It’s common for most people not to have visited their city’s most famous landmarks. Not all New Yorkers have been to the Statute of Liberty, not all Londoners have ridden on the London Eye, not all Parisians have been up the Eiffel tower and not all Dubai residents have been up Burj Khalifa, yet.
However, ask anyone who lives in Dubai whether they’ve been to Global Village and the answer will often be a resounding yes.
This month, the cultural entertainment destination turns 26 and is a firm staple in the emirate's entertainment scene. It’s fascinating to reflect on how Global Village mirrors and celebrates one of Dubai’s, and the UAE’s, greatest assets and values — its multicultural fabric.
When it started as several kiosks in January 1997 on the Creek side opposite Dubai Municipality, the welcoming sign, as seen in the photo above, illustrated different structures from around the world, such as the Taj Mahal in India and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
It then moved to Oud Metha near Wafi City for five years before settling in its current location between the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road in Wadi Al Safa, where it welcomes millions of visitors a season. Starting off with two shorter seasons a year, Global Village now opens for six months a year.
Organised in four sections, Global Village now has 3,500 retail and commercial outlets and more than 200 food outlets representing the tastes and culture of as many as 93 cultures and 27 international pavilions. There are more than 170 ways the whole family can entertain themselves through carnival rides, arcade games and with more than 40,000 live performances ranging from cultural dances to acrobatics. Over the years, Global Village has also had its share of international superstar appearances or performances for fans, including Shah Rukh Khan, Jason Derulo, Liam Payne, Samira Said and Elissa.
Over the past 26 years, the entertainment destination has achieved numerous world records. During its 25th season it broke 25 Guinness World Records in celebration of the silver jubilee.
Some of these included the highest altitude skydiving firework display at 4,907.28 metres, the most letters sent to Santa with 2,144 collected in 24 hours, the largest underwater LED mesh screen at 5,013.4 square metres, and the largest board game, snakes and ladders at 95.63 metres squared.
While these records are entertaining and fun, they are part of a larger picture that makes the cultural destination, an indelible part of Dubai and the UAE. Celebrating diversity and culture is at the heart of Global Village. This is not only proven in the world record they achieved with most nationalities, 65, waving simultaneously but as a destination that welcomes so many visitors from around the world enjoying how other countries and cultures celebrate the best of what they have to offer.
For its 27th season, Global Village will run until April 29
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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 winners
Fiction
- ‘Amreekiya’ by Lena Mahmoud
- ‘As Good As True’ by Cheryl Reid
The Evelyn Shakir Non-Fiction Award
- ‘Syrian and Lebanese Patricios in Sao Paulo’ by Oswaldo Truzzi; translated by Ramon J Stern
- ‘The Sound of Listening’ by Philip Metres
The George Ellenbogen Poetry Award
- ‘Footnotes in the Order of Disappearance’ by Fady Joudah
Children/Young Adult
- ‘I’ve Loved You Since Forever’ by Hoda Kotb
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (All UAE kick-off times)
Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (11.30pm)
Saturday
Union Berlin v Bayer Leverkusen (6.30pm)
FA Augsburg v SC Freiburg (6.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Werder Bremen (6.30pm)
SC Paderborn v Hertha Berlin (6.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Borussia Monchengladbach (9.30pm)
Sunday
Cologne v Bayern Munich (6.30pm)
Mainz v FC Schalke (9pm)
Overview
What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.
When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.
Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.
Disciplines: Athletics, archery, basketball, fencing, Karate, table tennis, shooting (rifle and pistol), show jumping and volleyball.
Participating countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and UAE.
Arabian Gulf League fixtures:
Friday:
- Emirates v Hatta, 5.15pm
- Al Wahda v Al Dhafra, 5.25pm
- Al Ain v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, 8.15pm
Saturday:
- Dibba v Ajman, 5.15pm
- Sharjah v Al Wasl, 5.20pm
- Al Jazira v Al Nasr, 8.15pm
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
