Guide to the Global Village ~ The Yemen Pavilion!
This year Dubai’s Global Village represents 26 countries and two continents. For sure, I have my favorites. One of them is Yemen.
If you’re new to the Global Village, it’s a huge fair-like shopping and cultural event that runs during the winter months and is located in Dubai Land. To know more, see my post Dubai’s Global Village ~ Where the World Comes Together.
Back to Yemen. When I’m in the Yemen pavilion, for those 30 minutes or so, I almost feel like I’m in Yemen. I’m surrounded by all things Yemeni. Each stall is manned by charming and chatty Yemeni men in their traditional dress—including daggers–selling their Yemeni goods.
I even get to practice my limited Arabic here because the vendors’ English is even more limited than my Arabic. I bought walnuts from these guys, who showed me photographs of their children back in Yemen. 
The pavilion is also a great place to buy spices. 
Of course, the prime attraction is the Yemeni honey. I buy it every year—pricey but tasty. If you are grey-haired and male, you will be offered “honey viagra.” … Don’t ask. 
The Yemen pavilion is the place to shop for silver Arabic jewelry, antique jewelry, stones, prayer beads and trinkets of all sorts and prices.
I bought a mother-of-pearl pendant from these two vendors. 
To sum up: Yemen is the place to buy honey, nuts, spices, jewelry, and silver trinkets. Oh yes! And daggers.
Please check out my posts on the Iraq Pavilion and The Turkey Pavilion.
What is your favorite pavilion?
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Thanks for sharing this with us! I have been to Dubai before and never heard of this. I am American and my husband is from Saudi so we get back to Saudi every year to year and a half. We usually take a week from our visit and go different places…I think we will go back next winter to see this! How fun! Cant wait to see the other future posts. By the way…I have The Butterfly Mosque being held at the library….cant wait to ready it!
@Mandi Thanks for stopping by. I think the Global Village is worth a visit. When my family visits from Seattle, they like to coordinate their trip with the GV. It’s easier now because it goes for four months, rather than one month like before…. I hope you enjoy the book The Butterfly Mosque. Thanks again for the comment. Happy New Year!
“Coming soon: Iraq, Egypt, Africa, Palestine, Jordan, Morocco, and Turkey.”
Are you one of the very intelligent people who think that Africa is a country?. And Morocco is in Africa FYI.
Holly!! Love this article. Can’t wait to hear about the others!
@Maroquiya Thanks for the geography tip, darling. Please note my first line: “This year Dubai’s Global Village represents 26 countries and two continents.” Yes, I realize Morocco is in Africa. I have been there, and Egypt, too. Thank you for stopping by. 🙂
Yemen was my favourite pavilion too ! The kids enjoyed the honey, I’m waiting for the hubby to get home early one evening, need to go back for more honey and the paintings at the Iraq pavilion . Also, I remember thinking the Syria pavilion had some lovely carpets (we were out of time I think ), would make for fab gifts .
Happy New Year !
Thanks for stopping by, Sudha. Yes, I agree. Too many things to buy and never enough time. I hope to join you again. Happy New Year!