Dubai: No plans to run Global Village all year-round, says top official
Plans are not on the cards to make the entertainment destination Global Village open throughout the year, despite its overwhelming success. Dubai Holdings Entertainment (DHE) , which manages the destination, said: “It is something we have considered, but decided against, for now.”
“The Global Village is an outdoor destination, with a very packed schedule,” said Rami Mashini, VP Sales at DHE. “Right now we are open seven months a year. It’s a very successful formula. To maintain it in the best possible way, and to make sure we can offer the best experience, we need two to three months in the year to enhance, build and develop to better the customer experience. So, no, the plan is to keep it as it is for now.”
He made the comments on the sidelines of the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, where DHE is in attendance at the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism stand.
He went on to say that the aim for the entertainment destination, which is celebrating its iconic Season 30 this year, is to surpass the visitor numbers of last season which amounted to 10.5 million. “If you take that number of visitors, and divide it into the number of months we are open for, it puts us at one of the top five attractions in the world,” he said.
Transforming Riverland
“Riverland Dubai Parks and Resorts has received particular attention to become one of the most advanced family entertainment centers in the region, and we are in the process of adding a number of attractions to it,” Rami added.
“If you visit the Riverland, you can find archery and axe throwing,” he continued. “We are also providing go-karting, an immersive experience called Perplex city, an escape room called The Hidden Chambers, and several new restaurants. We also have laser shows in the evening and we are supporting some small businesses in doing some bazaars at Riverland. We want it to become a family entertainment center by next year.”
He added there are several new exciting projects that are expected to be added to the park soon and the announcement will be made in due time. Last year, Real Madrid World, a football-themed park, opened in the park featuring a 460-feet tall amusement ride and a region’s first wooden roller coaster, both capturing the thrills and emotions of the Real Madrid journey.
Dubai Holding (DHE) is an entertainment and hospitality organization that owns and operates 17 entertainment and media companies, including Global Village, Ain Dubai, Coca Cola Arena, and Roxy Cinema.
New luxury offerings
Rami stated that he was receiving more requests for ultra luxurious experiences as well as glamping. As such, DHE has rolled out a number of new attractions, which aim to quench the thirst of visitors for the ultra-luxury experience. The T-Rex glamping project, which recently opened at DPR, is one such offering. This experience features 65 family tents, BBQ options, and free park access.
Another experience by the company is a butler-guided premium experience inside the Burj Al Arab. The experience also offers the option for guests to pick a unique gold beverage along with the tour. In addition to these, DHE is planning a space camp experience as well as a desert safari to diversify its offerings even further.
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