If you’ve been living in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, you’ve probably noticed that entertainment options haven’t always matched the variety found in Riyadh or Jeddah. That’s changing in a big way. Global City Dammam opened its doors on December 29, 2025, and it’s quickly becoming the region’s most talked-about destination.
Think of it as the Eastern Province’s answer to Dubai’s Global Village or Riyadh’s Boulevard World—a seasonal cultural park where you can experience 16 different countries, sample cuisine from over 20 nations, and enjoy world-class entertainment without leaving Dammam. Whether you’re an expat missing home flavors, a parent looking for family-friendly activities, or simply someone seeking something different from the usual mall experience, Global City offers a refreshing alternative.
Running until May 30, 2026, this SAR 650 million project spans an impressive 650,000 square meters along Saihat Lake on Dammam Island. Here’s everything you need to know about what makes it worth your time.
A Cultural Journey Through 16 Countries
The heart of Global City lies in its international pavilions. Each of the 16 participating nations—from the Gulf, Asia, Europe, and Africa—has created a dedicated space showcasing its culture, traditions, and products. Unlike walking through a typical exhibition, these pavilions feel alive with energy.
In Chinatown, you’ll find authentic Chinese architecture, traditional lanterns, and restaurants serving regional dishes you won’t find in most Chinese chains. Indian Gully immerses you in the colors and aromas of the subcontinent, with everything from intricate textiles to street food vendors grilling fresh paneer tikka. The Turkish pavilion displays handmade copper lamps and offers traditional coffee prepared over hot coals.
What sets these pavilions apart is their interactive nature. Many feature live cultural performances—Japanese Taiko drumming, Jordanian Dabke dancing, Bollywood-style shows—scheduled throughout the evening. For expats living far from home, stepping into your country’s pavilion (or exploring others) creates genuine cultural connections that shopping malls simply can’t replicate.
The “House of the World” exhibition deserves special mention. It provides a platform for countries that don’t have their own pavilions, ensuring the experience stays truly global. This means even if your home country isn’t among the main 16, there’s still a chance to find familiar items or discover something new.
Food That Takes You Around the World
Let’s be honest: one of the biggest draws of Global City is the food. With 11 full-service restaurants and countless street food stalls serving dishes from over 20 countries, this is where the destination truly shines for expats.
Food Street serves as the main culinary hub. On any given evening, you can grab Korean fried chicken, move on to Moroccan tagine, try some Indian biryani, and finish with Turkish baklava—all within a leisurely stroll. The variety means families with different tastes won’t struggle to find common ground, and solo diners can easily sample multiple cuisines in one visit.
The floating Thai-inspired food market adds a unique element. Designed to mimic Thailand’s canal markets, vendors serve dishes from boats and waterside stalls. It’s atmospheric in the evening, with the lake reflecting lights as you enjoy pad thai or fresh spring rolls.
Each country pavilion also houses its own dining options, offering more specialized regional dishes. If you’re craving authentic Lebanese mezze, Chinese dumplings, or Malaysian satay, the pavilions deliver restaurant-quality meals in culturally immersive settings. The floating restaurant on the artificial lake provides a more upscale dining experience with waterfront views—perfect for date nights or special occasions.
For quick bites, street food stalls dot the entire venue. Falafel wraps, Japanese takoyaki, grilled seafood, and fresh fruit juices keep you fueled as you explore. Multiple cafés serve everything from Arabic qahwa to Japanese matcha, giving you places to rest and people-watch between attractions.
Entertainment Beyond Shopping Malls
This is where Global City clearly differentiates itself from traditional retail centers. The 15,000-square-meter amusement park includes rides for all ages: a towering Ferris wheel offering panoramic views of Saihat Lake, a spinning pendulum ride for thrill-seekers, bumper cars, mini coasters suitable for younger children, and classic arcade games.
The open-air theatre stands out as a major feature. With seating for 7,000 people (expandable to 10,000 for major events), it hosts everything from international concerts to theatrical productions and cultural performances. Over 100 shows are expected throughout the season, meaning there’s almost always something scheduled during your visit.
Two attractions specifically designed for evening visits deserve attention. The Lantern Light Festival transforms the venue after dark with elaborate light displays shaped into dragons, camels, towers, and cultural symbols from around the world. The Dream Sphere offers something entirely different—an immersive AI-driven art experience with interactive digital projections spread across six themed zones where visuals respond to your movements.
For families, the petting zoo gives younger children hands-on animal interactions, while the ice-skating plaza provides a rare winter activity on the Gulf coast. The Garden of Lights offers a quieter alternative for those wanting peaceful illuminated walking paths away from the carnival atmosphere.
What makes the entertainment work is the outdoor setting. During the pleasant November-to-May season, the evening temperatures create a festival-like atmosphere that feels distinctly different from air-conditioned indoor entertainment venues.
Shopping With a Story
Shopping at Global City follows a different model than what you’d find at Marina Mall or Al Shatea Mall. Instead of international retail chains, the focus is on artisanal crafts and culturally-specific products.
Global Market Street blends souk-style energy with international variety. You’ll encounter Moroccan leather bags, Korean skincare products, Indian silver jewelry, Japanese stationery, handwoven textiles, and Egyptian artifacts. What elevates the experience is watching artisans work—weavers creating patterns, painters decorating ceramics, woodcarvers crafting intricate designs. The products come with context and stories, making them more meaningful souvenirs than mass-produced items.
The floating market, inspired by Thailand’s canal markets, specializes in handmade soaps, tropical treats, woven baskets, and wellness products. The laid-back waterside atmosphere makes browsing feel less like shopping and more like exploring.
Each pavilion functions as its own boutique, offering country-specific items like Indian sarees, embroidered kaftans, traditional tea sets, and heritage crafts. For expats missing specific items from home—whether it’s particular spices, textiles, or decorative pieces—the pavilions might stock exactly what you’ve been searching for.
Practical Information for Your Visit
Global City operates from 4 PM to 1 AM on weekdays (Sunday through Thursday) and extends until 2 AM on weekends (Friday and Saturday). This evening-focused schedule takes advantage of cooler temperatures after sunset and creates the festival atmosphere that makes the venue special.
Tickets are remarkably affordable. Individual entry starts at SAR 23 (approximately $6 USD), while a family package covering five people costs SAR 100 (approximately $27 USD). You can purchase tickets through webook.com or the official globalcitydammam.com website. Weekend visits tend to be busier, so advance booking is recommended.
The location on Dammam Island places it conveniently for Eastern Province residents. If you’re in Al-Khobar, Dhahran, or Qatif, the drive is straightforward. Expats in Bahrain face roughly an hour’s drive via the King Fahd Causeway, making it feasible for a day trip. King Fahd International Airport sits about 31 kilometers away.
Plan for significant walking. The venue is massive, and you’ll cover considerable ground moving between pavilions, food areas, and entertainment zones. Comfortable shoes aren’t optional—they’re essential. Evening temperatures during the winter season can drop notably, so bringing a light jacket or layers makes sense.
Standard Saudi prayer time closures apply, with facilities closing for approximately 25-30 minutes during prayer times. This is worth keeping in mind when planning your visit timeline.
For a thorough experience, budget at least 3-4 hours. If you want to see multiple pavilions, catch a show, try various restaurants, and explore the entertainment options, you could easily spend an entire evening there.
Why This Matters for Eastern Province Expats
Living in the Eastern Province has always meant accepting fewer entertainment options compared to the Kingdom’s larger cities. Global City changes that equation significantly. For the first time, the region has a destination that rivals what Riyadh and Jeddah offer during their seasonal festivals.
The multicultural format holds particular appeal for expats. If you’re Indian, Thai, Turkish, Chinese, or from any of the represented nations, visiting your country’s pavilion provides a genuine connection to home culture. The ability to find authentic cuisine—real biryani, proper Korean barbecue, Turkish coffee made traditionally—in a celebratory setting rather than a standard restaurant makes the experience feel special.
For expat families, the combination of cultural education and entertainment creates outings that work for all ages. Children can ride carnival attractions while learning about different cultures. Parents can enjoy quality dining and live performances. The outdoor format during pleasant weather provides a welcome change from indoor air-conditioned environments where expat families often spend their leisure time.
The affordable pricing makes repeat visits practical. At SAR 23 per person, you can reasonably visit multiple times throughout the season, trying different pavilions, restaurants, and shows without breaking your entertainment budget.
Looking Ahead: Future Phases
The current attractions represent only the first phase of a larger vision. Phase 2 plans include a full water park featuring slides, wave pools, and lazy rivers—a major addition for the region’s hot climate. Additional pavilions, expanded festival areas, and more restaurants will increase the venue’s capacity and variety.
Phase 3 envisions a Global Arena designed for exhibitions and major events, along with a modern residential neighborhood. This suggests the destination might eventually operate year-round rather than seasonally, potentially becoming a permanent fixture in the Eastern Province’s entertainment landscape.
At full development, Global City expects to accommodate 25,000 daily visitors, which would cement its position as one of the region’s major attractions.
Final Thoughts
Global City Dammam delivers something the Eastern Province has needed: a world-class entertainment destination that offers genuine variety, cultural depth, and family-friendly experiences at accessible prices. It’s not trying to be a shopping mall or a theme park—it’s something in between, with cultural immersion as its core strength.
For expats living in Saudi Arabia, particularly those in the Eastern Province who’ve felt the entertainment gap compared to other regions, Global City represents a meaningful addition to your options. Whether you’re looking to reconnect with home culture, explore new ones, enjoy quality international dining, or simply have a fun evening out with family or friends, the venue delivers.
The season runs until May 30, 2026, giving you plenty of opportunities to visit. Given how quickly venues like this become routine parts of expat life, catching it during its inaugural season adds a certain excitement. The combination of 16 international pavilions, over 20 cuisines, live entertainment, and unique attractions like the floating market and Dream Sphere creates an experience you won’t find replicated anywhere else in the Eastern Province.
At SAR 23 for entry, the question isn’t whether it’s worth visiting—it’s when you’ll make time to go.