DUBAI: Ever dreamed of touring around the world? Well, you can, and it won’t take a lifetime and thousands of dollars for you to do that.
Dubai’s top family leisure and cultural attraction, Global Village, will take you on a virtual tour around the world. Spread out over an area of 17,200,000 sq. ft, this massive wonderland attracts over 5 million visitors yearly.
A large chunk of Global Village’s visitors are undoubtedly Filipinos who are always on the lookout for unique yet affordable escapades. With the general admission ticket priced at Dhs15.00, it’s small wonder Global Village is on the bucket list of practically every Filipino who has ever set foot on Dubai shores.
The different pavilions showcase the heritage and architecture of more than 75 countries. From beauty and fashion finds from Korea, China, Africa, India and Central America, to exquisite glass and ceramic homeware from Turkey, to mouth-watering kebabs from Bosnia and empanadas from Argentina – Global Village will surely make foodies and shopping buffs drool. There are also live concerts and cultural shows, rides and fireworks display to keep the entire family entertained. Global Village is simply a mind-boggling audio and visual onslaught.
The Filipino Times asked several “kabayans” what they liked best about Global Village and they were just so happy to share their answers.
“The biggest thing I love about Global Village is that there’s always something new whenever I visit. Attractions, entertainment, play areas, rides, restaurants, stalls, you name it! Anyone can come from anywhere and they’re bound to meet someone from their country one way or the other,” said Ralph Teodoro who was raised in Dubai but is now based in Brisbane, Australia as an international student ambassador.
Yvette Sario of Bur Dubai has been to Global Village several times with family and friends and each visit never fails to amaze her. “It makes you feel as though you’ve visited different countries. It’s always lots of fun – you can eat, drink, and play. I always marvel at the creativity and craftmanship involved in the design of each booth, with such painstaking attention to detail,” she shared.
“What I like about Global Village is that you get to see replicas of items and attractions found in each country you would like to visit. It gives you a preview of what to see when you finally get to visit the place,” said tourist Carrie Dayubay from Batangas.
Jennifer Turingan, a customer service representative at the Dubai International Airport, loves the rides, fireworks display, and games at Global Village. With each visit, she always makes it a point to try her luck playing games at the Carnaval Funfair with hopes of bringing home a stuffed toy or two.
A melting pot of different cultures with over 200 nationalities represented, the UAE truly lives up to its reputation with Global Village. Catch the fun at Global Village before it closes for the summer and make sure to bring a good camera to capture your Instagram-worthy moments!
