Global Business and Consulting Immersion in the UAE
- UAE
Sustainable Development Goals in Action
Program Overview
The United Arab Emirates is one of the world’s most dynamic business hubs. Positioned at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe, and powered by business-friendly regulation and one of the fastest-growing economies on earth, the UAE has become a launchpad for Fortune 500 companies, global giants, and ambitious start-ups alike — particularly in its flagship cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Its remarkable economic transformation, set against a backdrop of rich Emirati heritage, makes it an exceptional place to study contemporary business.
This program gives students a first-hand understanding of the UAE’s economy, its rapid transformation, and its cultural landscape. Working in a consulting-style model, students research assigned host organizations, engage with business leaders and entrepreneurs, and present their findings — while classroom and conference sessions anchor the academic content. Along the way, immersive experiences such as heritage walks, cultural centers, and food tours make learning vivid and personal.
The itinerary moves across Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi, from financial hubs and free trade zones to iconic cultural landmarks and the desert, giving students a rounded view of how the UAE balances commerce, innovation, sustainability, and tradition.
What will you do in the UAE?
Explore the UAE’s Economy, Business & Innovation
- Engage with experts and business leaders at leading regional financial hubs, free trade zones, and the regional stock exchange.
- Visit multinational corporations, digital banks, global consultancies, media companies, and government innovation hubs to learn how brands launch and scale in the UAE.
- Examine the UAE’s economic transformation, smart-city development, and sustainability initiatives.
- Interact with entrepreneurs, women’s business-leadership organizations, and international education and innovation hubs.
Build Consulting & Business Skills
- Work in teams to research assigned host organizations and present findings on their operations, opportunities, and challenges.
- Apply consulting-style problem-solving to real business questions posed by faculty and host organizations.
- Develop cross-cultural business fluency directly relevant to careers in global business and management.
Experience Emirati Culture & Heritage
- Take Dubai from the top of the world’s tallest building and explore its historic souks by traditional abra across Dubai Creek.
- Discover Sharjah, the nation’s cultural capital, and the Emirati heritage of a traditional desert safari.
- Visit Abu Dhabi’s landmark Presidential Palace, its universal art museum, and one of the world’s largest mosques.
- Share welcome and farewell dinners, a traditional Emirati cultural meal, and a Dubai Marina dhow cruise.
Which UN SDGs does this program advance?
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Exposes students to the business-friendly regulations and culture behind the UAE’s rapid economic growth.
- Explores the free trade zones across the emirates as drivers of growth, and the role of both multinationals and start-ups in the economy.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Explores the UAE’s economic transformation and the infrastructure that supports its position as a global business hub.
- Examines specialized innovation and industrial zones, and how the country attracts and supports companies through innovation accelerators and hubs.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Examine how the UAE has grown into a major business hub while maintaining its cultural identity.
- Explores how the country balances rapid growth with sustainability and livability through smart-city and sustainable-city initiatives.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
- Facilitates engagement with multinational companies and local businesses to understand global partnerships.
- Examines the UAE’s role as a bridge between global markets and cultures, and its international aid and development programs.
Program Highlights
Dubai's historic souks (spice, gold, and perfume) reached by traditional abra across Dubai Creek
A traditional desert safari with dune drive, Bedouin-style camp, and BBQ dinner
Sharjah cultural immersion — the Cultural Square and the Blue Souk
Qasr Al Watan, Abu Dhabi's landmark Presidential Palace
Louvre Abu Dhabi — the first universal museum in the Arab world
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
A Dubai Marina dhow cruise dinner experience
A welcome dinner at a rooftop Mediterranean restaurant and a traditional Emirati cultural meal
What will you learn?
(Learning outcomes)
Global Business & Economic Insight
Understand the drivers of the UAE’s economic transformation and what it takes for companies to launch and grow in one of the world’s fastest-moving markets.
Skills Developed:
Business Acumen, Market Analysis
Consulting & Collaborative Research
Research host organizations, analyze their operations and challenges, and present findings in a structured, consulting-style team project.
Skills Developed:
Consulting Skills, Collaborative Research
Cross-Cultural Business Fluency
Build the intercultural awareness and adaptability needed to operate effectively in a diverse, globally connected business environment.
Skills Developed:
Cross-Cultural Communication, Adaptability
Innovation & Sustainability Perspective
Explore how the UAE balances rapid growth with innovation, smart-city development, and sustainability, and what that means for the future of business.
Skills Developed:
Systems Thinking, Global Awareness
What does a typical week look like?
(Sample itinerary)
Specific organizations visited are curated based on the faculty’s learning objectives and may vary by cohort. The categories below reflect the types of engagements included in this program.
Day 1: Arrival in Dubai
Arrival and check-in to a 5-star hotel in downtown Dubai. Evening: orientation and safety briefing led by the Authentica Program Manager.
Day 2: Dubai Cultural Immersion & Welcome Dinner
Morning: free time to rest and settle in. Afternoon: Dubai city cultural immersion including the “At the Top” experience at the world's tallest building, followed by a traditional Emirati cultural meal. Evening: welcome dinner at a rooftop Mediterranean restaurant. Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Business Visits
Full day of visits and dialogues with host organizations. Meals: B
Day 4: Business Visits
Full day of visits and dialogues with host organizations. Meals: B
Day 5: Business Visits & Networking
Morning and afternoon business visits, including a faculty-hosted networking lunch. Evening: group dinner in the hotel conference space. Meals: B, D
Day 6: Sharjah — Business & Culture
Business visits in Sharjah alongside Sharjah city cultural immersion — the Cultural Square and the Blue Souk — with a group lunch. Meals: B, L
Day 7: Business Visit & Desert Safari
Morning business visit. Afternoon and evening: a traditional desert safari with dune drive, Bedouin-style camp, cultural performances, and BBQ dinner. Meals: B, D
Day 8: Travel to Abu Dhabi
Transfer to Abu Dhabi for a full-day city cultural immersion — Qasr Al Watan, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Meals: B
Day 9: Abu Dhabi — Free Cultural Day
Free day for independent cultural exploration of Abu Dhabi. Meals: B, L
Day 10: Business Visits & Return to Dubai
Morning business visits in Abu Dhabi, then return to Dubai. Evening: group dinner. Meals: B, D
Day 11: Industry Meetings
Morning and afternoon industry meetings. Evening: group dinner. Meals: B, D
Day 12: Presentations & Farewell
Full-day conference sessions and student final presentations with a group lunch. Evening: farewell dinner. Meals: B, L, D
Day 13: Departure
Morning conference wrap-up, followed by check-out and airport transfers. Meals: B
*Please note that the itinerary is a sample guide and is subject to possible modifications.
Program Snapshot
- Meals Included
13 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches & 6 Dinners
- Sustainability
Carbon Neutral — ~4 metric tons CO₂ per participant offset through Authentica's Net Zero partner
- On-Ground Support
24×7 Authentica Program Manager
- Liability Insurance
USD $5M Commercial General Liability & USD $1M Errors & Omissions
Pricing & Inclusions
- From USD $3,280* ≈ AUD $4,590 per participant (twin-share)
*Costs may vary depending on group size, program inclusions, number of program days, and other factors. Please contact us for a customized quote.
What's Included
- 12 nights accommodation (10 in Dubai, 2 in Abu Dhabi) with breakfast, Wi-Fi, gym & pool
- AC coach for business visits, tours, and group meals (incl. taxes, tolls, parking, and drinking water)
- Conference rooms — 3 half-days and 2 full days, with projector, whiteboard, Wi-Fi, and coffee breaks
- Group meals — 13 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 6 dinners (welcome & farewell dinners include drinks)
- Guided cultural tours by English-speaking professionals, including entrance fees
- Business visits, project sourcing and coordination with host organizations
- Carbon offset for all participants (certificates provided after the program)
- 24×7 on-ground support by an Authentica Program Manager
- Tips for guides, drivers, and waiters (group meals), plus all applicable taxes
What's Excluded
- International airfare
- Airport taxes and departure levies
- Personal travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended)
- Personal expenses, shopping, and optional activities
- Meals not listed in the included meals schedule
FAQs About the Program
The UAE is at its most pleasant between November and March, when comfortable temperatures make both business visits and outdoor cultural experiences enjoyable — making this the ideal window for the program. Programs can be tailored to your academic calendar; if scheduled in the warmer months, outdoor experiences like the desert safari are arranged for cooler mornings and evenings while business sessions take place in air-conditioned venues. Light, breathable clothing, sun protection, and staying well hydrated are recommended year-round.
Business visits call for smart business-professional attire. For cultural and religious sites — especially the grand mosque in Abu Dhabi — modest dress is required: shoulders and knees covered for everyone, and a headscarf for women (robes are often available to borrow on site). Lightweight, breathable fabrics are best given the heat, and comfortable shoes are useful for souk walks and city tours.
Many nationalities — including U.S. passport holders — receive a visa on arrival in the UAE, while others apply for an e-visa in advance. Requirements depend on your nationality, so we recommend confirming well ahead of departure. Authentica provides guidance and a pre-departure docket, though the visa itself is the participant’s responsibility.
The program is built around a consulting-style model, with visits to organizations such as regional financial hubs, free trade zones, multinational corporations, digital banks, global consultancies, media companies, government innovation hubs, and women’s business-leadership organizations. Specific hosts are curated around the faculty’s learning objectives and may vary by cohort.
Students are grouped into teams, each assigned to a host organization to research in advance. During the program, teams engage directly with their organization and, in the final sessions, present their findings — including insights into the company’s operations, opportunities, and challenges — to faculty and peers.
Halal food is standard across the UAE, and vegetarian and other dietary options are widely available; Authentica collects dietary requirements in advance. Alcohol is served in licensed hotels and restaurants, and the welcome and farewell dinners include beverages. As in any destination, participants are asked to be respectful of local customs and norms.
The local currency is the UAE dirham (AED), which is pegged to the U.S. dollar. Cards are widely accepted across hotels, malls, and restaurants, though it is worth carrying some cash for the souks and smaller vendors. Tipping is modest and discretionary; the program already includes tips for guides, drivers, and group meals.
The UAE is consistently ranked among the world’s safest countries, with very low crime rates. The group travels together by private air-conditioned coach for all program activities, a dedicated Authentica Program Manager provides 24×7 on-ground support, and the program opens with an orientation and safety briefing. Authentica carries a US$5M commercial general liability policy and a US$1M errors & omissions policy.
Academic credit is awarded only by your home institution, not by Authentica, and credit policies vary from university to university. Check with your study abroad office or academic advisor to confirm whether this program qualifies for credit at your institution. Do check out our Signature programs where we give credits for the programs
Interested in a Similar Program?
Contact us at info@authentica.com to design a faculty-led immersion around your objectives or submit your inquiry through the “Inquire Now” form. Rest assured, we will promptly reach out to you.
Need help? Contact us at info@authentica.com