Global Village Review

Visitors from different nationalities and cultures thronged the gates at Global Village, a member of Tatweer, as Dubai Shopping Festival commenced. Adults and children alike lined up to collect their tickets and walk into a world of bargains and deals from across the globe.

With 30 pavilions participating this year, Global Village has come across as an international market fair.

“The weekends are always a trifle richer in customers but today being the second day of DSF, I can see a marked difference in the usual numbers. There are foreigners too and many buyers from across the Emirates,” commented Sravan Kumar, a Rajastani shopkeeper who keeps a stall selling puppets in the Indian Pavilion.

He added, “The clientele I have is largely Westerners so I am very happy to see more sales being made. I am sure the tempo will pick up pace as the shopping festival warms up. Apart from the puppets, the visitors are intrigued by the bangle stand, flutes, wind chime birds and traditional music instruments that I have in my shop. This is my third time at Global Village; I feel the business only gets better each time!”

Stellamae Masumba, a saleswoman from Zimbabwe has her stall in the North African Pavilion and agreed, “Before DSF started, we saw more of the local crowd which is also cosmopolitan but now I can see many tourists who have come by to see the magic of Dubai Shopping Festival unfold. At my stall I sell mainly crochet items – caps, dresses, cardigans, blouses, socks, hats, bedspreads and table covers. I had kept aside some items for this time of the sales period. With larger number of visitors, I am confident of better deals and more purchases now.”

“Arabic perfumes, oud, dehnal oud and ittar are very popular. I keep the best bukhoor burning by the shop to rope in as many customers as possible. It is the first time we have set shop in Global Village, the response has been good but I have a feeling things are only going to get better with the onset of DSF. The products we have range from Dhs 500 per kilo to Dhs 4,000 but we have noted that customers like the best from the lot. The crowd is very selective especially the Arab buyers, so special incense worth Dh 5,000 per kilo has been flown in from our suppliers in Cambodia to meet the growing demands of these clients,” explained Mohammed Mirbahuddin, a perfume shopkeeper in the Bahrain Pavilion.

The Global Village began on December 13 and continues until March 1. Entry is priced at AED 5, infants (under 2 years) and physically challenged visitors enter for free. Gates open at 4pm daily and are open to public on all days. However, Monday is families only day. Source