Global Village Season 31 at a glance
Checked on 16 October 2026 against the pages listed at the end. The numbers in the last column point to those sources.
| Item | Season 31 detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Season dates | Opened Wednesday 14 October 2026 at 6 pm; runs until May 2027. No exact closing date has been announced yet | [1], [9], [10] |
| Opening hours | Sunday to Wednesday 4 pm to midnight; Thursday to Saturday and public holidays 4 pm to 1 am. Entry gates close half an hour before closing time | [2], [3], [10] |
| Tuesdays | Reserved for families, couples and ladies, except when Tuesday is a public holiday | [2], [3] |
| Weekday ticket | AED 25 including 5% VAT, one entry on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday that is not a public holiday | [3], [9] |
| Any Day ticket | AED 30 including 5% VAT, one entry on any day, public holidays included | [1], [3], [9] |
| Free entry | Children under 3, seniors over 65, and holders of a People of Determination card plus one companion; ID may be checked | [1], [2], [3] |
| Where to buy | Global Village website, Global Village app, or the ticket counters at the gates; the published price is the same online and at the gate | [3], [10] |
| Parking | Free zones P1, P3 and P5 (about 400 to 450 m from Gate of the World), extra free zones P7 to P11 on busy days; paid zones at AED 75 and AED 120 a day; VIP parking AED 200 a day | [2] |
| RTA buses | Routes 102, 103, 104 and 106 from Metro and bus stations, usually about 3:15 pm to 11:15 pm; RTA information 800 9090 | [2] |
| What is inside | 29 pavilions, more than 90 cultures, over 3,500 shops, more than 250 places to eat, over 200 attractions and 40,000 shows across the season | [5], [10] |
The opening-hours line in Global Village's own terms and conditions still says 5 pm on 16 October 2026, while its Plan Your Visit page and the Dubai Media Office announcements say 4 pm. We use 4 pm; if you plan to arrive right at opening, check the app first.
Season 31 dates, opening hours and Tuesdays
Global Village opened Season 31 at 6 pm on Wednesday 14 October 2026, with a choir, the Parade of the World, a confetti shower at the Gate of the World and a 600-drone show, according to the Dubai Media Office. From the next day it follows its normal hours. The season runs until May 2027; neither the park nor the Dubai Media Office had given an exact last day when we checked, so watch the official website towards spring before planning a late-season visit. Global Village keeps one rule that surprises newcomers: Tuesdays are reserved for families, couples and ladies. Its terms make clear that men who come with their family are welcome, so the rule affects groups of men visiting without family. When a Tuesday is a public holiday, the rule does not apply. The terms also say some public holidays may be declared family days, announced on the website, app and social media.
- Sunday to Wednesday: 4 pm to 12 midnight.
- Thursday, Friday, Saturday and public holidays: 4 pm to 1 am.
- Entry gates close 30 minutes before the park closes.
- Global Village says it may change hours or close rides and shows for safety, maintenance or private events without notice.
Ticket types and prices for Season 31
There are two standard entry tickets. The Weekday ticket costs AED 25 and is valid for one entry from Monday to Thursday, but not on a public holiday. The Any Day ticket costs AED 30 and works on any day, weekends and public holidays included. The Dubai Media Office describes the AED 30 days as weekends, Friday to Sunday, plus public holidays. Both prices include 5% VAT and, according to Global Village's terms, they are the same whether you buy on the website, in the app or at the gate. Each ticket admits one person once during the season; it does not include rides, games or any other paid attraction. If you bought a Weekday ticket and want to come on a weekend, the terms say you can upgrade at a ticket booth by paying the difference at the gate price.
- Free: children under 3 years old.
- Free: seniors over 65, with ID.
- Free: holders of a People of Determination card and one companion.
- Entry tickets are non-refundable, cannot be transferred, and lost or stolen tickets are not replaced.
- Reselling, copying or reprinting tickets is prohibited and Global Village says offenders face legal action.
- VIP entry tickets only work when you show the original physical ticket; photos or digital copies are refused.
How to buy tickets, and the scam warning
The Dubai Media Office announcement of 14 October 2026 lists three places to buy Season 31 tickets: the Global Village website, the Global Village mobile app and the ticket counters at every gate. Tickets bought online arrive by email as a PDF with a QR code and also appear under My Purchases in your account; you can show them printed or on your phone. Buy only through those channels. In September 2025, ahead of the previous season, Dubai Police warned through WAM about fake websites and social media links offering Global Village VIP packs at attractive prices. The police said these scams come back every year, that the fake pages copy the look of the official site to take money and personal details, and that the safe channels are the Global Village website, its app or authorised outlets. Suspicious links can be reported on the Dubai Police e-Crime platform or by calling 901. For Season 30, Global Village named the Coca-Cola Arena website as the only channel for VIP packs; check the official Global Village website for where Season 31 VIP packs are sold before paying anyone.
- Type the address globalvillage.ae yourself instead of tapping a link in an advert or message.
- Be wary of entry tickets offered well below AED 25 or VIP packs sold through social media accounts.
- If online booking is not working when you try, the gate counters sell the same tickets at the same price.
Getting there by car: parking zones and fees
Global Village's Plan Your Visit page lists several free and paid parking zones. Free zones P1 and P3 are about 400 metres from the Gate of the World entrance and P5 about 450 metres. On weekends, public holidays and busy days, extra free zones P7, P8, P9, P10 and P11 open about 1 km from the Cultural Gate; from there you can take the free shuttle bus or a rickshaw, which the page says starts from AED 10. If you would rather park closer, there is a paid zone about 350 metres from the Happiness Gate at AED 75 a day, a paid zone at AED 120 a day, and VIP parking at AED 200 a day, which is free for VIP pack holders. Season 31 adds self-payment machines for VIP parking, so you can pay before you reach the exit. Global Village's terms remind drivers that it is not responsible for traffic fines issued by the authorities.
- Free: P1, P3 and P5 every day; P7 to P11 on weekends, public holidays and busy days.
- Paid: AED 75 a day (near Happiness Gate), AED 120 a day, VIP parking AED 200 a day.
- Keep your parking payment receipt until you leave the parking area.
Getting there by bus, Metro and taxi
During the season the Roads and Transport Authority runs public bus routes to Global Village. The Plan Your Visit page lists four, each starting at a Metro or bus station, so you can ride the Metro most of the way and change to the bus. The page says the buses usually run from about 3:15 pm to 11:15 pm daily and the ride takes around 30 minutes; for stops and timetables it gives the RTA number 800 9090. If you prefer a car without driving, the same page points to RTA taxis, Careem and Uber.
- Route 102 from CentrePoint Metro Station.
- Route 103 from Union Metro Station, via Al Rebat Street.
- Route 104 from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station, via Max Fashion Metro Station.
- Route 106 from Mall of the Emirates Metro Station, via Al Barsha and Al Quoz.
- The usual 11:15 pm finish is earlier than the park's closing time, so check the last return bus if you plan to stay late.
Pavilions and cultures
The pavilions are the heart of Global Village. For Season 31 there are 29 of them, representing more than 90 cultures, with over 3,500 shops between them, according to the Dubai Media Office. Some pavilions belong to one country, such as Afghanistan, Bahrain or China; others group a region, such as Africa or the Americas. Pavilions have themed façades, stalls selling crafts, textiles, spices and sweets and cultural dance and music shows. The 971 pavilion, run by the UAE Ministry of Community Empowerment, sells products made by Emirati home businesses. This season the Sri Lanka pavilion and the Russia and Azerbaijan pavilion have been refreshed, and Syria and Kuwait have new façades. A new Season 31 Passport, and a Kids Passport for children, can be stamped at a station in every pavilion. The Gardens of the World area has also been redesigned. Global Village's About page still says 27 pavilions; the Season 31 figure of 29 comes from the newer Media Office releases and the Pavilions page itself.
Carnaval, rides and the Wonder Pass
Carnaval is the funfair zone, with family rides, thrill rides, arcade games and walk-through attractions; the Carnaval page counts over 190 rides, games and attractions and the Media Office counts more than 200 attractions across the park. Rides are not included in the entry ticket. You pay for them with the Wonder Pass, a card loaded with points that you can top up online, at ticket counters or at vending machines inside the park. On 16 October 2026 the Carnaval page listed individual rides at 10 to 30 points each, and rides carry height limits, shown on the ride pages and at each ride entrance. Points expire on the last day of the season and cannot be carried over, refunded or transferred, and a lost card is not replaced, so load only what you expect to use. Returning attractions this season include Dragon Kingdom, The Horror Hotel, Secrets of the Lost City and Exo Planet City, and the Festival Wheel has new carts. A new roller coaster, Tokyo Rush, is due to open later in the season.
Shows, fireworks and stunt shows
Global Village plans about 40,000 performances over the season: pavilion dance and music shows, roaming acts and larger productions on the Main Stage. New for Season 31 are the stunt show Fast Live 2: The Police Strike Back and two new main productions, Bollywood Idol and Bank Heist, alongside the returning acrobatic show Slam. Care Bears and PJ Masks characters return to the Kids Theatre. The official fireworks page says the musical fireworks show runs every Friday and Saturday at 9 pm. A light show takes place in front of the Main Stage. The stunt show seats people on a first-come, first-served basis and the terms ask guests to arrive 30 minutes early, especially on busy evenings. Global Village notes on its show pages that times can change without notice, so check the day's schedule in the app.
Food and dining
More than 250 places to eat are spread through the park, from street-food stalls inside the pavilions to restaurants and cafés. Restaurant Plaza sits next to Carnaval, facing the Falcon Stage, so you can eat while watching shows. New this season are Trabzon Turkish Restaurant and, in Restaurant Plaza, Robo Al Sham (Levantine), Hawawshi Al Rabie (Egyptian) and Chicking. Three new cafés have opened, Vinci Dolci, Emir Bey Gourmet and Uzungol Café, and the Dessert District has a new façade. The dining page lets you filter by cuisine, from Emirati and Pakistani to Filipino and Korean, and marks vegan options. Food and drinks bought outside the park are not allowed in, and cannot be left in the lockers either.
Rules at the gate: dress code and what is not allowed
Bags go through an X-ray machine at the entrance, and Global Village can refuse entry or remove guests who break its rules, without a refund. Its terms ask men and women to wear respectful clothing that covers the torso, including the shoulders, and the legs down to the knees. Public displays of affection such as kissing and hugging are not allowed. The Plan Your Visit page adds that filming needs a permit. For re-entry on the same visit you need a hand stamp from security at the exit gate; without it the ticket does not let you back in.
- No pets, animals or birds.
- No food or drinks bought outside the park.
- No travel luggage or suitcases.
- No skateboards, bicycles, scooters, roller skates, hoverboards or segways, unless rented inside.
- No full costumes, mascot or character outfits, face coverings or theatrical make-up.
- Smoking only in the designated smoking areas.
Families, children and People of Determination
Parents can collect a free wristband for each child at the ticket booths and information kiosks. If a child gets lost, staff use the wristband to contact the parents, and children are looked after at the Lost Explorers area inside the Gate of the World; the terms say a service fee is charged for the time a child stays there. People of Determination and one companion enter free, and the Plan Your Visit page lists reserved parking, accessible toilets and wheelchair-friendly access to all attractions. Season 31 adds more family washrooms, including accessible ones. Wheelchairs and strollers can be rented, and there is an on-site clinic run by Prime Hospital, free Wi-Fi, information desks with multilingual staff, and lost property near the Gate of the World. A new WhatsApp chatbot answers questions during your visit.
History: from Creekside kiosks to a permanent home at Dubailand
Global Village began as part of the Dubai Shopping Festival. When it moved to its permanent site in December 2004, the chief executive of Dubailand LLC told WAM that it started in 1996 as a few kiosks on the Creekside, opposite the Dubai Municipality headquarters, showing cultural products from different countries, and drew 1.4 million visitors that first year. In 1997 it hosted 18 country pavilions, which is why the official About page gives 1997 as the founding year. It then moved to the Oud Metha area near Wafi City, where it stayed for five years, and on to Dubai Festival City for three years. Because each site struggled with crowds and traffic, it was given a permanent home at Dubailand, inaugurated in December 2004, as WAM reported on 20 December 2004, on a plot of 17.2 million square feet. By then visitor numbers had reached more than 5.2 million a year, and the plan for the 2005 event included 46 countries, an amphitheatre for 6,000 people, a lake of over 4,000 square metres and parking for 15,000 cars. Global Village is now run by Global Village – Dubai LLC, part of Dubai Holding Entertainment (DH Entertainment LLC). Its About page counts 31 seasons and 93 cultures, and the Dubai Media Office describes Season 31 as building on a 30-year legacy.
- 1996: kiosks on the Dubai Creekside during the Dubai Shopping Festival.
- 1997: 18 country pavilions; the year Global Village gives as its founding.
- Next five years: Oud Metha, near Wafi City.
- Next three years: Dubai Festival City.
- December 2004: permanent site at Dubailand.
- October 2026: Season 31 opens with 29 pavilions and more than 90 cultures.
Practical tips for a smoother visit
These are our suggestions, based on the official details above, not Global Village rules.
- If you can go Monday to Thursday, the Weekday ticket saves AED 5 a person. Count the days to your visit, or to a long weekend, with the date calculator.
- Groups of friends without family should avoid Tuesdays unless the Tuesday is a public holiday.
- Arrive close to 4 pm on Fridays and Saturdays if you want a space in the nearer free parking zones and a good spot for the 9 pm fireworks.
- Driving from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or further? Work out the fuel for the round trip with the fuel cost calculator, then compare it with the bus option.
- Set a ride budget before you top up the Wonder Pass, because unused points expire at the end of the season.
- Dress to the knee and cover your shoulders, and leave scooters, pets and outside food at home, to avoid problems at the gate.
- Check the app on the day for show times, ride closures and any change to opening hours.