Systems and methods are disclosed to implement, in a database system, global table management operations for global tables or objects that are replicated across multiple locations. In embodiments, for a regional replica of a global table, a requested change to a metadata property of the replica (e.g., an attribute data type, a write throughput limit, or a time-to-live setting) is propagated to other replicas of the global table at other locations. In embodiments, before performing the requested management operation, the database system may first verify that the operation can be successfully performed in all locations. In embodiments, the operation may be performed optimistically without verification, and rolled back if it cannot be performed everywhere. In embodiments, to serialize management operations on a global table, the database system may check for other pending management operations via a shared control object, and proceed when any pending operations are finished.