1. Global Village -
Dubai
“Where The World Comes Together”
Photographs & Captions Done By: Mary
Achkhanian

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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