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GLOBAL VILLAGE DUBAI NOV – MARCH

Global Village a real winter activity in Dubai

UPDATE FEBRUARY 2021

So the pavilions for shopping and food are all OPEN, only the entertainment pavilions and live shows have stopped for now. STILL ONLY AED 15 TO ENTER, but a brand new feel to Global Village if you haven’t been for a while!  It’s in it’s 25th season already so Happy Silver Jubilee! 

What did we buy this time round? 

We loved the Turkish stall for melamine ceramics, dishes and bowls all very reasonably priced and so easy to carry too! 
Global Village DoinDubai Turkish Pavilion
The Indian pavilion is still good for shawl, but do keep bargaining and we like the food from Bundoo Khan’s Pakistani pavilion in Global Village. Try the lamb seekh kebab and naan! 
 
We went to the Moroccan stall also in search of pottery but didn’t find too much that we liked. I did buy this.. very reasonably priced and of course the tea glasses and pots are very pretty too. Good for serving little portions of dessert as well as tea!
Global Village DoinDubai Morocan pot

FROM BACK IN NOVEMBER 2015

Now it’s Dhs 15 to enter 32 pavilions and in it’s in 20th Season!  It’s opening to coincide with Flag Day too so that’s from TODAY 3rd of November till April 9th 2016. This post is based on a previous visit. No festival sales on in Global Village but go along for a different evening out while the weather is perfect for walking.

Experience a real Middle Eastern atmosphere with families enjoying a browse, shopping and eating at the various international stalls. It’s a big place so find out DoinDubai’s Top Tips for visiting Global Village before you go!

Global Village Walk

Top Tips when you visit Global Village Dubai  

Visit Yemen and pick up very reasonably priced rhodium based jewellery for yourself or as gifts. Sample all the various honeys on sale here, different ones for men and women’s health ! We also bought freshly ground cinnamon and a packet of spices for making biriyani rice.

Try Iran for perfect dry fruits such as apricots and miniature figs, also stock up on your favourite nuts from here, apparently the tiny bitter almonds and dried apple are brilliant for keeping cholesterol down. Sample some of the many types of seeds on sale here from melon to sunflower, all perfectly roasted and delicately salted. Do eat some of the shelled pomegranate famous in Iran as you walk around.

Pick up some pretty painted pottery at Tunisia and very reasonably priced coloured tea glasses from Morocco (use for tiny sprigs of Bougainvillea  for easy table arrangements if you prefer your tea in a builder’s mug) The funky teapots and tea glass sets here are identical but much cheaper than in a well-known department store in Dubai Mall.

Global Village Yemen Jewellery

We bought freshly made spicy soft cheese specially concocted and sealed in jars from Palestine, a great hit on savoury biscuits for evening drinks with visitors. You can sample an almost endless variety with flat bread twisted into tiny rolls before you buy.

Take a close look at the costume jewellery in Lebanon, this was the most fashionable and trendy jewellery on offer and at fairly good prices. Very handy if the little ladies are begging for multiple ear piercings, get earrings from here that reflect that look minus the extra holes.

Global Village Cheese balls

Walk through the India pavilion to get a feel for the variety of products on offer, it’s like a mini Meena Bazaar. I picked out some unusual black and beige semi pashmina shawls that are versatile enough to match a number of outfits.

Do not expect fresh apple strudel or anything like this in Austria despite the very authentic façade of the stall.  Do go to Global Village hungry, you can sample heaps of  extremely authentic food either in stalls, at the food court area (we opted for Indian here) or in more formal stand alone pop up restaurants dotted about the grounds. The Thai food is particularly good with stalls from restaurants owned and managed by Thais based in International City.

Global Village Shawls

Bargaining and Prices at Global Village

Apart from food do bargain hard for anything you purchase, especially if you’re buying more than one of something. We’re spoilt for spectacular fireworks in Dubai but the ones here are still special and happen on Friday and Saturdays at around 9pm.

Entry to Global Village is 15 dirhams for adults. They do have concessions for elderly and disabled people. Please note that it doesn’t open before 4pm in the afternoon but then it does stay open very late till around midnight or so.

Give the Malls a miss and tell me what bargains you picked up at Global Village, just off Mohammed bin Zayed road (previously Emirates road) past the entrance to Arabian Ranches. There is plenty of parking but it gets particularly busy at week ends. Dress sensibly for the cooler weather and the more local atmosphere.

There is also a funfair but DoinDubai doesn’t do funfairs any more ! As usual do Like and Share on Facebook and subscribe to DoinDubai to get prizes and discounts. 

Thanks Monica

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LOUVRE ABU DHABI What’s it like

UPDATE 14 FEB 2021

WANDERING WEDNESDAYS AT THE LOUVRE !  Every WEDNESDAY EVEING FROM 6.30 TO 9.00PM  you get free access to the dome.. 

you can see contemporary art works and explore a hidden roof terrace! There’s also a fascinating Sci Fi audio experience called We Are Not Alone that guides you to hidden parts of the museum and if you book ahead of time u can even go kayaking under the stars but that is charged at AED 120. The ART LOUNGE is also open where there’s a 2 for 1 beverage deal and an offer on a French Cheese Platter! 

The Louvre Abu Dhabi officially opened its doors on the 11th of November 2017 on Sadiyaat Island in the emirate of Abu Dhabi – the capital of the United  Arab Emirates. What can you expect to see at the Louvre Abu Dhabi? Image ofLouvre Abu Dhabi DoinDubai roof outside

Background to the Louvre Abu Dhabi

The name The Louvre has actually been rented out by Abu Dhabi for a period of 30 years from the Louvre in Paris.

Is the Louvre Abu Dhabi a museum or a gallery?

I think it’s both. It calls itself a Gallery Museum. The building itself is one those iconic structures that people will definitely make time to see. Architecturally stunning in scale and detail, the roof of the Louvre is probably its most distinctive feature. Inage ofLouvre Abu Dhabi Roof above water Its dome like structure seems to be made of an intricate criss cross lattice that lets in different amounts of light during the day. There also seem to be some electric lights within the roof that light up during the evening and night. This almost gives the effect of stars twinkling within the roof at night. Louvre Abu Dhabi DoinDubai roof I particularly like how waterways have been incorporated within the building so at some level it really does seem like the whole building has been built on a promontory that’s jutting out over the water. Louvre Abu Dhbai View DoinDubai

The exhibits at the Louvre Abu Dhabi

The Louvre Abu Dhabi aims to depict the evolution of mankind through art. Expect to see sculpture, artifacts, paintings and contemporary art displayed not by country or museum of origin but by theme. Themes seem to be designed to trace the gradual evolution of humanity, so the museum welcome leaflet actually says “Get ready to see humanity in a new light” Image ofLouvre Abu Dhbai DoinDubai Egyptian head You’ll see art connected to ancient fertility, early tools, man’s mastery of animals, music  and man’s connection to the spiritual world. So themes that connect us as humans. Image ofLouvre Abu Dhbai DoinDubai Philosophical thinking is also explored via art. Can you name these philosophers and their countries of origin? Image ofLouvre Abu Dhbai DoinDubai Philospher The art is drawn from the major civilizations of the world and incudes works from Egypt, India, China and Europe. Image ofLouvre Abu Dhbai DoinDubai map Exhibits are clearly marked in terms of name, age and where they have been loaned from originally. Some items are from the Louvre in Paris, but also from museums all over the world. Image ofLouvre Abu Dhbai DoinDubai Dancing Natraj I recognized the tall thin Giacometti figures from Tate Modern that we saw this summer in London for example and there is art from the Musee D’Orsay in Paris. Image ofLouvre Abu Dhbai DoinDubai Giacometti figure There is a section of modern paintings by well known painters that will be familiar to many. So expect to see a large Whistler painting, a Mark Rothko block painting – it’s not in the usual colours of saffron and reds, but brown. There is a also a Matisse, a Derain, a Cezanne and a Monet and a Manet, all representing some of the key impressionist painters. Image ofLouvre Abu Dhbai DoinDubai Derain painting There are also some very contemporary installations that include a series of traditional blackened cooking pots mounted on a wall. These are from Saudi Arabia. Image ofLouvre Abu Dhbai DoinDubai Cooking Pots from Saudi

Guided Tours and Opening Times

The museum is open every day except Monday from 10 am till 8pm. On Thursday and Friday it’s open from 10 am till 10pm! There are also guided tours featuring:
  • Masterpieces that introduces the museum’s most popular works
  • Architecture that explores how local traditions influence the building
  • And a Family Tour of the museum’s collection entitled My First Visit to Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Image ofLouvre Abu Dhbai DoinDubai African painting Adult entry tickets are AED 60 but the tours cost extra and last between 60 to 90 minutes. There are 2 places to eat, a café and a restaurant but we didn’t visit either of these as we had lunch before we came at the very good 99 Sushi restaurant at the Four Seasons in Al Maryah Island. That’s an easy 15 minute drive away if there is no traffic. See below.

Is the Louvre Abu Dhabi worth a visit?

Yes absolutely, for the building and it’s contents. It’s an important and iconic gallery museum. Go while the weather is good. You may want to combine your trip to see the Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabai too. Or plan a longer trip to take in Qasr Al Sarab or Sir Baniyas Island. Both of these would be overnight trips even from Abu Dhbai itself. Closer to Dubai you could try the Eastern Mangroves hotel and spa, unusually green and the kayaking is great fun! Image ofLouvre Abu Dhbai DoinDubai black and white

Note that from the 21 December – 7 April, you could

Travel back in time to seventeenth and eighteenth-century France and discover the art, ideas, people and politics behind the creation of the great Musée du Louvre in Louvre Abu Dhabi’s first exhibition. It’s just also acquired Salvatore Mundi as of December 2017.

To eat in Abu Dhabi

You may want to combine your trip with a lunch at the very good  99 Sushi restaurant in the Four Seasons hotel in Al Maryah Island, about a 15  minute drive away. Louvre Abu Dhbai 99 Sushi DoinDubai Image ofLouvre Abu Dhbai DoinDubai 99 Sushi Soft shell crab maki We had lunch there and we also had dinner at the very lively Peruvian restaurant Toro Toro that is located in Jumeirah Al Itihad Towers, but allow at least 25 minutes to get there from the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Louvre Abu Dhbai Toro Toro DoinDubai Thank you Monica. Image ofLouvre Abu Dhbai DoinDubai Monica Kapila

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AL SERKAI AVENUE DUBAI

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai is a cool hub for arts, media and and cultural activity. It’s an all pedestrian zone that encompasses an art house cinema, cafes, art galleries, a theatre and even an artisanal chocolate factory! Read on to find out exactly where Al Serkal Avenue Dubai is located and what to expect when you get there..

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai DoinDubai cinema goers

What is Al Serkal Avenue Dubai

There are no high rise buildings or shiny shopping malls anywhere in Al Serkal Avenue Dubai. Think of a largely pedestrian zone with smaller independent units that you can pop in and out of very easily. There are some art galleries and a comprehensive rug and furniture showroom that are housed in mini warehouse type shops.

There is also an art house cinema called Cinema Akil that has the quirky Chaiwalla Cafe attached to it with some outdoor seating available in cooler weather.  So for Dubai that’s roughly November to April.

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai DoinDubai Project Chaiwala

Try some of their varieties of masala tea and samosas! There is a focus on international films at Cinema Akil that you wouldn’t find in main stream Dubai cinemas.

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai DoinDubai Cinema Akil

If you prefer live theatre then almost right next door is a small theatre that was showing an adaptation of Macbeth in November 2108. The Junction is at the moment the only independent performing arts venue in the UAE.

Don’t leave Al Serkal without checking out the Mirzam chocolate factory with it’s glass fronted workshop. Beautifully packaged, locally produced chocolate bars that often incorporate local flavours. Sample before you buy though!

And note around AED 46 per bar.

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai DoinDubai Mirzoram Chocolate

If you have a bit longer to spend here then paint your feelings or anything else at The Jamjar an art space where you can chill, drink coffee and paint all at once, and eat cookies!

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai Jamjar painting

Where exactly is Al Serkal Avenue Dubai

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai is located in the Al Quoz area which is generally known for it’s industry focus with large warehouses and factory units.

You can park right outside Al Serkal avenue and then it’s very easy to walk around, especially in the cooler months.

Here’s a Google Map telling you exactly where Al Serkal avenue is located.

Food and Drink at Al Serkal Avenue Dubai

Food and drink is abundant everywhere you go in Dubai but often there are chain fast food restaurants that really don’t appeal to  many of us.

So luckily Al Serkal has a good range of independent cafes you can explore. Organic, fresh ingredients and cool vibes are on offer at most of the places.

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai DoinDubai Wild and Moon Cabbage Rolls

There is a branch of Wild & the Moon cafe if you want to be super healthy. Great for turmeric shots and cabbage rolls.

Al Serkal Avenue DoinDubai WIld and Moon

You could get down to earth on a floor seat at the newly opened Nadi Al Quoz that also has a swing bed and hammocks. Very relaxing, but stick to the tables to balance your coffees on!

al Serkal Avenue Dubai DoinDubai Balance Cafe

Or go to our favourite place at the moment in Al Serkal avenue Dubai, the Nightjar Cafe and Coffee roastery. Try something from the brunch menu.. we loved our beetroot salmon and 63 degree egg.

But you must also leave room for the lemon polenta cake with a cup of fresh coffee.

Al Serkal Avenue Dubai DoinDubai Nightjar Coffee Roastery

Top Café pick at Al Serkal Avenue Dubai

At the moment it’s definitely the Nightjar Cafe and Coffee Roastery

Other cool facts about Al Serkal Avenue Dubai

There are some very contemporary art galleries that are always showcasing new and up coming designers and artists.

Do also check out the Rug Company for it’s beautiful collection of rugs and homewares.

We were invited to a Netflix event at a very modern and innovative venue called Ink, also in Al Serkal avenue Dubai.

There is a handful of arts and media companies that have opened in the area including a new film consultancy firm called Near East.

Is Al Serkal Avenue Dubai worth going to

Yes for sure, especially in cooler weather…here’s why

  • Pedestrianized
  • No malls
  • No high rise buildings
  • Independent cafes
  • Art house cinema & theatre
  • Cool, hipster type vibe
  • Easy Parking
  • Community Events 

Do you know any similar places worth going to in Dubai?

Thank you

Monica.

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AL SEEF DUBAI What’s it really like

What is Al Seef Dubai

Al Seef Dubai is a very new, modern Creekside development in Dubai opened by Meraas. Meraas is an established developer that recently brought us La Mer in Jumeirah 1 and before that Box Park. The new Al Seef area has a distinct heritage feel about it as the buildings, set all along Dubai Creek, opposite Deira side, have been designed with very traditional facades. But there is a real modern feel to this place too.

Image ofAl Seef Dubai DoinDubai architecture

It reminded me very much of an Al Bastakiya type area, but with much more to do and see. It’s also more spacious and easy to walk around.

Where is Al Seef Dubai located

Al Seef is set along side Dubai Creek and you need to head towards the Bur Dubai side of town, then follow the brown signs towards Al Seef. There is underground parking available. Then walk along the creek and stop where you feel like. So you’re very much in the older heart of Dubai. Here is the exact location via a Google Map.

What is open at Al Seef Dubai

When we visited there in November 2017 there were a few restaurants and cafés open. I recommend you walk as far as you can along the boardwalk first and then almost walk backwards to where you’d like to stop and eat and drink.

Image Al Seef Dubai DoinDubai evening restaurant

Food and Drink at Al Seef Dubai

The last place along Al Seef that we thought was open and we couldn’t really walk beyond, was the well-known Bikanerwalla cafe. That’s a South Indian chain famous for it’s dosas and other Indian vegetarian street food. The setting was the best of all the Bikanerwala restaurants I’ve been to in Dubai. Expect old, wind tower type architecture with places to sit both inside and out on the terrace, not far from the Creek.

Image ofAl Seef Dubai DoinDubai Bikanerwala

There are more modern places all the way along the development. We really liked Kona Grill, almost at the beginning of the development. This would be a nice place to visit in the evening as it’s licensed to serve alcohol on the roof terrace! They have also have festive menu for the season which I think is really good value. We’ve put pdf’s of their Christmas and New Year’s Eve menus here:

Kona Grill Menu for Christmas

KG NYE Menu 2017

Image ofAl Seef Dubai DoinDubai Kona Grill squid

The food is good, pan Asian style cuisine. I recommend the crispy squid and any of the sushi combinations. There is good bar tender who makes a mean cocktail too. Kona Grill is part of well known American chain and this is their first outlet in the UAE.

Image ofAl Seef Dubai DoinDubai Kona Grill sushi

The roof terrace is a great place to sit as it perfectly combines the new Dubai with the old. There are charming views of the older, wooden abras sailing along, lit up with fairy lights in contrast to the larger yachts moored in the harbour.Image ofAl Seef Dubai DoinDubai boat view

The backdrop to this marine activity are the two tall Rolex towers opposite, which really are established Dubai landmarks that were around well before the Burj Khalifa or the Burj Al Arab.

Image ofAl Seef Dubai DoinDubai Rolex Towers

If you feel like a breakfast early one morning, then try ILA a little further down from Kona Grill. It’s a large Middle Eastern style restaurant/café that serves traditional breakfasts, lunch and dinner.

Image ofAl Seef Dubai DoinDubai ILA coffee

We recommend the coffee, fresh orange juice and the spinach manakeesh here. Again you can sit inside or outside, right by the creek. Then take a walk to the end of Al Seef to walk off your meal.

Image ofAl Seef Dubai DoinDubai Spinach manakeesh ILA

More restaurants are due to open soon.

We combined our day trip to Al Seef with an outing to the old souk area of Dubai where we bought some Christmas gifts at bargain prices. Think colourful painted pottery, Afghan pashmina type shawls and trinkets.

Image ofAl Seef Dubai DoinDubai Pottery bowls

Day or Night in Al Seef Dubai 

Al Seef has a quite a different feel in the day to the night, and while it’s pleasant at both times, I loved walking around in the early evening. Then as it get’s dark, all the rows of lights come on and the atmosphere is very pleasant.

Image ofAl Seef Dubai DoinDubai entrance

If you go early on a Friday evening, you’ll see a real microcosm of Dubai’s population here. Well Done Meraas for getting us all together along a major Dubai landmark, the Creek. But also well done for very cleverly combining the old with the new almost seamlessly.

Image ofAl Seef Dubai DoinDubai Al Seef urbanism

Just a point though, while some of the cafes are reasonably priced, the cart vendors selling coconuts and hot dogs were overpriced in our view, but otherwise a great outing in Dubai. And a great new place to take visitors.

Update June 2019

For activities happening at Al Seef like EID FIREWORKS check this link. 

Eidiya Time at Al Seef 2019 

Entertainment, fireworks and fun on Eid night… which we think is Tuesday June 4th 2019. 

Has this article inspired you to go visit Al Seef? Let me know.

Thank you Monica.