Upcoming Events in Dubai 

02/18/2013

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February in Dubai is chalked full of top notch events including concerts, car shows and sporting events here is our pick of the top five upcoming events in the world’s most Luxurious city. 

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Image - Keithusc flickr
Taking place under the patronage of Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Dubai polo silver and gold cups are among the world’s most prestigious sporting events.  Taking place between February 2nd and March 15th at the beautiful Dubai Polo Club grounds on the outskirts of Dubai the championships will see some of the world’s top Polo teams battling it out for the title of Tournament champion and the grand prize.  Treat yourself to dinner in the VIP stands or just bring a picnic and relax on the lush green lawns. 
Legendary British rock band The Stone Roses bring their reunion to the UAE with a performance at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre on February 21st.  One of the most famous bands to come out the Manchester scene of the late 80’s Ian Brown et all split rather acrimoniously but have managed to pull it back together and get back on the road.  Best catch them while you can, no one knows how long this will last, if you do fancy catching the band in Dubai tickets are priced between AED295 and AED 495 and there are plenty of hotels around Dubai Media City if you need somewhere to stay. 

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Image - Sillylittleman flickr
As of February 18th Dubai will be the temporary home for the world’s top tennis player when they arrive to take part in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.  Novak Djokovic, Rodger Federer, Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka will all be looking to impress in a bid to be crowned champion of the tournaments 21st edition.

Another great event taking place for the first time this year is the Dubai Auto Trader live Luxury Car Show.  Held in association with Dubai Festival City, Auto Trader magazine will celebrate its 500th edition by hosting the emirates’ first major luxury car show.  Opening on the 28th of February the event will bring 300 of the world’s finest cars including Aston Martin, Ferrari’s, Bugatti’s and Bentleys to the streets of the world’s most luxurious city. 

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Image - David Fernandez flickr
The Dubai Camel racing festival will take place between Sunday 17th and Thursday 28th of February and will be a celebration of one of the Arabian Peninsula’s most important cultural activities.  The racing of Camels has taken place in Dubai and its neighbouring states for hundreds of years and has been a professional sport since the middle of the twentieth century.  With thousands of animals from across the Middle East and numerous cultural activities taking place across the 12 day event this definitely something not to be missed if you find yourself anywhere near Dubai in February. 

Do you think we’ve missed something out, what do you think are the top 5 upcoming events in Dubai?

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Global Village, Dubai

01/02/2013

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There aren’t many places where you can travel all around the world in the same spot, but you can do exactly that at Global Village in Dubai.

Global Village is a sprawling venue that brings together cultures from all over the world with a huge choice of entertainment and food on offer. Millions of tourists and locals flock here in droves every year to visit this unique venue.

Cultural shows

Dubai is a melting pot for different cultures and attracts people from the region and all over the world. 

Global Village reflects Dubai’s multicultural identity. 40 different countries are all represented, with traditional performances ranging from Chinese acrobatics to Bollywood dance performances every day from 4-6pm.

People always end up coming back because they just can’t pack in everything they want to see, so prepare for your senses to be stimulated in every direction.

Eating

As you can imagine, Global Village is a diverse foodie haven, with all the national cuisines making an appearance.

This is a chance like no other to totally immerse yourself in tastes and smells from all over the world. The best thing to do is to sample a small amount from as many stalls as possible, trying bites of delicious Lebanese pastries, Chinese dim sum or Arabic kebabs. For the best biryani in Dubai, head to Hyderabadi Dum Biryani for some authentic South Indian flavours.

Funfair
To top it off, Global Village has its own funfair: perfect for keeping children (and adults) happy. Thrill-seekers will love the roller coaster, there are games and rides like mini dodgems designed for children and more gentle options like a Ferris wheel.

Shopping

Dubai is famous for being a shopper’s paradise, and Global Village is one of Dubai’s major shopping destinations. There’s a buzzing atmosphere, with crowds milling around the various stalls which sell snacks and handicrafts from various countries. Look out for exquisite Chinese cotton, honey from Yemen and hand-crafted furniture from Morocco.

Prayer

You won’t have to worry about missing a prayer if you’re spending the day there: organisers have made sure there are plenty of mosques for both men and women dotted around the venue.

Where to find it

Global Village is just 20 minutes away from the Dubai International Airport and within easy commuting distance of some of the swankiest hotels in Dubai. Found on Emirates Road, it’s easy to get to get to by car and there are lots of parking spaces for you once you arrive. If you’d rather leave the car at home, just hop on the shuttle service which runs every 20 minutes.

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World Parachuting Championships

11/27/2012

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Image by: Skydive
With its crazy skyscrapers and reputation for decadence, Dubai is probably the best destination for a winter sun city break. You can shop ‘til you drop in its famous malls, eat in world class restaurants; and, for something a bit different, you can take in the world championship of parachuting that is being held in Dubai this winter
Mondial 2012, also known as The FAI World Parachuting Championship, is set to last for 12 days; from the 28th November to the 9th December 2012. Over 800 parachutists from 58 countries will be taking part in the event, which will be held in the glitzy Dubai Marina area of the city. Yep, it’s near the famous man made palm tree island; making this one of the most interesting sky dive locations in the world.

Mondial isn’t an annual occurrence, with this year's competition only the second ever event. The first Mondial was held in the French Alps back in 2003, where 700 skydivers from 26 countries took part in a great opportunity to meet and compete against fellow athletes. It seems only fitting that the second Mondial would take place in 2012, the “Year of Sport”.


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Image by: Jetsetter Curator
The event is being held to coincide with the UAE National Day celebrations, which will really see Dubai come to life with a number of festivities. It’s a good idea to rent a car in Dubai  when you visit so you can make the most of what’s going on around the city; although there’s going to be plenty to keep everyone entertained at Mondial.

The championship will make for great viewing for spectators and be a tough, action-packed experience for the parachutists. Formation skydiving, free fall flying and precision landings are just some of the disciplines being put to the test. Mondial 2012 marks the first demonstration of speed skydiving at a World Airsports Federation event; measuring how fast divers are going over the course of a kilometre
The para skiing event is another first for the Middle East. Para skiing involves parachuting onto a ski slope and skiing down to the bottom. Obviously this event is more suited to snowy climes, although something as insignificant as the local climate doesn’t get in the way of Dubai’s showmanship. A dry slope will be used instead and traversed four times to make up for its slightly smaller length.

The parachuting championship would probably be a fairly low key event if it was held anywhere else in the world, but in Dubai they like to do things a bit more extravagantly. Some of the world’s most famous pop stars, including Katy Perry and Usher, are being flown out to perform at the event’s closing ceremony.

However you look at it, with three World Champions being crowned over the course of 12 days, Mondial 2012 promises to be exciting stuff with or without the pop stars. We have put together some stunning images in a pinterest collection that you can check out.

Are you going to the Mondial in Dubai?

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Experience the world at Dubai Global Village 2012

03/08/2012

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Not only is Dubai a fascinating destination in its own right, but since the Dubai Global Village started in 1996, it also boasts a rare opportunity to experience the culture of many different countries all in one impressive destination.

The Dubai Global Village declares itself to be “the largest tourism, leisure and entertainment project” in the world, with over 39 pavilions that each represent a different country. The pavilions feature exhibitions, restaurants, cultural performances of music and dance, and a range of family activities which make this a great destination for visitors of all ages. As you stroll through each pavilion, you’ll be embarking on a captivating adventure across multiple continents – all without leaving the neighbourhood of Dubai!

The Global Village is open every evening from 4pm until late, with Monday designated as a family day. Each day the schedule of performances is different, so check ahead on the Dubai Global Village website for the current listings. The shows and activities includes live music and dance performances by artists from around the world, street performers, acrobats, fireworks and more. It is a great opportunity to introduce the kids (and yourself) to global cultures, sample different international cuisines and do a bit of souvenir shopping for yourself or the folks at home.

There’s no question the Dubai Global Village has come a long way since its initial appearance in 1996 as a collection of kiosks. It has expanded and diversified immensely since it moved to its current location in the sprawling Dubailand, a huge, city-like complex that hosts a variety of theme parks and entertainment centres. It’s a unique destination in and of itself, and offers an impressive array of things to see and do.

The Global Village is only open four months a year, so if you’re planning a trip to Dubai, make sure you factor this in when booking your flights and hotel in Dubai. This year’s Global Village opened on 1st November 2011 and has recently been extended to 31st March 2012, so you still have time to explore all the world (and Dubai) has to offer!

Also check our paper.li paper for updates on Dubai Global Village.

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