Tourism & Hospitality | Monday 15 February, 2016 7:25 am |

For newlyweds looking to set up the perfect home, there is no better place to shop for a range of home furnishings – from Persian rugs, to antique chairs and tables, and storage goods.

Faced with the daunting task of setting up a new home? Global Village is the one-stop shop for people who have newly acquired a house and are unsure of how to decorate it. With 32 pavilions representing more than 75 countries with different cultures, the opportunity for good bargains on authentic products is excellent. 

Moreover, Global Village offers the unique proposition of having everything under one roof – so visitors, armed with their shopping lists, can very easily find what they are looking for over a period of one or two days.

Salma Obaid, a Saudi national who visits Global Village every season says she uses her annual visit to Dubai to refurbish her house. “I enjoy coming to Global Village every year because it has some of the best items from as far as Tunisia and Morocco all under one roof. I am a big fan of pottery and ceramics from the Middle East and the best part is that I do not even need to visit these countries to be able to buy their products.” 

“I think Global Village is an especially great place for newly married people who are looking for good bargains on high quality items. I would definitely recommend it to people. My favourite pavilions this season are Africa, Morocco, Turkey and Japan.”

Here is Global Village’s list of top 6 pavilions to visit if you would like to set up an elegant and tastefully decorated home:

Africa

The haunt of all things quirky and outlandish, the Africa pavilion boasts of an array of elegantly crafted low chairs and traditional Kenyan hand crafted tea tables. For wall decoration that stands out, look out for giant masks hand crafted by traditional Kenyan craftsmen from anywhere upwards of AED 300. For shopping baskets that will last a lifetime – try the Madagascan raffia bags which come in vibrant colours and cost just AED 70. In addition, the Africa pavilion is filled with quirky hand made and hand painted knick knacks – from candle stands, ash trays, paper weights, lamp holders, umbrella stands, walking sticks, fruit baskets and table coasters – from across Kenya, Senegal, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Morocco

If you want to capture a hint of the Middle East in your home, head to the Morocco pavilion for a complete range of crockery and cutlery. Traditional Moroccan ceramics are highly prized for their craftsmanship and unique designs in beautiful colours and are shipped from Casablanca and Fez. Shop for traditional tagines – which are perfect to serve Arabic delicacies - bowls, cups, plates and water jugs. Depending on the size, ceramics can cost anywhere from AED 60 to AED 300. Most items cannot be used while baking, but do check with the very friendly shop owners who are always willing to help and give you interesting insights about what you are buying and how it can be used.

China

For bed linen, curtains and table cloths – there is no better place than the China pavilion. You are likely to find very contemporary designs to suit a varied budget, with a variety of options for children’s bed linen as well. In addition, a visit to the China pavilion is incomplete without buying tea. Stock up on authentic teas – Oolong, Green Tea, Jasmine tea while you shop for other furnishings for your home. 

Iraq

The Iraq pavilion is the best place to find high quality contemporary art and if you are looking to set up a home that shows off your artistic side, this would be the place to head to. The paintings – acrylic on canvas capture some very unique attributes of everyday life. The bold colours and brushstrokes give the paintings an almost ethereal quality and are best suited for large living or dining rooms. The paintings can cost anywhere from AED300 onwards. But the quality of the pictures and the craftsmanship makes it very suited for a couple who enjoy taste in art.

Syria 

The Syria pavilion at Global Village this season is bursting with the assortment of exhibits and the diversity of authentic furniture and decor items. The unique pieces of wooden furniture inlaid with mother of pearl (Arabesque) represent one of the most iconic Syrian crafts and is famous for its quality that will last for hundreds of years and their exquisite craftsmanship. 

Pieces of furniture and decorative items that reflect the Syrian culture, such as copper pitchers and cast iron tables, hand-embroidered cushions, famous Syrian backgammon, tablecloths and napkins; as well as traditional Syrian cutlery are the perfect addition to spice up any home and add a distinctive sense of style. 

 Afghanistan

Afghani carpets are some of the most prized in the world and they can be easily found at the Afghanistan Pavilion at Global Village. Rugs that can run as long as 1.5 meters have been painstakingly hand sewn by artisans and are perfect to adorn the floors of large hallways and living rooms. Carpets cost around AED 2000 – given the distance they have travelled and the workmanship, make a very attractive buy.

Also from the Afghani culture a display of copper pieces of different sizes that are dedicated to serving tea are found at an average price of AED 200 for the smallest, while the largest can be found at the price of AED 2000 which can be a delightful piece of decor for homes.

The Afghanistan Pavilion at Global Village also boasts beautiful music instruments such as the “Rabab”, a stunning piece made of brass that looks very much like a modern guitar and that is priced at no more than 400 dirhams. As well as the authentic "cola" which is a hat made of fabric coated with a layer of copper, and although it is not practical to be worn in public places it represents an exceptional piece of decor on the walls.