The fireworks show at the Global Village in Dubai is one of the highlights of any visit to the Global Village! Luckily the show happens twice a week, so you have more than one opportunity to catch it, but you probably want to know…
What time are the fireworks at Global Village Dubai? The fireworks show takes place at 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays. So, unfortunately you won’t be able to see it if you don’t plan your trip to the Global Village for a Thursday or Friday.
Keep reading to find out how to make sure you know when exactly to catch the fireworks and to get some good tips on how to make the absolute most of your visit to the Global Village in Dubai!
Why Thursday and Friday?
Thursday and Friday are “weekend nights.” In Dubai, weekends fall on Friday and Saturday instead of Saturday and Sunday. What better way to celebrate the weekend than to watch an amazing firework display?
Every day of the week is a little bit different at the Global Village. Some performances or shows only happen certain days of the week and the fireworks show falls into that category. But one thing that won’t change is the fact that the firework show always begins at 9pm!
How long does the show last?
According to this source, https://dubaitravelator.com/dubai-global-village-fireworks-timing-2019/, the fireworks show lasts only about 4-5 minutes.
In comparison, the Disneyland fireworks show lasts about 20 minutes. But consider the fact that you don’t need to pay any extra money to watch the fireworks (you don’t at Disneyland either, of course).
Think of the fireworks show as a fun bonus that makes the Global Village just a little bit more exciting on the weekend nights. If you want to get a better idea of what the firework show looks like, there are tons of YouTube videos that you can check out online. Here’s one that will give you a taste of what to expect:
How much does it cost to see the fireworks?
Price of entry to the Global Village is only AED 15, which is about 4 USD. You don’t have to pay any extra money to watch the fireworks show. Just make sure that you book your visit for a Thursday or Friday as those are the only days that the fireworks show takes place.
As discussed in the last section, the fireworks show will last about 4-5 minutes. 4-5 minutes of awesome fireworks for less than 5 bucks? That sounds like a pretty good deal to me!
However, the Global Village can get quite busy on weekend nights (this will be discussed in detail further on in the article) so you could consider purchasing a VIP pack so that you can avoid some of the lines that are guaranteed to form.
Of course, the amount of people won’t inhibit your view of the fireworks or stop you from enjoying them, but the VIP pack can make the other aspects of your visit a bit more enjoyable. For example, you’ll be able to skip the lines at the entrance to the park.
Unfortunately, all the VIP packs for season 24 are already sold out. So, it’s a good idea to start thinking about your next trip to the Global Village now so you’re in time to snag a VIP pack for season 25!
Special occasion fireworks
There are a few times throughout the year that the Global Village in Dubai will put on an extra special fireworks show! It might not be worth planning your entire trip to Dubai around one of these fireworks shows but it would sure be a treat to see one of them.
New Years: This past New Year (2020) the Global Village set off a firework show to bring in the New Year across 8 different time zones! This means that starting from 8pm there was a firework show every hour.
UAE National Day: The UAE National Day is December 2nd which fell on a Monday this past year. The Global Village put on a special firework display to honour the occasion! The firework show was meant to showcase the UAE and you can imagine that it would have been pretty spectacular!
Related questions
What other shows can I see at the Global Village?
Starting from 5pm onward you can see all sorts of fun and exciting shows at the Global Village main stage. The shows happen every day of the week (although most shows have one or two nights off a week) and there is an amazing variety of shows that feature cultures and countries from around the world.
The shows incorporate dancing, singing, and a high-energy atmosphere that will keep the entire family entertained. Here’s an idea of some of the shows you can catch on the Global Village main stage:
- Ballet Revolucion: A dynamic show that pits classical ballet dancers against street dance and hip hop. The show has a Latin-American flavour and you’ll be nothing but impressed by the athleticism, energy, and passion that the dancers bring to the stage!
- Bollywood Icon: This Bollywood show features not only mind-boggling dancing, but also tells a story that will keep your eyes glued to the stage.
- Enchanted Forest: An enthralling reboot of the classic fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood, featuring all sorts of frightening fairy tale creatures.
- Urban Crew: This Philippine dance crew will blow you away with their energy, tricks, and synchronicity. You’ll be lucky to see them at the Global Village because they are sure to become a worldwide sensation!
- Fiestaval: This show features 5 different festivals from all over the world. You’ll see elaborate costumes and vibrant song and dance that will transport you around the globe!
Some of the shows take place throughout the season and other shows happen only on certain dates within a season. It’s easy to find the schedule by doing a bit of online research. Check out this link: https://www.globalvillage.ae/entertainments/stage-shows/ to see the schedule for the 2019/20 season.
The great part about these shows is that they are free just like the fireworks show, and they happen every day of the week. So, if you miss out on the fireworks because you can’t make it to the Global Village on Thursday or Friday, you can still catch one of the main stage shows.
Why is the weekend on Friday and Saturday in Dubai?
Friday is considered a holy day and it is actually the only day of the week that many people have off work. A good frame of comparison for the significance of Fridays in Dubai is Sundays in the Western world – at least the part of the Western world where people practice Christianity.
Fun Fact: the weekend in Dubai used to be Thursday-Friday, but back in 2006 it was switched to Friday-Saturday.
How do I get to the Global Village in Dubai?
The Global Village has moved to a few different locations since it was first established 24 years ago. It currently resides a ways out of the city of Dubai along the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. In order to get to the Global Village, you will need to drive or take public transit – it is not really walking distance from anything in the vicinity.
Is it true that PDA is forbidden at the Global Village?
PDA (public displays of affection) is forbidden not just at the Global Village, but throughout Dubai and much of the rest of Saudi Arabia and other MENA countries as well. During your visit to the Global Village you should refrain from holding hands, hugging, or being overly touchy in any way.
You should also be sure to dress modestly. Both men and women should ensure that they are covered from shoulders to knees. Remember, it can get hot in Dubai, so you will want to make sure you are wearing something breathable and flowy!
Will the Global Village be busier on the weekend?
Although the weekend is the only time you can catch the fireworks show, you will want to prepare yourself for the weekend crowds. If you google the Global Village Dubai, google will display a little graph that shows you how busy the Global Village is each day of the week.
Surprisingly, at the time that this article was written, Thursday (a weekend night) was not too busy at all:
In contrast, Friday seems to be the busiest day of the week at the Global Village in Dubai:
At 9pm (the time the firework show starts), the Global Village is at nearly peak busy-ness. So, if you want to catch the fireworks, and still avoid the crowds, consider checking out the show on a Thursday evening instead of a Friday.
What are the Global Village 2019/2020 dates?
The Global Village is typically open between November and April of every year. For season number 24, the 2019/2020 season, the opening day was October 29th, 2019 and the closing day will be April 4th, 2020.
The Global Village in Dubai is only open during Dubai’s “winter months” as the heat is too extreme for it to stay open throughout the summer months.
Fun Fact: The highest temperature recorded in Dubai is upwards of 48 degrees Celsius or 119 degrees Fahrenheit!
