The Global Village brings a plethora of attractions to DSF 2006

Nothing to wonder there, the sheer thrill of shopping in the DSF setting gives it that definite edge.

There's so much the DSF offers to the global visitor - an array of amazing shopping deals, world class brands, an insight into world cultures like never before and the perfect setting, now with that added glamour of 'New Dubai' and Dubailand on Emirates Road.

The Dubai Shopping Festival is all this and more, representing a uniquely different experience to each visitor to Dubai. And, in many ways, the Global Village, conceived in 1996, is representative of the Dubai Shopping Festival's standing as the one and only festival that brings the world together.

DSF, the definitive shopping festival, today draws over 3.3 million visitors annually to the emirate of Dubai and, with its theme 'One World. One Family. One Festival', has come to symbolise a coming-together of people from around the world, a distinctive experience to share and enrich each others' lives with.

Add to that what the Global Village conjures up - visions of world cultures coming together, of a singular setting where manmade barriers disappear, where visitors get a rare and radiant glance at traditions and arts of countries far and wide away, insights into the cultures of varied continents - and the pictures intensifies.

The Global Village has today moved away from its original setting of kiosks of varied nations alongside the Dubai Creek and Dubai Festival City to its magnificent location in Dubailand where last year, a record number of visitors embraced the vision of DSF and the Global Village.

Going to Global Village has been so rightfully described as a journey around the world. For from ancient Syrian architecture to Kenyan masks, Indian folk forms to Iranian coloured glass, it's all there, at the Global Village.

The attractions of the Global Village are many: For the connoisseur of cultures, there are the pavilions of nations as varied as China, Egypt, Italy, the United Kingdom, Philippines, India, South Africa, Morocco, Japan, and Italy, just a few from among the 38 national pavilions that showcase the arts, culture and cuisines of the world, with artistes and craftsmen getting a chance to exhibit their talents. A first-timer is the huge UAE pavilion right in front of the main gate which no visitor can miss out due to its attractive facade and neat row of shops selling traditional items. The feel of the country is very much there as you enter the sand-coloured pavilion.

In many ways, the concept of the Dubai Shopping Festival - as an event that goes beyond a shopping extravaganza and into the realms of an experience par none - is epitomised in the Global Village. For the kiosks of varied nations apart, the Global Village is also an entertainment bonanza, with a plethora of entertainment arcades, concerts by globally renowned artistes and a 4,000 square metre manmade lake with musical fountains and laser shows. The Global Village also hosts its own fireworks from time to time.

Over 75 kiosks bring alive the unique skills of artistes from around the world, offering visitors an immeasurable choice of cultural artefacts. And over 50 diverse restaurants cater to aficionados of fine exotic cuisine, while the 'Fun Area', with its giant wheels, thrill rides and instant prizes, will ensure a true adrenalin rush.

These attractions apart, visitors to the Global Village during DSF 2006 will get to take part in a unique 'Visit-And-Win' competition and, if luck favours, could walk away with instant prizes totalling Dh5 million from this scratch and win promotion. Visitors get to win Dh10,000 to Dh25,000 cash prizes everyday as also cars, plasma TVs, mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras, sound systems etc.

Above all, the Global Village is host to all the major DSF raffles as the Lexus Mega Raffle stage, where daily draws for the top prizes of the Lexus Mega Raffle offering two luxury cars and Dh100,000 in cash totalling Dh510,000, the daily Nissan draw offering a car daily out of the eight models on display and the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group daily and weekly draws of gold and solitaire diamond is held at 9pm in front of the general public and is also aired live on Sama TV.

The Global Village, which opened to the world on October 26th 2005, shall run until March 3rd 2006.