Global Village Dubai Season 31 Explained: Prices, Hours, Buses and New Pavilions

Think of Global Village as a nightly world tour compressed into one Dubailand site: 29 pavilions, 90+ cultures, 3,500 shops and 250 places to eat, open every evening from 4pm. Season 31 runs from 14 October 2026 to May 2027. This explainer organises the practical data — ticket bands (AED 25/30), the Sunday pricing change, closing times, bus routes 102/103/104/106, parking tiers and the new-for-31 list — so you can plan an evening without digging through five pages.

Dates, Theme and Location

Season 31 opened on Wednesday 14 October 2026 under the theme "A More Wonderful World" and runs until May 2027 — the exact closing date has not been announced yet (expected early to mid-May; Season 30 closed on 31 May 2026). The park sits on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311) in Dubailand, Exit 37. There is no metro station at the park, so your realistic options are the RTA buses below, a taxi, or driving.

Ticket Prices for Season 31

• Weekday ticket — AED 25: Monday to Thursday, excluding public holidays, 5% VAT included.
• Any Day ticket — AED 30: valid any day, including weekends and public holidays.

One change catches people out: Sunday now counts as a weekend day (AED 30) — in Season 30 it was priced as a weekday. You can upgrade a weekday ticket to any-day at the gate booths. Tickets are sold on the Global Village website and app and at the gate; they are non-refundable, and re-entry needs a hand stamp. Entry is free for children under 3, seniors aged 65 and above, and People of Determination plus one companion (ID may be checked). VIP Packs run from AED 1,890 (Silver) to AED 7,900 (Diamond) via coca-cola-arena.com. Everything in this section, plus the details that update through the season, is tracked in our full Season 31 guide.

Opening Hours and the Tuesday Rule

Gates open at 4:00pm daily. Closing is midnight Sunday to Wednesday and 1:00am Thursday to Saturday and on public holidays; last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Ramadan timings have not been published yet (expected to follow the previous pattern of roughly 5pm-1am / 5pm-2am). For the day-by-day breakdown — including special dates and the Ramadan update when it lands — see Global Village opening hours, day by day.

And the rule that surprises first-timers every season: Tuesdays (except public holidays) are reserved for families, couples and ladies only. Single men are turned away at the gate. There is no fully closed day — the park is open seven days a week all season.

Getting There by RTA Bus

RTA restored four direct bus routes for Season 31, at around AED 10 on a Nol card (confirm the fare on the S'hail app):

• 102 from Al Rashidiya Bus Station (Centrepoint Metro, Red Line) — every 60 minutes
• 103 from Union Bus Station (Red + Green Lines) — every 40 minutes
• 104 from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station (Green Line) — every 60 minutes
• 106 from Mall of the Emirates Bus Station (Red Line) — every 60 minutes

Route 108 from Oud Metha, which ran in Season 30, is not confirmed for Season 31. Driving instead? Free parking sits at P1, P3 and P5 (P7-P11 open free on weekends and busy days, with a free shuttle); paid parking runs AED 75-120 per day and VIP parking AED 200. Total capacity is over 23,000 spaces, and Season 31 adds self-payment vending machines.

What Is New in Season 31

The park now counts 29 pavilions representing 90+ cultures, 3,500+ shops and 250+ dining options. New this season: Oman and Qatar pavilions join the lineup; the Tokyo Rush looping roller coaster arrives later in the season; three new show productions join an expanded Main Stage within a season of some 40,000 shows; Fiesta Street is extended; the Gardens of the World are redesigned; and the Season 31 Passport gets a refresh alongside a new Kids Passport. Entry covers pavilions, shows and street entertainment — Carnaval rides (170+ of them) are charged separately.

Shows, Rides and the Friday Fireworks

Entry includes a heavy entertainment programme: the Main Stage hosts concerts and cultural performances on most nights, roaming performers work the avenues, and there are stunt and theatrical shows across the season — some 40,000 shows in total. The Carnaval funfair packs in 170+ rides and games (charged separately, per ride or by wristband), and children get Fantasy Island, dedicated play areas and the Kids Passport to stamp across pavilions. The weekly fireworks — Fridays at 9pm in past seasons — are the traditional end to a big night; confirm the Season 31 schedule on arrival, as it had not been formally published when this guide was written.

Eating Your Way Around the World

With 250+ dining options, food is half the visit: Turkish kebabs and baklava, Indian chaat and dosas, luqaimat and harees at the UAE pavilion, the famous knafeh stalls, and the Floating Market serving Asian street food from boats on the lake. Budget roughly AED 50-100 per person for a proper food crawl; cards work almost everywhere, though a few small stalls are cash-only. Go at the 4pm opening to walk the pavilions in daylight, then stay for the lights, the Main Stage and — on past seasons' pattern — Friday fireworks around 9pm (confirm the Season 31 schedule on arrival). Wear comfortable shoes: you will walk several kilometres without noticing.