Global Village, the UAE and wider region’s leading multicultural family destination for culture, shopping, and entertainment, hosted excited guests over the long weekend as extraordinary celebrations took place across the park to mark the 49th National Day. As one of the biggest occasions in the Emirati calendar, guests arrived at Global Village with high expectations and the proceedings ensured no guest left disappointed. The fabulous festive atmosphere will live long in the memory of everybody who attended in recent days, capturing the imagination of guests and showcasing the true spirit of the UAE community.

Bader Anwahi, Global Village CEO, said: “This year is a particularly poignant one in our history and we are immensely proud to have welcomed guests and partners from across the globe to celebrate this important occasion. Global Village is renowned for offering unique cultural experiences and this National Day Holiday was no exception. From symbolic art installations, to the traditional Operetta which was a stunning tribute to our history, we are delighted with the response and reception from the many guests who joined us over the long weekend break. One of the highlights for me was sharing the stage with H.E. ​Khalifa Hassan Al Darai, Executive Director of the Dubai Corporation Ambulance Services, who was invited to launch our National Day Fireworks in appreciation of his team’s hard work and dedication to our nation.”

The “Spectacular Fireworks Button” is a new tradition at Global Village to celebrate individuals and personalities by giving them the honour of launching the traditional fireworks each week. During the National Day celebrations, the skies were of course lit up with the colours of the UAE flag, delighting guests and paying a unique homage to the event.

The unity of the seven Emirates and cultural diversity of the UAEwerecelebrated with seven Insta-worthy art installations. Arabian Square was home to almost a hundred colourful falcons – the country’s national bird. The falcons will remain in Arabian Square for the remainder of the season. The brand new Fiesta Street was adorned with streaming ribbons in the colours of the nation. This new street is home to some of the most popular street food kiosks at Global Village. Celebration Walk hosted seven massive and brightly coloured symbolic rock pillars placed in the shape of the nation. Guests were treated to a perspective photo opportunity in the colours of the UAE flag near Kiosks Street.

With the last three art installations, Global Village has also claimed a further three Guinness World Records™ titles during the celebrations. Over 1,000 UAE flags were used to create a mosaic of the number 49 to set the record for the The Largest Flag Number. The world’s largest ticket mosaic was also achieved covering 50 square metres at the Gate of the World using 9,200 entry tickets in the colours of the Union. More than 14,000 bottle caps were used to create the biggest Bottle Cap Sentence in partnership with AQUAFINA. The bottle caps have been donated to Dgrade to recycle into parts for wheelchairs.

Global Village aims to break 25 records in honour of the Silver Jubilee Season, and the park is on track to achieve this goal following the accomplishments of this week.

As always, activities and cultural shows were a part of the National Day celebrations, with “Emarat, Land of Peace” proving to be a massive hit with guests of all ages. The classic National Day Operetta was directed by Nasser Ibrahim, with the production perfectly charting the UAE’s rich history. Scenes depicted the declaration of the union all the way to the present day, and guests were delighted with the special feature on the historic Mars probe launch.

Over and above the special delights of the National Day celebrations, guests enjoyed food from around the world and the incredible international shopping experience that has become synonymous with Global Village. Across the park and within the many pavilions, there is an impressive selection of stalls, shops, and stands featuring authentic handicrafts, home décor, clothing, games, instruments, and much more. Every day, guests take advantage of a unique shopping trip that cannot be found anywhere else, and this has played a vital role in the park’s enduring popularity and success.

For more information, please visit: www.globalvillage.ae or download the Global Village App.

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