Global Village - Dubai

“Where The World Comes Together”

Photographs & Captions Done By: Mary Achkhanian

Global Village started 15 years ago with less than 18 kiosks in a small area along Dubai Creek. Today it is located on Emirates road bringing to everyone authentic culture and entertainment from more than 25 countries. Providing cultural entertainment along with an international shopping experience with over millions of people that march to visit the land of diversity.

Photo By: Mary Achkhanian

On Friday the 27th of January the road leading to the parking of Global Village is blocked by police officer’s cars which is causing a huge traffic. People are asked to turn back and park at a different locations making the entrance gate a far walk for everyone.

Photo By: Mary Achkhanian

Indian laborers are responsible to transport people on a bicycle to the main entrance at a cost of 10AED per person.. People that park far from the gate order to have the carriers to transport them . Four people can fit into the carrier making it a hard task for the laborer to transport all four to the gate entrance.

Photo By: Mary Achkhanian

The multicultural journey begins right at the start before reaching the gate entrance. A large amount of the crowd that parked far from the gate prefer walking by foot to the main entrance because the price of the transportation to the gate is unaffordable by many.

Photo By: Mary Achkhanian

Crowds gather and stand patiently in a queue to buy their entrance tickets to Dubai’s annual world fair featuring 27 country pavilions presenting cultural events, international restaurants and food stalls, and authentic shopping. Tickets cost 10 AED for adults and 5 AED for children.

Photo By: Mary Achkhanian

An artificial river is built in through the village to create an attractive environment for tourists. Small boats are fit into the river to take tourists, at a cost of 50AED per family, in a tour around the different locations in Global Village and to show them an outside view of the pavilions and cultural events. The boats are also used as means of transport instead of walking through the crowd. Photo By: Mary

Achkhanian

Global Village conducted to have 2 million visitors during the past 2 months and having the Indian Village as the most visited land out of all the other countries available. Everyday crowds of people from different countries march into the Indian Village to enjoy shopping the beautiful Indian made cloths and accessories, as well as taste delightful Indian made food.

Photo By: Mary Achkhanian

Religious statues of Hinduism decorates the Indian village all around with thousands of visitors waiting in line to take a picture with Gautam Buddha as a new experience for them to learn about the Indian culture and representations. Indian men also stand to take a photo as a memorable shot for their visit to Global Village. Photo By: Mary

Achkhanian

A few Pakistani men relax and drink Karak , tea with milk, by the Syrian Pavilion, as they wait patiently for a Syrian Dabke dance event to start. Although Dubai is multicultural, most communities do not mix with each other. Global provides a rare opportunity for Dubai’s cultures to intermingle and experience each others traditions.

Photo By: Mary Achkhanian

An opportunity is given for disabled people to sell their products and make money of their own products as well as to communicate with people from different nationalities. Mohammed is a 43 year old seated man that sells roses for 15AED, and he says he enjoys what his doing everyday because he interacts with thousands of people to sell his roses.

Photo By: Mary Achkhanian

Two Emirate women represent the U.A.E’s cultural heritage by selling U.A.E sweets and other cultural food to millions of people from different nationalities. While they bake under a hot environment, they still enjoy what they are cooking.

Photo By: Mary Achkhanian

The Art Nation exhibition opens everyday and gives an opportunity for different artists that have great talents and expertise in painting and drawing to reveal their work in front of diverse people, and sell them their work like an on-demand painting. Many people gather around the artist and watch her paint while taking photographs of her.

Photo By: Mary Achkhanian