Global Village is one of the most visited seasonal attractions in Dubai. It is an open-air park of country pavilions, street food, shopping stalls, rides and stage shows, and it only opens for part of the year. Season 31 opened on Wednesday 14 October 2026 and runs until May 2027, according to the official season announcement carried by WAM. This guide sets out the confirmed opening hours and ticket prices, then explains how to plan the journey there and back, which is where many visitors lose time.
Global Village Season 31 at a glance
| Item | Season 31 details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Season dates | 14 October 2026 to May 2027 | Global Village |
| Sunday to Wednesday | 4:00 pm to midnight | Global Village |
| Thursday to Saturday and public holidays | 4:00 pm to 1:00 am | Global Village |
| Tuesdays | Reserved for families and ladies, except on public holidays | WAM |
| Weekday ticket | AED 25 | Khaleej Times, Global Village |
| Any-day ticket (valid at weekends and public holidays) | AED 30 | Global Village |
| Free entry | Children under 3, seniors aged 65 and over, and People of Determination with one companion (ID required) | Global Village |
Tickets are sold on the Global Village website and mobile app, and at the ticket counters at the gates. Khaleej Times reported that for Season 31 the weekend rate also applies to tickets bought for Sunday, which is a change from the previous season. Rides, events and some attractions are charged separately from the entry ticket.
Where Global Village is
Global Village sits beside Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311), inland from the coast and away from the Downtown and Marina hotel districts. That location matters: it is not within walking distance of any major hotel area, and most visitors arrive by car, taxi or coach. The site has several gates and large car parks, and on busy evenings the roads around the entrances become congested, especially when the park opens at 4 pm and again when it closes.
If you are staying in Downtown Dubai or Dubai Marina, the drive involves crossing the city on the main highways. Leave extra time on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, when the park stays open until 1 am and the most visitors come.
Getting there: taxi, app ride or private driver
A metered taxi or an app ride is the simplest option for a couple travelling light. The fare is built from a starting fare, a distance charge, waiting time and any Salik tolls, as explained in our Dubai taxi fare guide. The harder part is the journey home: at closing time many visitors leave together, and finding a car at the gate can take a while.
A pre-booked car with an agreed return time avoids that queue. With an hourly chauffeur booking, the driver drops you at the gate you choose, waits or returns at a set time, and takes you back to your hotel. It also suits families with pushchairs, groups who want to stay together, and visitors combining Global Village with dinner elsewhere the same evening. To get a quote for the return trip, send your hotel, the gate, the time you want to arrive and the time you want to be collected through our quote request form. For a group of six or more, see our MPV class and minibus class pages.
Planning tips for a smoother evening
- Pick your gate before you leave and tell your driver, so you are dropped and collected at the same point.
- Arrive close to opening if you want shorter queues for the most popular rides and food stalls.
- On Tuesdays, check whether your group qualifies, as the park is reserved for families and ladies except on public holidays.
- Bring a light layer for winter evenings, as the park is outdoors.
- Agree a meeting point inside the park in case your group splits up, and keep your phone charged so the driver can reach you.
If you are flying in specifically for a long weekend, an evening at Global Village works well on the second or third night, after you have settled in. Our arrival checklist covers the details we need for the airport transfer, and you can add the Global Village evening as a separate journey in the same enquiry.
Combining Global Village with other plans
Global Village opens in the late afternoon, so the day is free for other sightseeing. Many visitors spend the morning at the beach or in a mall and travel to the park as the heat drops. If you would like a planned day, our sightseeing with a private driver page explains how to send an itinerary with several stops and timings. For a longer stay, a car with driver booking keeps one vehicle with you for the whole day.
What you will find inside
Global Village is built around country and regional pavilions, each with its own architecture, shops and food. Alongside the pavilions there are stages with nightly shows, a fairground area with rides, and food streets serving dishes from many cuisines. Arabian Business reported 29 pavilions and more than 250 dining options for Season 31. Because the park is large and mostly outdoors, comfortable shoes matter more than you might expect, and families with young children often bring a pushchair or rent one on site.
Plan the evening around two or three priorities rather than trying to see everything. A common pattern is to arrive near opening, walk the pavilions while it is still light, eat in the food area, and watch one of the evening shows before heading back. If you are visiting with older relatives, note the free entry for visitors aged 65 and over, and plan seated breaks.
Getting home at closing time
The busiest moment of the evening for transport is the last hour before closing, when large numbers of visitors leave at the same time. Taxi queues at the gates can be long, and app rides may take a while to reach the pickup point. There are three ways to make this easier: leave a little before closing, agree a pickup time and gate with a pre-booked driver in advance, or use an hourly booking so the car is already nearby when you are ready.
If you choose a pre-booked car, share the gate name and a clear meeting point. Large car parks look similar at night, so a named landmark near the gate helps the driver find you quickly. Keep your phone charged; a small power bank is useful on long evenings out. Prefer one car for the whole evening, with dinner somewhere else first? A car with driver keeps the same vehicle with you; list each stop and time in your enquiry.
Visiting with children
Global Village is popular with families, and Tuesdays are reserved for families and ladies outside public holidays. Rides are charged separately, so agree a budget with children before you arrive. In winter, evenings can feel cool after a warm day, so bring a light jacket for younger children. If you need child seats in the car, mention their ages when you book; our family transfers page explains what to include.
How to book a transfer to Global Village
Use our quote request form, or email info@belgraviatransfers.com, with your hotel address, the date, the time you want to arrive, the number of passengers and whether you want the driver to wait or return at a set time. We reply with availability, a suggested vehicle and a quote. The booking is confirmed only once you accept it. You can also start from our Dubai airport transfer page if you are planning the whole trip.
Frequently asked questions
When is Global Village open in 2026-27?
Season 31 runs from 14 October 2026 to May 2027. The park opens 4 pm to midnight Sunday to Wednesday, and 4 pm to 1 am Thursday to Saturday and on public holidays.
How much is a Global Village ticket?
A weekday ticket costs AED 25 and an any-day ticket, valid at weekends and on public holidays, costs AED 30. Children under 3, seniors 65+ and People of Determination with one companion enter free with ID.
Is Global Village open on Tuesdays?
Yes, but Tuesdays are reserved for families and ladies, except on public holidays.
What is the easiest way to get to Global Village?
Most visitors go by car. A pre-booked driver with an agreed pickup time and gate avoids waiting for a taxi at closing time; send both times in the quote form and we reply with availability.
Are rides included in the entry ticket?
No. Ride passes, events and some attractions are sold separately from the entry ticket.
Facts on this page were checked against the sources linked above on 17 October 2026. Dates, prices and opening hours can change, so confirm them with the official source before you travel.
