<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/things-to-do/2022/10/25/first-look-global-village-dubai-is-back-with-new-haunted-house-balloon-ride-and-more/">Global Village</a> has been named the most popular attraction in the UAE. In a new survey that looks at leisure and entertainment trends in the Gulf, the open-air family attraction was voted number one by 39 per cent of those polled. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/things-to-do/2023/02/14/inside-immersive-gamebox-a-new-interactive-gaming-concept-in-the-uae/" target="_blank">Entertainment centre Magic Planet</a>, which has several locations across the UAE, is the second-most popular attraction, at 18 per cent, while <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/wellbeing/get-a-close-encounter-with-the-sharks-at-dubai-aquarium-and-underwater-zoo-1.222268" target="_blank">Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo</a> in the Dubai Mall rounds off the top three, at 17 per cent. Global Village, which shuts down for summer each year, recently announced <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/things-to-do/2023/06/08/global-village-is-so-popular-its-coming-back-earlier-this-year/" target="_blank">it would return a week earlier</a> "due to overwhelming public demand". Representatives said the attraction welcomed nine million visitors during its most recent stint, from October 25, 2022 to April 30. Season 28 is scheduled to run from October 18 to April 28. 1. Global Village, Dubai 2. Magic Planet, Dubai 3. Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo 4. Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi 5. Dubai Parks & Resorts <i>- Source: YouGov</i> Global Village also tops a list of attractions residents intend to visit or revisit in the next 12 months – with 31 per cent of respondents saying they would return. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/art-design/2023/02/22/dubais-museum-of-the-future-attracts-one-million-visitors-in-first-year/" target="_blank">Museum of the Future in Dubai </a>comes a close second, at 25 per cent. Meanwhile, four attractions share third place, at 17 per cent: <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/things-to-do/2023/01/12/mission-ferrari-review-ferrari-world/" target="_blank">Ferrari World Abu Dhabi</a>, <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/family/the-hidden-ways-yas-waterworld-pays-tribute-to-emirati-culture-and-history-1.1247486" target="_blank">Yas Waterworld</a> in Abu Dhabi, Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo and <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/travel/news/2022/10/05/dubais-atlantis-aquaventure-sets-new-guinness-world-record-with-50-water-slides/" target="_blank">Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark</a> in Dubai. The study, by British market research company YouGov, was conducted last month among 1,003 online respondents, who are residents of the UAE. The survey also asked whether or not residents intended to stay in the UAE during the summer months, from June to September, and an overwhelming majority, at 70 per cent, said they would. Of those planning to stay, 42 per cent of respondents plan to spend their free time in parks and gardens, 39 per cent say they'd go to shopping malls and 38 per cent said they'd visit restaurants and cafes.
