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Flower-lined walkways and pavilions at Global Village, Dubai

Home›The Journal›Global Village Season 31 Opens: New Things to Do in Dubai This Winter

The Journal · Dubai

Global Village Season 31 Opens: New Things to Do in Dubai This Winter

Global Village has opened its 31st season, and with it one of the most cheerful things to do in Dubai returns for the cool months: an open-air world of pavilions, street food and evening shows that runs from mid-October until May 2027.

At a glance

Global Village Season 31 Opens: New Things to Do in Dubai This Winter at a glance

Season
October 14, 2026 to May 2027
Hours
Sun–Wed 4 p.m.–midnight; Thu–Sat and public holidays 4 p.m.–1 a.m.
Family day
Tuesdays for families and ladies (except public holidays)
Scale
29 pavilions, 90+ cultures, 3,500+ shops, 250+ places to eat
Tickets
Official website, Global Village app or the gates

Season of the world

A season of the world in one evening

Global Village opened its gates for Season 31 on Wednesday, October 14, at 6 p.m., with a choir, the Parade of the World, a confetti shower at the Gate of the World and a 600-drone show over the park. The theme this year is "A More Wonderful World," and the numbers suggest an ambitious one: 29 pavilions representing more than 90 cultures, over 3,500 shops, more than 250 places to eat and drink, upward of 200 attractions and some 40,000 performances planned across the season.

For first-time visitors, the appeal is simple. In a few hours you can wander from a Turkish bazaar to an Asian night market, pause for a dance troupe, and end with dessert under the lights. It is relaxed, affordable and easy with children, which is why it has been a fixture of Dubai in winter for three decades, and still one of the best-loved things to do in Dubai for visitors and residents alike and a natural stop on any Dubai travel guide.

The illuminated pavilions, towers and Ferris wheel of Global Village, Dubai, at night.
Photo: Fariz Safarulla · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What is new

What is new at Global Village this season

The headline thrill is Tokyo Rush, a new roller coaster with tight turns, high speeds and a loop. It arrives later in the season rather than on opening night, and no exact date has been given, so check before you plan around it. The Festival Wheel has refreshed carts, and favorites such as Dragon Kingdom and Exo Planet City are back.

On stage, three new productions join the program: Bollywood Idol, Bank Heist and the stunt show Fast Live 2: The Police Strike Back. Several pavilions have been refreshed, including Sri Lanka, Russia and Azerbaijan. Younger travelers will enjoy the redesigned Season 31 Passport and a new Kids Passport, which reward a lap of the pavilions with a page full of stamps.

Food remains half the reason to go. New names at the Restaurant Plaza, which overlooks the Falcon Stage, include Trabzon Turkish Restaurant and Hawawshi Al Rabie, while Vinci Dolci and Uzungol Café join the café line-up and the Dessert District returns with a wider selection.

Planning a family vacation

Planning a family vacation in Dubai around your visit

Global Village is an evening affair. Gates open at 4 p.m. daily and close at midnight from Sunday to Wednesday, and at 1 a.m. from Thursday to Saturday and on public holidays. Tuesdays are reserved for families and ladies, except on public holidays, which makes them a calm choice for parents with small children. Tickets are sold on the official website and app and at the gates, where you can check the current prices; rides and some attractions are extra. Arrive by car, taxi or bus.

Pair an evening here with a day at the beach and a morning at one of the region's great theme parks and attractions, and you have the outline of a luxury family vacation in the Middle East that pleases every age.

More things to do

More things to do in Dubai this winter

The season matters as much as the place. November to March is widely considered the best time to visit Dubai, with warm days and mild evenings that suit exactly this kind of outdoor wandering; our guide to the best time to visit the Middle East explains the months in detail. Global Village is only one of many events in Dubai over the coming months, and our events calendar gathers the concerts, sporting weekends and festivals worth building a trip around.

If your trip falls between now and spring, build in at least one unhurried evening here. Arrive as the sun goes down, walk the pavilions while the air cools, and stay for a show before heading back to your hotel.

Where to stay

Atlantis The Palm

★★★★★ Palm Jumeirah

The classic family resort, with Aquaventure waterpark and The Lost Chambers aquarium on site.

Official site ↗

Jumeirah Beach Hotel

★★★★★ Umm Suqeim

A refreshed, wave-shaped beachfront favorite that is especially good with children.

Official site ↗

Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach

★★★★★ Jumeirah

Courtyard gardens, a calm beach and an easy, residential feel.

Official site ↗

Palace Downtown

★★★★★ Downtown

Arabian-style elegance on the Burj Lake, a short stroll from The Dubai Mall and the fountains.

Official site ↗

Questions readers ask

When is Global Village open?

Season 31 runs from October 14, 2026 to May 2027, opening at 4 p.m. daily and closing at midnight Sunday to Wednesday and at 1 a.m. Thursday to Saturday and on public holidays.

Is Global Village good for children?

Yes. Tuesdays are reserved for families and ladies (except public holidays), there is a Kids Passport and a Kids Theatre, and children under three enter free.

When does the Tokyo Rush roller coaster open?

It is due later in the season; no exact date has been announced yet.

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Sources

Checked on 10/17/2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.