Professional Internships in Dubai

We had a great experience interning in Dubai thanks to Intern in Dubai. The whole experience was a lot of fun from start to finish and something I would consider doing again.

My preconceptions about Dubai were proved right. It is sunny all the time, it is crazy hot, the cars and luxury are off the charts and the beaches are great, but it is also a place that welcomes everybody, and is very motivating if you have goals and desire to grow.

All of the big companies are represented in Dubai either through satellite offices or via local partnerships, and my host company was a local office for a US ad creative media agency. The time passed very quickly, so we had to always be open to learning and taking on new tasks and experiences.
We visited Abu Dhabi, the mangroves and the great mosque there, the crocodile park, went biking and camping outside the city, visited the gold souk, the waterparks, ate Indian, Persian, and Egyptian food, and took bikes on the weekends.

Housing is with other local undergrads, it was a new campus, and the facilities were amazing.

Part of the 2024 cohort I was able to travel to Dubai for a 6-week immersive internship and cultural experience working in finance and policy. Dubai is the opposite of the US in so many ways. It is the safest place I have ever visited. Facilities are really modern and everyone speaks English, which was my biggest concern. Dubai is mall heaven so if that's your thing, you will fit right in. The beaches are amazing, and it is easy to get around with the shuttle bus each morning, or public transport and the taxis on Careem (must have app). A lovely experience.

I’ve just wrapped up an incredible internship at one of the biggest retail groups in Dubai, and it was an absolute blast!

First of all, the diversity in Dubai and at the company was mind-blowing. I got to work with people from all over the world – from Europe to Asia to the Middle East. This melting pot of cultures not only made the workplace vibrant and fun but also gave me a global perspective on business operations, and how different cultures approach problem-solving and teamwork.

Unlike previous internships where I had been stuck doing mundane tasks, this one was all about hands-on learning, and getting involved. From market research to helping plan marketing campaigns, I felt like a valued member of the Emaar team. This practical experience was invaluable and really complemented what I’ve been learning in my core modules.

Dubai is a hub for business, and the networking opportunities were invaluable. I attended several retail industry events and workshops after work, meeting professionals from a range of sectors. These connections are going to be super helpful as I move forward in my career, plus, it was just cool to meet and hear the journeys of so many interesting people.

Dubai is an amazing city with so much to offer. Outside of work, I explored the city’s iconic landmarks like the Burj Khalifa, its famous beaches, and the Dubai Mall. The nightlife is fantastic too. From beach parties to rooftop bars, there was never a dull moment. The company also organized team-building activities on my first day, which were a great way to meet and bond with other interns and make new friends.

Living and working in a foreign country pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me grow in ways I never imagined. I'd say I became more independent, adaptable, and confident at taking risks, and putting myself out there. Navigating a new city, meeting new people, and tackling new challenges every day was an adventure that taught me so much about myself.

My internship in Dubai was an unforgettable experience filled with learning, growth, and fun. If you ever get the chance to intern abroad, especially in a city as vibrant as Dubai, go for it! It’s an opportunity you won’t regret.

This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern in Dubai, and it was an experience I won’t forget. As a 21-year-old university student from Scotland, I found Dubai to be a completely different world compared to home, both in its weather and lifestyle.

First, the weather. Dubai's heat was intense, especially during the summer months. Temperatures soared past 40°C most days, which took some getting used to. Coming from Scotland, where we joke about four seasons in one day, it was a shock to feel the constant heat. However, the city is well-prepared for it – air-conditioned spaces are everywhere, from public transport to shopping malls, so I managed.

As for the lifestyle, Dubai is incredibly fast-paced and modern. The city is filled with stunning skyscrapers, luxury malls, and incredible beach clubs and restaurants. There's a strong focus on both work and play – people work hard during the day but enjoy a lively social scene in the evenings. I found it exciting and a great place to network, though it can be a little overwhelming compared to the slower pace of life back home.

I worked in the hospitality sector, and the work environment was quite dynamic. The hospitality industry in Dubai is very international, so I worked alongside people from all over the world. The standard of service is exceptionally high, which pushed me to improve my skills. The pace was fast, and the expectations were high, but I learned a lot about customer service and management in a global city.

Overall, Dubai is a fantastic place for young professionals looking to gain experience. The city's energy, diverse culture, and professional opportunities made it a brilliant place to intern, even if the heat was a bit much for me.

Dubai isn't as well-known as Saudi Arabia in terms of sports yet, but this is starting to change and was what prompted my application. Interning at a UAE league soccer (football) club gave me a totally different perspective of sports in a different culture, and how professional sports work. I learned so much, from different conditioning and training methods (ocean swims!), to how psychology is used even with the youth squads to develop players. Loved the experience and spending time in the city. Super modern place, and so much to do. Lots of fun, got to enjoy and play lots of ball, beach volleyball, and pickleball in my downtime, and met some great people.

Arriving in Dubai the first thing that hit me as my plane came into land was how Dubai literally has been built in the desert. It truly is remarkable how just 50 years ago nobody had heard of Dubai and now it is the most luxurious destination in the world.

My days started with an early jog along the beach passing tourists enjoying the white sandy beaches and Burj Al Arab views. After freshening up, I'd get a morning coffee and take the metro to the World Trade Center just opposite DIFC where I was based for my internship.

DIFC is the financial hub of the city and my startup was based there alongside all of the major banks. Crossing the main road and hearing the roar of the procession of supercars and G-wagens entering the car park every morning always inspired me to grab my opportunity daily, and reminded me that I was no longer in my beloved Manchester.

The work environment was as you might expect for a financial services startup a mix of managing regulatory compliance, customer acquisition, and building a name and foothold in a very competitive market. By this I mean it was wild! Things moved quickly, very quickly. Everyday we had new meetings and more research and slide decks to prepare. More meeting minutes to copy up and share internally, and more clients to onboard. The business had two channels, 'Retail Clients' and 'Corporate and Family Offices'. In Dubai, hustle is everything, but never did we overpush, something I learned is key to business in this city. The subtle art of selling.

Before arriving, I sat an online orientation test and had great 1on1 calls with my adviser to get ready for my trip, and they really set the tone for what to expect and helped me prepare and get ready for the pace of life in Dubai.

I feel that I learned a lot, saw a totally different culture that is inclusive, results driven and is really embracing technology and the future. 

What a great place to live and intern in!

So many of my friends had spoken highly about Dubai after visiting and were considering it as a destination after graduation, and rightly so.
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Dubai is full of opportunity and felt like home away from home because of the really big expat community, that made me feel at home immediately. I'm from England.

My first week at the job was harder than I thought as business is conducted quite informally in Dubai, whereas in my internship in London it was much more formal.

In Dubai contracts are shared via Whatsapp and signed online, and deposits paid online for housing sales, and rentals are even less formal, and completed much more quickly, which was all new to me!

My agency was so busy as the real estate boom is still going, and prices are moving higher and higher, and it was great to learn from and see so many ambitious people chasing their goals.

Dubai is a great place to start your career, and many of the people I worked with had left the UK for a better life, something I think I will do now that I have the contacts and experience on my CV too.

The only negative was the summer sun, it got a little hot at times, and so we had to adapt our plans to fit that, but otherwise it was great experience, and if you can plan your internship in the Autumn or Spring that is perfect weatherwise.

Thumbs up.

Getting the opportunity to go to Dubai and doing an internship there was something that I didn't even know was possible, but finding Intern in Dubai online was something that I was intrigued by and wanted to find out more about.

During the first call that I had with their team it was quite clear that they had great relationships in the city and were focused on helping students like me gain new skills and experience in Dubai. Coming from a marketing background it was great to hear about some of the companies they worked with and also some of the opportunities that I could potentially be getting involved with. A few days after having the initial interview I received an email back telling me that I had been accepted onto the program!

Having persuaded my family to help with the costs of the program I paid my deposit and booked in for my initial online training course. The first part of the course was designed to find out about my skills - what I was good at l, what I wasn't good at, and things like that. Some of the questions were really easy l, while others were quite technical and challenging. I got my results back just a few days after doing the course and the report that it came with was kind of eye-opening because of some of the basic skills that I was lacking, but also reassuring because I knew what I would need to work on to get the most from the internship.

About 6 weeks before I was due to leave I got my first job offer and l was really excited. I was going to be a marketing intern at a radio station! Before you can accept the role you have to talk to the company to make sure it's a good fit and learn more. The role sounded great, focusing on social media, and writing content for the website. After accepting it I got a welcome pack and my advisor helped me get my visa.

The visa process was quite tricky because I was in the middle of renewing my passport, but soon enough I was heading into Dubai.

When I arrived, I was met at the airport by a driver who took me straight across to the student housing. The housing was great, lots of other interns and students were living there and the community on the whole environment was amazing. The building was brand new or maybe a year or so old and the facilities were crazy, we had our own swimming pool, we had a cinema for streaming, we had indoor lounges and pool table areas, and the rooms were really modern and clean, so I couldn't have been happier.

Dubai was something more than I had imagined.

The city is actually quite small compared to how big I thought it was but everything is in different areas, so if you want to go to the beaches you head over to the coast side and there are lots of different beaches like JBR and Kite beach which are amazing with warm blue water and lovely sand. If you prefer to go out then also around the marina, the difc and JBR there are lots of bars and places spend an afternoon or an evening which we did a few times and was great fun. Drinks can be quite expensive but all of the bars and especially the rooftop bars have amazing views and the atmosphere is really good, very very different from home.

Before arriving I was a little worried about the heat but everyone told me that I was lucky that I was coming before the main summer which just started now, so the weather was actually really nice every day and I could just wear a tank and maybe shorts or leggings and never felt cold and definitely didn't feel too hot.

Working at the radio station was a really great experience I worked five days a week, starts at 10 o'clock and normally my day will involve going in sitting in with team meetings at the start of each day planning the day ahead and then getting to work. A lot of my work was writing content and posting content on social media, going out taking photos of guests in the studio when they arrived, but also writing up reports and interviews of some of the guests that came in, which was really exciting and something I had never done before. Most of the DJs at the station were originally from the UK and Australia so it was really easy to get along and get to know everybody and there was definitely no sort of language barrier in fact practically everybody in Dubai spoke English which I didn't expect but made it really easy to get along with everyone and travel around.

My time in Dubai was definitely a success but it also went by very very quickly. A lot of the things that I'd heard about Dubai before travelling were really not true. For instance it isn't expensive and it really does depend on the type of way you want to live. For me I really enjoyed going out with my friends spending time on the beach at weekends traveling around and seeing the city and most of that didn't cost anything or very little at all. On the other hand if you do prefer to go out to boil a lot during the evenings especially the ones in some of the more famous hotels then it can become quite expensive but we did things like that just every once in a while as a treat and it I think it also helped us enjoy things more and appreciate the opportunity that we had to be in Dubai more.

Some of the things that I did find out about Dubai while I was there. First, the people. I really found the people to be kind, generous with their time and really really helpful. Number 2 I'd say was safety I wasn't really sure especially as this was my first time travelling to the Middle East how safe things would be, but I didn't feel unsafe at any point and really really loved the fact that everyone in Dubai seems to be honest and trying to help other people around them. I think the third best thing about Dubai would be the variety of things you can do there are literally hundreds of different things that you can do after work or at the weekends and this made for a really great experience.

Overall I'd rate my experience a 10 out of 10, easily a 10 out of 10. I had an amazing time, got to meet some really lovely people, got great work experience and finally had an opportunity to explore a part of the world that I always wanted to visit, and was really really surprised by.