The UAE is a land of opportunity and ambition. It is peopled by residents and Emiratis who are driven to earn the most of life. Thus, internships in the UAE offer more than mere resume entries. They could be the trampoline that your career springs from. UAE is home to regional MNC headquarters, free zone startup options, and world class institutions. Additionally, it boasts a range of thriving industries. Healthcare, Education, Finance, Aviation, Real Estate, Trading and Tech, to name a few. Connecting it with internships in UAE, a Global Business Outlook article revealed some interesting facts. It highlighted a Bayt.com report that stated that 78% of businesses planned to hire interns. Further, the article revealed that 7 out of 10 organizations offer interns full time roles. Thus, a robust 65% of MENA companies always convert internships to full time roles.

At LUBM, we’re aware of the importance of internships and work experience for learners. This guide walks you through practical steps to secure your ideal UAE internship.

Step One: Clarify Your Goals & Eligibility

Before you apply, define your objectives clearly. Get a sense of what you want out of the internship. Pinpoint the industry you’re passionate about. Where do you think you’d get the best, most relevant experience for your professional future? An internship is a time bound learning curve. The most important thing here is to understand what you want to gain from this experience. Do you want to walk out the other side with a better professional network? Or are you more interested in growing your practical skills? Think about this before you start the next step: finding the perfect company to intern at. Having clear goals ensures that you focus your efforts on suitable opportunities.

Step Two: Research & Target UAE Employers

As you know, the UAE is home to many, many businesses. In fact, it had over 1 million registered businesses by mid 2024, according to Arabian Business. However, not all companies can afford interns. If you know where your passion lies, you can then identify the industry that you should focus on. Further, we suggest that you research and spot which departments or job titles would support your interests and needs best. When you combine the two, you can easily narrow down the companies to apply to. For example, if your interests lie in dominating the social media sphere, you could benefit the most from a role in a digital marketing company. Overall, it’s crucial to zero in on companies that align with your interests.

Once you have finalized your personal internship goals and the industry you want to dive into, use your resources. Quality trumps quantity: targeted applications yield better results. Use job portals like Oliv, Bayt, LinkedIn, InternsME, and company career pages for open internships. Shortlist the top 15-20 organizations whose values and projects excite you most.

Application is a vital part of landing the internship. And the first part of applying is verifying your eligibility. Many programs at the top businesses have internship requirements. Some require a minimum GPA or specific coursework. Others require proof of age and valid visas. Take care to note down their requirements factors before applying. Thus, you can target your applications to maximise your chances of success. On that note, a letter from your university is helpful in landing the role you want. So, we suggest asking your university for a recommendation letter along with your other documents.

Step Three: Building a Network

As a student with no prior experience, how could you be expected to have a professional network? And more to the point, how do you build one up? Back in the day, the answer would have been simple: your university, and personal connections. Students would try and land roles through connections forged by universities. Their alumni, and partnerships the institute had with businesses. However, today’s students have another solution too: the internet. Let’s discuss them.

Firstly, your university is a gold mine of resources. They host events like career fairs where you can meet recruiters face to face. Universities also open up access to their alumni network. Indeed, LUBM’s global alumni can refer you internally and provide firsthand insights. We also host networking events like seminars and workshops. Thus, our graduates network with seasoned industry experts and alumni alike.

Secondly, a professional online presence is a necessity for today’s internship applicants. Employers in the UAE scan digital profiles before inviting candidates for interviews. Thus, we suggest that you optimize your LinkedIn with a clear headline. Make sure to detail your projects, digital portfolio and skills. Alternatively, there are many formal and informal regional groups for internship seekers. Groups like Dubai Young Professionals (DYP), for example, help students learn from and network with peers.

Third, we suggest you try your hand at industry events, like GITEX Technology Week and Dubai Career Expo. In the UAE, who you know often matters as much as what you know. And, these gatherings unite thousands of professionals and recruiters.

Step Four: A Strong Resume & Cover Letter

This is not a new take. You may already be aware that a clear, concise resume is important. In the UAE’s competitive market, your application must stand out. Be it for an internship or a job. Cultivating the skill of crafting a strong resume will benefit you throughout your professional life. So, what does a good resume for UAE internships contain?

A strong CV contains well documented relevant experience. Even campus projects count. For example, “Led a team of five to plan a university career fair with 300+ attendees” counts as leadership and planning. Numbers and percentages make achievements even easier to comprehend. Quantify your successes for the best results. Thus, “Increased club membership by 30%” is more powerful than “helped grow club.” Lastly, cater your resume to the role. If you have an interest in five internships across three industries, craft three domain specific CVs. Show your awareness of the industry and its needs in the content. As the UAE workforce is diverse, it’s also worth mentioning your language skills, especially if you are multilingual. Tailoring each resume and cover letter to the role demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail.

Another thing we want to adress is the format. You may have heard of ATS. Most companies now use Applicant Tracking Systems to screen applications. When applying for internships in the UAE, make sure your resume is ATS friendly. This means that your resume must be easy for software to read. We advise that you stick to clean, simple formatting. If you can, avoid tables, text boxes, images, and fancy fonts. Use standard headings like “Education,” “Experience,” and “Skills.” Save the file as a .docx or .pdf, unless the company specifies otherwise. Include keywords from the internship listing to increase your chances of passing the initial scan. You can search for them online, or discover them through sample CVs. An ATS compliant resume allows your application to pass the software check. It ensures your application gets seen by a human recruiter.

Step Five: Application and Interviews  

Successful candidates apply methodically. As you can tell from our step by step guide, we’re fans of planned action. Step 5 is where the action begins. At this point, you have already decided what you want out of your internship. You have identified the companies you want to work with, and maybe even networked with some of them.

As such, we suggest you keep a few points in mind. Many UAE firms operate on rolling deadlines. Therefore, you need to apply as soon as postings emerge. Once again, we remind you that quality matters more than quantity. Perfect your first 5 or 10 applications, then expand your reach. We strongly suggest you use a spreadsheet to track application dates, contact names, interview slots, and visa deadlines. Having it written out clearly can save you some hassle. A structured approach ensures no opportunity slips through the cracks.

Step Six: Mastering the Interview

Nailing the interview is your main hurdle to getting a good internship in Dubai. Before we get into this, we want to take a moment to adress the UAE demographic. As you’re aware, the nation is primarily comprised of resident expatriates. This is reflected in the workforce. There are residents from over 200 countries, making it extremely diverse. In the future, you will be interviewing and working with people from various nationalities. Most strongly represented with be South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Levant regions. We suggest you take this into account for your interviewing process.

Further, prepare to answer questions with a few features in mind. Remember that the most important responses will focus on tasks, actions and results. This is called the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method. Next, consider comportment. Dress formally and modestly. Be courteous, and punctual. We suggest you arrive for the interview 10 minutes early. If your interview is online, join the meeting 5 minutes ahead of time. Be polite, and thank them for their time before leaving. Every detail reflects your commitment and fit for the role.

Step Seven: Tracking and Follow Up

Once the interview is done, reach out with a thank you email! Send it within 24 hours, and reiterate your interest in working with the company. If you can, mention one key takeaway from your conversation.

If you do not get selected, we’re sorry. Sometimes things don’t work out. However, this is why we apply for many internship roles! Keep your chin up, and stay classy. Express your disappointment, and showcase your professionalism through follow up questions that you can learn from.

If you land the internship, congratulations! However, the battle isn’t won yet. When you receive the offer, don’t hesitate to ask questions about the role. Ensure that you understand your goals, deliverables, and evaluation metrics. Get clarity on stipends and allowances. Confirm the internship permits insurance coverage. Does its visa approach suit your needs? Choose the offer that best aligns with your long term ambitions and professional growth.

WRAPPING UP

Securing the internship is just the beginning. Once you’re there, you have to make sure you get regular feedback. Since you’re there, you have to ensure that you grow professionally. Try and ask a supervisor or manager to give you feedback and guide you. Good performance often leads to full time roles.

Landing and excelling in a UAE internship demands preparation, persistence, and strategic networking. Many MENA firms convert interns into employees. The UAE internship opportunities offer substantial career growth. At LUBM, we understand the power of connections. Our regular career fairs, open days, alumni mixers, and workshops in the GCC bring students face to face with leading employers and successful alumni in various industries. Join our next event to network with HR managers, secure referrals, and give your application the boost it needs.