February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

Global Village is the world’s largest tourism, leisure, and entertainment project, operating as a seasonal multicultural destination in Dubai. Each year from October to April, the venue opens country-specific pavilions where visitors can experience the crafts, cuisine, performances, and retail products of more than 90 nations. The concept combines cultural festival, shopping bazaar, live entertainment venue, and theme park into a single destination that celebrates the diversity of the UAE’s expatriate population and international visitor base.

UAE Context

Global Village was founded in 1997 and has grown from a modest cultural market along Dubai Creek into a purpose-built 1.6-million-square-metre destination on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road. The venue is operated by Global Village LLC and falls under the broader leisure and entertainment strategy of the Dubai government. Pavilions are curated to represent countries across the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The venue features a 17,000-seat outdoor arena, dedicated dining precincts, carnival rides, and nightly fireworks and drone shows during peak periods.

Key Data

Global Village attracted over 10 million visits during its Season 28 (2023-2024), making it one of the most visited destinations in the MENA region. The venue supports approximately 30,000 direct and indirect jobs during its operating season. It consistently ranks among Dubai’s top three most-visited tourist attractions and has won multiple World Travel Awards for leading tourism development projects.

Vision 2031 Significance

Global Village demonstrates how the UAE monetises its demographic diversity and cosmopolitan identity as tourism assets. The venue generates significant visitor spending, supports SME operators from dozens of countries, and provides a culturally accessible entertainment option that complements the UAE’s luxury hospitality and institutional tourism offerings.

  • Dubai Tourism — The broader sector within which Global Village operates.
  • Cultural Diversity — The UAE characteristic that Global Village showcases.
  • SME Development — The small business ecosystem supported by pavilion operators.
  • Entertainment Industry — The growing sector Global Village anchors.