Global Village, Entertainment and retail complex in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Global Village is an entertainment and shopping complex in the south of Dubai that operates during the cooler months and consists of temporary pavilions made from lightweight materials. Between the buildings lie squares with stages, rides and rows of stalls selling goods and dishes from different parts of the world.
The site opened in 1997 as a small project that attracted visitors with stalls from a few countries. Over time the area grew and the number of pavilions increased, while the format of temporary winter operation was maintained.
Each pavilion carries the name of its country and displays products that visitors can buy, taste and sometimes touch. In the evening hours, the paths between the buildings fill with families who share food from distant regions and follow performances.
The complex opens only during the cooler months between October and April, when evening temperatures are comfortable. Visitors with children find changing rooms and paths that are wide enough for strollers.
The pavilions are dismantled each year before October and rebuilt afterward, leaving the site empty outside the season. Some countries change their location or do not return, which means the layout shifts from one season to the next.
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