Global Village Season 31 has 29 pavilions representing more than 90 cultures, with over 3,500 shops and 250 places to eat. The best buys are the ones each country is known for: honey and dates in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, saffron and rugs in Iran, textiles in India and Pakistan, skincare and pop-culture goods in Korea and Japan, brassware and lamps in Turkey and Egypt, and crafts in the Africa pavilion. Many pavilions also have artisans at work, weaving, carving wood, making shoes and crafting jewellery in front of you. This season, themed “A More Wonderful World”, Sri Lanka becomes a standalone pavilion, Azerbaijan joins Russia, and Syria and Kuwait return with new façades.
At a glance
- Pavilions
- 29, covering more than 90 cultures
- Shops
- More than 3,500
- Food
- More than 250 restaurants, cafés and kiosks
- New for Season 31
- Standalone Sri Lanka pavilion; Russia and Azerbaijan pavilion; new façades for Syria and Kuwait
- Passport
- Season 31 Passport and Kids Passport, stamped in every pavilion
- Season
- 14 October 2026 to May 2027
- Allow
- 3 hours for the pavilions alone
Last checked: 13 October 2026. Global Village has announced the Season 31 count and changes but not yet a full list, so the table below is built from the last complete official list with this season’s changes applied. We confirm every pavilion during opening week and update it.
On this page
Every Global Village pavilion and what to buy
Gulf pavilions
| Pavilion | Signature buys | Look for |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | Abayas, kandoras, oud and bukhoor, Emirati dates and spices | The Heritage Village behind it, with camel rides, a majlis and a falcon show |
| Saudi Arabia | Premium dates, honey, spices and Arabic coffee | Date varieties to taste before you buy |
| Qatar | Jewellery, abayas, perfumes and woven goods | Traditional crafts and sweets |
| Oman | Frankincense, halwa, khanjar-style daggers and rose water | Omani halwa samples |
| Bahrain | Perfumes, sweets, textiles and handicrafts | Bahraini halwa and spices |
| Kuwait (new façade) | Abayas, perfumes, jewellery and home décor | The renewed building this season |
| Yemen | Sidr and mountain honey, fragrances, silver and handcrafted daggers | Honey tasting at the counters |
Levant, Iraq and Jordan
| Pavilion | Signature buys | Look for |
|---|---|---|
| Palestine | Embroidered textiles, olive oil, za’atar and olive-wood crafts | Hand-stitched tatreez embroidery |
| Syria (new façade) | Damascene sweets, soaps, dried fruit, spices and mosaic woodwork | Aleppo soap and the renewed façade |
| Lebanon | Sweets, olives, thyme, cheese and dairy, handmade pottery | Fresh Lebanese sweets |
| Jordan | Dead Sea beauty products, embroidered textiles and crafts | Dead Sea salt and mud products |
| Iraq | Traditional food, souvenirs, paintings and antiques | Antiques and paintings |
West and South Asia
| Pavilion | Signature buys | Look for |
|---|---|---|
| Iran | Saffron, Persian rugs, paintings and handmade musical instruments | Saffron grades and prices compared across stalls |
| Turkey | Lamps, carpets, brassware, baklava, tea and pistachios | Mosaic lamps and Turkish ice cream |
| Russia and Azerbaijan (new combined pavilion) | Matryoshka dolls, amber and ornaments, plus Azerbaijani crafts | The new look this season |
| Afghanistan | Leather goods, wool, rugs, dried fruit and nuts | Handwoven rugs |
| India | Textiles, handicrafts, jewellery and spices | Dance and music performances, and the Indian Chaat Bazaar nearby |
| Pakistan | Handwoven carpets, textiles, embroidered clothing and spices | Embroidered shawls and lawn fabric |
| Sri Lanka (now standalone) | Ceylon tea, spices, gems and colourful fabrics | The refreshed pavilion this season |
East Asia
| Pavilion | Signature buys | Look for |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Porcelain tea cups, kimonos, matcha and manga collectibles | Anime and manga merchandise |
| Korea | Skincare, K-pop merchandise and snacks | Skincare bundles, often cheaper in multiples |
| China | Gadgets, silk, tea, toys and character merchandise | The end of the Gardens of the World walk |
| Thailand | Cosmetics, homeware, carved wood and snacks | Thai street snacks |
Africa, Europe and the Americas
| Pavilion | Signature buys | Look for |
|---|---|---|
| Africa | Woodcarvings, handwoven baskets, masks, musical instruments and shea butter | Drumming and live performances |
| Egypt | Egyptian cotton, brassware, lamps and papyrus | The start of the Gardens of the World walk |
| Morocco | Moroccan tea, argan oil, lanterns, leather slippers and ceramics | Lanterns and tea sets |
| Europe | Ornaments, mother-of-pearl boxes, chocolates and cosmetics | Gifts and sweets |
| Americas | Handmade leather goods, cowboy hats, souvenirs and food products | Latin American snacks and crafts |
Community pavilions
| Pavilion | What it is | Signature buys |
|---|---|---|
| Khalifa Foundation | Products from Emirati entrepreneurs and home businesses | Bukhoor, perfumes, customised clothing, home accessories and Emirati food |
| 971 From the Community | A showcase for local UAE small businesses | Locally made gifts, fashion and food |
Bangladesh, which shared a pavilion with Sri Lanka until last season, had not been confirmed for Season 31 when we checked on 13 October.
A 3-hour pavilion route
- Start at the far edge. Walk straight to the outer pavilions such as Japan and Korea, Sri Lanka or Africa first, then work back towards the main gate. The crowd moves the other way, so the aisles stay clearer.
- Do the Gardens of the World walk between the Egypt and China pavilions while it is still light; it has a refreshed design this season.
- Do the Gulf and Levant pavilions in the middle part of your visit, for dates, honey, sweets and perfumes.
- Finish at the Heritage Village behind the UAE pavilion for Arabic coffee and dates in the majlis.
- Time the fireworks: on Friday and Saturday they start at 9pm, so be outside with a clear view of the sky.
The official app and the Global Village website have the live map with every pavilion and stage, which is the fastest way to find a specific shop. There are three entrances, Gate of the World, Cultural Gate and Happiness Gate; note which one you came in by, because the car parks are matched to the gates.
Crowd cue: Thursday to Saturday nights after 7pm are the busiest in the pavilions. For serious shopping, go at 4pm on a Sunday to Wednesday, when traders have time to talk and bargain.
The Season 31 passport
This season Global Village has a new Season 31 Passport and a Kids Passport. Every pavilion has a stamping station, so children can collect a stamp from each country as you go. It turns a long walk into a game for younger visitors; pick one up at the start of your visit.
Food in and around the pavilions
- Floating Market: East Asian street food along the canal; last season skewers started from about AED 5.
- Restaurant Plaza: new this season are Robo Al Sham (Levantine), Hawawshi Al Rabie (Egyptian) and Chicking (fried chicken), plus Trabzon Turkish Restaurant.
- Dessert District: with a refreshed façade, and new cafés Vinci Dolci, Emir Bey Gourmet and Uzungol Café.
- Happiness Street and the Indian Chaat Bazaar: snacks to eat as you walk.
Shows and stages
| Show | What it is | When |
|---|---|---|
| Fireworks | Musical fireworks over the park | Friday and Saturday, 9pm |
| Fast Live 2: The Police Strikes Back | New stunt show | Daily schedule in the app |
| Bollywood Idol | New anchor show: two brothers on different paths, told through music and dance | Daily schedule in the app |
| Bank Heist | New anchor show inspired by true crime, with acrobatics | Daily schedule in the app |
| Slam | Returning anchor show | Daily schedule in the app |
| Kids Theatre | Care Bears and PJ Masks | Several times an evening |
| Pavilion performances | Folk music and dance from the countries | Through the evening at each pavilion |
Global Village promises more than 40,000 shows this season. Show times change by day, so check the app before you plan around one.
How to shop at Global Village
- Bargain politely. Many pavilion traders expect a little negotiation, especially on rugs, lamps, jewellery and bulk buys. Prices are usually fixed for food and branded goods.
- Compare first. The same goods, such as saffron, honey or skincare, often appear in several stalls; walk the pavilion before buying.
- Taste before you buy. Honey, dates, sweets and spices are almost always offered as samples.
- Pay by card or cash. Most shops take cards, but small stalls may prefer cash, and some give a better price for it.
- Ask about returns. Pavilion traders rarely take returns, so check sizes and quality before you pay.
- Lighten the load. Lockers and baby carts are for rent near the gates, which helps on a big shopping night.
Which pavilions are worth it on a short visit?
- Food gifts: Yemen and Saudi Arabia for honey and dates, Iran for saffron, Turkey for baklava and pistachios.
- Home décor: Turkey, Egypt and Morocco for lamps, brassware and ceramics.
- Textiles and clothing: India, Pakistan, Palestine and the UAE.
- For teens: Korea and Japan for skincare and pop culture.
- For culture: the Heritage Village behind the UAE pavilion and the Africa pavilion’s performances.
- Global Village Season 31 guide: tickets, timings, parking, rides and food.
- What’s on this winter: every seasonal attraction and its status.
- IMG Worlds of Adventure: the indoor theme park next door.
- Things to do in Dubai at night: more evening ideas.
- Weekend markets in Dubai: more shopping outdoors.
- Old Dubai souks: gold, spice and textile souks by the creek.
- Dubai Shopping Festival 2026-27: 4 December to 17 January.
Change log
- 13 October 2026: page created for Season 31, with the pavilion changes announced on 8 October. Full official list to be confirmed after opening on 14 October.
Global Village pavilions FAQs
How many pavilions are there in Global Village Season 31?
Season 31 has 29 pavilions representing more than 90 cultures, one fewer than last season, with more than 3,500 shops.
What is new in the Global Village pavilions this season?
Sri Lanka becomes a standalone pavilion, Azerbaijan joins Russia in a new combined pavilion, and the Syria and Kuwait pavilions return with renewed façades.
What is the best thing to buy at Global Village?
Each pavilion’s speciality: honey and dates from Yemen and Saudi Arabia, saffron and rugs from Iran, lamps from Turkey and Egypt, textiles from India and Pakistan, and skincare from Korea.
Can you bargain at Global Village?
Yes, in many pavilion shops, especially for rugs, lamps, jewellery and bulk buys. Food and branded goods usually have fixed prices.
Is there a passport at Global Village?
Yes. Season 31 has a Global Village Passport and a Kids Passport, with a stamping station in every pavilion.
How long does it take to see all the Global Village pavilions?
About three hours at a steady pace, longer if you shop, eat and watch shows.