested: Dh269,000 / Dh369,000
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 355hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.9L / 100km
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RACECARD
4.30pm Jebel Jais – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (Turf) 1,000m
5pm: Jabel Faya – Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 (T) 1,000m
5.30pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m
6pm: The President’s Cup Prep – Conditions (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 2,200m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club – Prestige (PA) Dh125,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Al Ruwais – Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Jebel Hafeet – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m
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Two out of five stars
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The five pillars of Islam
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Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
The five pillars of Islam
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Arsenal 4
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Kamara 69'
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.
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Zakat definitions
Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.
Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.
Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.
Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
