Dubai, UAE, 16 January, 2018:  Global Village, the region’s first multicultural festival park, and a family destination for culture, shopping and entertainment, has announced a new record of more than 2.4 million guest entries over the two-month period since its opening on 1st November 2017 with 9/10 happiness score. This is a resounding endorsement of the unprecedented guest experience it offers and of its ever growing popularity.

 

Statistics released by Global Village for the period 1st November to 31st December 2017 highlight its performance across various indicators such as guest numbers and happiness indices. It adheres to the highest international quality standards while providing a distinctive and diverse entertainment experience that brings out the rich heritage and cultures of participating countries and regions. The numbers clearly show that Global Village is recognized as one of the world's most popular family  destinations with millions of guests from all corners of the world.

 

Bader Anwahi, CEO of Global Village, said: 'These positive results have made our team proud of their achievements as they result from our aspirations to make guests happy. Our performance is in line with the vision of Dubai to attract more visitors and to focus on family entertainment as we host the largest entertainment shows and bring new international shows for the first time to the region. We have raised the bar with our weekly concerts with top Arab and international singers and talents to provide guests with experiences they can cherish with every visit.'

 

Bader Anwahi emphasized that guests remain their top priority as they continue to develop the destination and further enhance the guest experience. Numbers and results are run through their advanced software that analyses the guest trip plan, reviews survey results at all touch points and refines responses to guest behavior with the aim to improve services. 'Global Village is proud to be the favourite family, culture and entertainment destination among visitors to Dubai and the region. Its unique charm is unmatched by other destinations in the world, and we expect to welcome a record breaking number of guests this season who will appreciate the diversity of all its elements that combine culture, entertainment and shopping.'

 

During the New Year celebrations, Global Village witnessed a huge influx of guests, exceeding 100,000 per day. It presented a wide range of activities, entertainment and concerts as well as special events on to help create an unforgettable New Year’s Eve.

 

A concert by international superstar Cheb Khaled, who has a huge fan following not only in the Arab world but across the globe, kicked off New Year’s celebrations. Guests were captivated by the magical atmosphere and a most impressive performance by the global superstar. 

 

This year, Global Village celebrated seven New Year’s Eves on 31st December 2017 that coincided with the advent of the New Year at seven selected countries from across the world. At 8 pm, (UAE time) the festivities began with a Philippines cultural performance on the Main Cultural Stage followed by the countdown and an intense one-minute fireworks show in sync with those that took place in the Philippines. At 9 pm, there was a similar celebration of the New Year at Thailand and at 10 pm it was in line with that in Bangladesh. At 10.30 pm it was in sync with celebrations India and at 11 pm with Pakistan. This was followed by the biggest fireworks show this season to mark the arrival of the New Year in the UAE, which was preceded by special offers. At 1 am (UAE time), celebrations concluded with those at Istanbul, Turkey.

 

UAE national DJ Nawaf heralded in the New Year for guests at Global Village as he played a special collection of the best international remixes to make it an unforgettable experience. Guests enjoyed a unique and joyful musical experience with rapid-fire and dynamic musical remixes from among Arab, international and Asian hits. The performance created a feeling of togetherness among different cultures from around the world and left behind a wonderful guest experience.

 

 

Earlier in the season, Global Village saw unprecedented guest numbers during the 46th National Day celebrations. It attracted more than 500,000 guests and achieved a new record as it consolidated its position as the ideal destination for National Day celebrations in the country. Visitors streamed in to see the world premiere of the epic play ‘Belad Alkhair,’ the largest theater production of its kind in its history. The Main Cultural Stage also hosted a concert by the renowned artist Abdullah Bil Khair and received large crowds of fans. With impressive fireworks shows, Carnaval performances and popular cartoon shows, the Emirates Pavilion presented its own celebrations that included popular Emirati performances including the 'Al Ayala' show with drums, duffels, brass instruments and vocal performances. Cultural shows such as Ayala, Yola, Harbiya and Razfa were also very popular among guests of all ages. 

 

 

Global Village offers guests a wide range of world-class events and breathtaking entertainment with performances that surpass expectations. It aims to host not only exciting and diverse shows but also the largest shows in the Middle East with the participation of professional troupes and concerts of the most famous Arab and international stars.

 

The first two months of the 22nd season saw immense guest interest in the spectacular Mega “Monster Stunt Show” produced by the Global Village entertainment team. It is one of the most popular shows of this season and features some of the most exciting movements and manoeuvers in the world with the use of new technologies, tools, cars, bicycles, and audio and video effects that are globally best in class. It is choreographed with more than 30 professionals and its risky movements are supervised by qualified technicians and safety officials.

 

Global Village also hosted the world premiere of Shaolin Monks, one of the top international award winning shows, in the Middle East region for the first time ever, direct from the fabled Shaolin temple in the foothills of the Song Shang mountain range in China’s Henan province. It was a demonstration of the martial arts expertise of more than 20 monks in an awe-inspiring performance that combined traditional Shaolin Kung Fu, inch perfect choreography with dramatic lighting and sound that evoked the spirit of their traditions.

 

Guests have the opportunity to enjoy acrobatic shows by a group of highly skilled circus professionals that present a variety of interactive and educational acts that spread cheer and joy. They can interact with the troupe and learn various acrobatic moves through educational and recreational workshops at the Roman amphitheater which has been noted for its characteristic and unique design. 

 

 

The series of concerts at Global Village this season has achieved a remarkable public demand as guests enjoy performances by the best Arab and international singing stars. These include Shamma Hamdan, Tamer Hosni, Fares Karam, Abdullah Bil Khjair, Shreya Goshal, Mika Singh and others. More high-profile names will perform at the Main Cultural Stage every Friday until the end of the season at no additional charge.

 

 

Global Village prides itself as a showcase for a multitude of international cuisines it offers through hundreds of outlets every season. This season, guests have a choice of 23 restaurants and a coffee shop with nine great kitchens from countries including Mexico, China, the Gulf and Cuba. They can also sample the dishes through more than 120 kiosks distributed across the destination that offer guests a wide variety of snacks, sweets and beverages, many of which are exclusively located at Global Village.

 

 

Guests can also enjoy unparalleled international shopping experiences through 27 pavilions and more than 3,500 outlets. They can purchase unique handcrafts and souvenirs to celebrate the world as they can choose from among cultures of more than 75 countries and their unique products.

 

With its unique collection of special events and performances, Global Village is rated as the best family destination this year, and all of its events are included in the ticket price of AED 15.

 

Global Village welcomes guests to its 22nd season that spans 158 days, from 1st November 2017 to 7th April 2018, from 4 pm - 12 pm, Saturday to Wednesday and from 4 pm - 1 pm on Fridays, Thursdays and public holidays. On Mondays, it is dedicated to families and women only.