Destination

Dubai

Ambition made physical — a city that rewrote what urban development can look like in the span of fifty years. This program treats Dubai as an architectural and sociological case study, not a shopping trip.

What Students Encounter

Anchor experiences

Photo: Dubai Creek abra boats

Creek District Heritage

The original trading heart of the city, still running wooden abra boats across the water — the version of Dubai that predates the skyline.

Photo: contemporary Dubai skyline

Contemporary Architecture

Structures that pushed engineering limits within a single generation — a direct case study in what capital and ambition can build, and how fast.

Photo: Emirati cultural center

Emirati Cultural Centers

Programs built specifically for cross-cultural dialogue — a structured way to meet Emirati perspectives directly, not through a tour guide's summary.

Handled Honestly

What the program doesn't smooth over

Dubai's growth runs on a labor economy and social structure with real complexity beneath the skyline. The program treats intellectual engagement with that complexity as part of the experience, not a footnote to it.

Academic Angles

Built for these disciplines

Urban Planning Global Economics Islamic Art Cross-Cultural Commerce

Ready to apply for the Dubai program?

Applications include a short conversation about which academic angle you're pursuing.

Apply Now