Celebrate UAE National Day at Global Village: A Global Cultural and Business Hub

Recently, the UAE national day was renamed Union Day. This slight change in name is to remind us of the history of the unification of the seven different states into one country.

The journey to unity involved economic highs and lows of different business industries. Before the 1930s, the Gulf coastal region used to be heavily reliant on the pearl diving industry which perished when Japanese cultured pearls were farmed.

During this time the region had to endure severe hardship due to taxation imposed on imported pearls by the Indian government amidst the already declining trade. 

Further, since before the unification, the Trucial States were governed by a British entity that prevented them from forming a coalition with a foreign oil company. The oil discovery was delayed and the economic turmoil of poverty kept gnawing at the States for decades.

Eventually, in 1952 the Trucial State rulers formed a local council to handle the British development office operations which enabled the decision of oil rigging to be finalised.  By 1962, the discovery and export of oil from Abu Dhabi commenced.

The discovery of oil introduced a new industry and created economic activity for the Trucial States dwellers. This then later enabled the independence and unification of the seven states which formed the UAE in 1972.

Although it is the emergence of the oil industry that brought on economic recovery to let go of this industry is what has propelled the nation further. The UAE has learned from its past mistakes and abandoned the idea of over-dependence on one industry like the pearl industry.

In fact, Dubai was the first city in the Arabian Gulf to lead this change and take on economic diversification. The UAE has now dawned on the approach of embracing every business sector. It has become one of the first countries to have laws specific to cryptocurrency.

An example of this approach is the Global Village in Dubai, an exhibition that hosts businesses from more than 75 countries over the course of six months. Since 1996, it has been part of the Dubai Shopping Festival which started as a means to increase retail trade. But not only has it fulfilled its intent but also exceeded by becoming a tourist attraction, especially for business tourism.

Every year, new business ventures join Global Village for the 29th season three new country pavilions have been added, including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The exhibition boasts 3,500 shopping outlets and over 250 dining options. The process of joining the Global Village exhibition is simple which has resulted in its success.

You can register your interest in leasing a space on the website directly, and submit your personal, business, and product details in accordance with your business license. You can avail a temporary trade license depending on the business activity.

The trade permits and licenses are issued by Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET) and other relevant authorities for international and local business participants. For certain businesses, a license may not be required such as for trolleys or kiosks.

This option is cost-effective for new start-up entrepreneurs looking to test their products on the diverse customer base of Global Village. Other than the exhibition having a fireworks and drone show, it is also hosting cultural shows to celebrate Union Day including displays of traditions of the Emirati culture and cuisine. 

Moreover, traditional handicraft businesses are allocated a specific pavilion called The Heritage Village. As the Global Village fireworks light up the sky and your business drums in sales, remember to celebrate the economic shift of diversification the UAE brought on when the seven emirates united!