• Home
• /
• UAE

Global Village to return with Season 26 in October

Dubai - During the 25th edition that ended on May 2, Global Village broke 25 Guinness World Records

After a successful and remarkable silver jubilee edition, Dubai’s Global Village will return for its season 26 in October, authorities announced on Monday.

More announcements and updates regarding next season will follow in due course.

The Global Village has made public some of the highlights of the 25th season which concluded on May 2, after a 190-day celebration marking its 25th anniversary.

The highlights included the ‘HSE Initiative of the Year’, award; the ‘Commitment to Sustainability’ title at the Middle East Cleaning, Hygiene, and Facilities Awards and the 2020 Traveler’s Choice Award from Trip Advisor having ranked in the top 10 per cent of worldwide attractions; and retaining the coveted Sword of Honour from the British Safety Council.

Bader Anwahi, CEO, Global Village, said: "For the Global Village family, Season 25 will always be remembered as a major milestone in our history. Our teams overcame challenges, demonstrating resilience and strategic leadership to reimagine what was possible to support Dubai and the UAE with key economic contributions. We have harnessed creativity and diversity in order to deliver authentic experiences, inspiring audiences at home and abroad with support from our loyal fanbase and partnership ecosystem. Regional and international investors placed their trust in our country and worked alongside the Global Village team so we could achieve success together. We are proud of our role in supporting the economy during this difficult period and the assistance we were able to lend our peers internationally. On a personal level I am grateful to everyone who has contributed to the remarkable success of Season 25, and we are excited about the coming months as we move forward with our preparations for Season 26."

Season 25 began spectacularly with Global Village rocking the world with the biggest virtual rock concert in history as performers from 80 countries joined Rockin’1000, the largest rock band on earth, for the opening gig. The show was streamed live on Global Village’s YouTube and captured the imagination of millions worldwide. Now United, the international pop phenomenon, also made a surprise live appearance at the event.

Season 25 saw 78 cultures represented in 26 pavilions across the park. Over 300 F&B outlets and no fewer than 3,500 retail outlets formed the region's largest street food and shopping collective, demonstrating the resilience of the local economy. At the same time, Carnaval delighted guests with thrills and spills for all ages. More than 160 rides, skill games, and arcade attractions provided endless hours of enjoyment, while the world-famous Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum attraction's six astonishing galleries were home to more than 300 of the most remarkable collection of natural, scientific, artistic, and human oddities, artefacts, and exhibits.

In line with its digital transformation aspirations, this season also saw Global Village take customer convenience to the next level with its all-new Global Village mobile app, which scooped three innovation accolades at the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards. The park partnered with MobiiWorld to design the most accurate GPS-powered venue navigation system in today's market, introduce e-commerce functionalities for ticket purchase, parking payment as well as seamless purchase and top-up of Wonder Pass points. Global Village also partnered with emaratech, a leading Emirati tech company, to introduce 'GV Pay’, the next-generation e-wallet launched to give guests the option of contactless and cashless payment across the Park. Global Village also employed artificial intelligence in order to protect guests and staff, including an autonomous security robot and AI enabled cameras.

Global Village also broke 25 Guinness World Records in honour of the Silver Jubilee anniversary. Throughout the season, attempts were made with support from guests and partners, providing entertainment and attracting attention from across the UAE and around the globe. A total of 70 fireworks displays lit up the skies in Season 25 and the stunt show production featuring high-speed police car chases, fire-fights, precision driving, back-flipping bikes, explosions, and high falls was performed 484 times. Various festivals and occasions were also celebrated at Global Village, including Diwali, Wonder of Winter, the UAE’s mission to Mars, Kids Fest, Ice Cream Fest, Easter, and Ramadan. Meanwhile, collaborations with key partners provided further value and excitement. The partnership with Jumeirah Beach Hotel allowed guests staying at the resort to visit the park and gain exclusive privileges that boosted their holiday experience, while the Etihad Baggage Claim Challenge alongside Etihad Airways rewarded one lucky winner with a million guest miles, Dh25,000 spending money and a Dh25,000 Global Village shopping spree. Zahrat Al Khaleej did a major fashion shoot using clothes and accessories available within the Park which elevated perception of Global Village as a fashion shopping destination.