Families Flock to Global Village Opening Night as Dubai Welcomes Season 31

Opening Night Draws Large Crowds

The story, published Wed 14 Oct 2026, 10:30 PM, reports that UAE residents turned out in large numbers for the opening night of Global Village, creating long queues at the gates, watching children play in the fountains, enjoying lake shows, crowding the food lanes and seeing arrivals continue past 8 pm. The park launched Season 31 on Wednesday evening, with five‑year‑old Abdul Ahad sprinting through the purple‑lit water fountain alongside his siblings as the festivities began. Behind them, the bright pavilions, food stalls and packed walkways set the scene for the first evening of Dubai’s outdoor season.

Visitor Experiences

Marlene, a sales executive who took the morning shift to meet nine friends for the opening, explained that her group came from Ajman, Sharjah and Dubai and spent more than half an hour at the physical‑ticket counter before buying tickets online. She said, “We had planned this for opening day, so even the queue did not change our minds,” and added, “Some of us came from Ajman, some from Sharjah and some from Dubai.” Meanwhile, Montserrat, a Spanish marketing director at an interior‑design company, had told her children last month that she would bring them on the first day. She noted, “My children have been asking me for weeks when Global Village would open,” and continued, “I promised them that we would come on the first day. They are excited about the rides, games and ice cream, while we are looking forward to the food and walking around.”

Food, Attractions and Lake Show

Inside the venue, guests wandered from pavilion to pavilion, paused for pictures and filled the food lanes. A stroll along the Dragon Lake revealed stalls offering charcoal‑grilled meat, Bosnian kebabs, Turkish sweets, Korean chicken and steaming cups of tom yum soup. At the lake, visitors lifted their phones to capture the Lake Dragon show, which lit the water with lasers. Saleh commented, “The lighting makes it feel as if the dragon is actually moving,” and added, “It is wonderfully designed, and the laser effects give the whole show a very striking look.”

Season Details and Offerings

Global Village will stay open until midnight on Wednesday, and Season 31 is scheduled to run through May 2027. The edition offers 29 pavilions that represent more than 90 cultures, over 200 attractions and more than 250 dining choices.