United Arab Emirates Global Immersion Experience
The United Arab Emirates international experience is designed to provide participants with a rich understanding of comparative business practices and culture in the UAE. Students gain firsthand knowledge about the transformation of the UAE to a growing economic hub that is an important player in regional and international affairs.
The modernization of Abu Dhabi and Dubai are stunning to see. Dubai is one of the most dynamic business environments in the world and it has become a major financial center, a premier trading center of the Arabian Gulf and a popular tourist destination. It has home-grown, world class companies such as Emirates Airlines and Dubai Ports World, as well as many multinational corporations. Dubai is also the center of an exciting and innovative architectural revolution. Dubai is currently a city of more than two million people, most of whom are expatriates that are the benefiting from city's increasingly diversified economy. The success of Dubai is particularly remarkable, since no more than 5% of Dubai's GDP comes from oil-related revenue. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, is also raising its international profile and is one of the largest oil producers in the world. Abu Dhabi is also on its way to becoming a global cultural center with the creation of the Cultural District on Saadiyat Island. The island will be home to the largest single concentration of premier cultural institutions including the Zayed National Museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi all designed by award-winning international architects.
By visiting a wide range of organizations students learn that the UAE is shifting away from its dependence on oil and diversifying into new business sectors such as real estate, tourism, aviation, logistics, renewable energy, finance, and construction. Company visits include DP World, Masdar, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Aldar, Mubadala, ATIC, Jumeirah Group, Nakheel, Abu Dhabi Dredging Company, Dubal, Emaar, CNBC Arabia, Dubai International Finance Center, Kempinski Hotels, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, and Northrop Grumman.
The class visits some of the biggest, tallest, and most impressive megastructures in the world (Burj Al Arab, the most luxurious and tallest standing hotel tower in the world; Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world; Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, world's fastest roller coaster; Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the world’s most impressive modern Islamic architectural masterpieces; Dubai Mall, the world's largest shopping destination; Emirates Palace, world’s most expensive hotel.
Past speakers have included Sir Tim Clark, President and Chief Executive Officer of Emirates; Nasif Kayed, Director of the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding; Stephan Schupbach, Vice President of Operations at Jumeirah Group; Iain Lachlan Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates, and UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Saud Al Qasimi.
More than 470 University of Maryland students have traveled to the UAE since 2009 making it the most popular destination for short term education abroad experiences.
What students have said about the previous UAE Global Immersion Courses:
The modernization of Abu Dhabi and Dubai are stunning to see. Dubai is one of the most dynamic business environments in the world and it has become a major financial center, a premier trading center of the Arabian Gulf and a popular tourist destination. It has home-grown, world class companies such as Emirates Airlines and Dubai Ports World, as well as many multinational corporations. Dubai is also the center of an exciting and innovative architectural revolution. Dubai is currently a city of more than two million people, most of whom are expatriates that are the benefiting from city's increasingly diversified economy. The success of Dubai is particularly remarkable, since no more than 5% of Dubai's GDP comes from oil-related revenue. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, is also raising its international profile and is one of the largest oil producers in the world. Abu Dhabi is also on its way to becoming a global cultural center with the creation of the Cultural District on Saadiyat Island. The island will be home to the largest single concentration of premier cultural institutions including the Zayed National Museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi all designed by award-winning international architects.
By visiting a wide range of organizations students learn that the UAE is shifting away from its dependence on oil and diversifying into new business sectors such as real estate, tourism, aviation, logistics, renewable energy, finance, and construction. Company visits include DP World, Masdar, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Aldar, Mubadala, ATIC, Jumeirah Group, Nakheel, Abu Dhabi Dredging Company, Dubal, Emaar, CNBC Arabia, Dubai International Finance Center, Kempinski Hotels, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, and Northrop Grumman.
The class visits some of the biggest, tallest, and most impressive megastructures in the world (Burj Al Arab, the most luxurious and tallest standing hotel tower in the world; Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world; Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, world's fastest roller coaster; Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of the world’s most impressive modern Islamic architectural masterpieces; Dubai Mall, the world's largest shopping destination; Emirates Palace, world’s most expensive hotel.
Past speakers have included Sir Tim Clark, President and Chief Executive Officer of Emirates; Nasif Kayed, Director of the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding; Stephan Schupbach, Vice President of Operations at Jumeirah Group; Iain Lachlan Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates, and UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Saud Al Qasimi.
More than 470 University of Maryland students have traveled to the UAE since 2009 making it the most popular destination for short term education abroad experiences.
What students have said about the previous UAE Global Immersion Courses:
- "This experience was life changing to me and has given me memories that will last a lifetime. I know that many of the class activities that we did on this trip would not be available to me if I had gone to the UAE on my own and I am very appreciative of this."
- "Choosing to participate on this course was one of the best decisions I have made this year. Looking back on this great experience, I was given the opportunity to expand my knowledge on a culture that I know very little about through a vast range of activities."
- "I will never forget my United Arab Emirates global immersion experience. I learned so much about the business practices, the economy, and the culture of the UAE and I know for a fact that I couldn't have learned all of these things from a text book. I strongly believed that one cannot truly understand a culture unless they are immersed in it.”
- "This course was a great experience that I would repeat in the future, and is one whose memories I will cherish. Getting firsthand experience with a Middle Eastern country so different from my own in some ways and incredibly similar in others has really given me an expanded appreciation for people because I’ve seen that although we live a world apart, for the most part the people who live in the UAE share many of the same motivations and aspirations as I do, even if their customs and religion are different."
- "I think that this course has made me a more tolerant and understanding person, and has equipped me with the perspective to look at things from a different point of view. In a way, it has also allowed me to earnestly realize that while we have preconceived notions of people that are different from us, those people also share notions of us that are not necessarily correct."
- "I have gained tremendous appreciation and knowledge regarding the Emirati culture, as well as, how to do business in the Arab world. All of the goals and expectations I sought from this trip were met and exceeded. Not only was I able to open my eyes to a whole new region of the world but I was able to actually picture myself one day working for a company in the UAE. To be completely honest, before going on the trip, I would have not ventured into a company located in the United Arab Emirates. However, after realizing just how tolerant and diverse the lifestyle is in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras al-Khaimah, I am more confident than ever that I can thrive in this type of society."