Dubai Business Trip!

The Business Studies department have just recently returned from a visit to Dubai, which was funded by the Turing Scheme. 10 students from Year 10 were selected to visit to Dubai and complete a project to investigate the rapid change in business, technology and culture in the past 50 years in Dubai.

Dubai is considered one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, claiming a population increase from 20,000 people to 3.5 million people. Dubai has changed from a small fishing village on the edge of the desert to become one of the most populated cities in the UAE. It is now a global business hub with many international businesses locating there.

The students began to conduct research for the project before they left the UK and they continued their research and completed a project whilst in Dubai. The students visited Gems First Point, the Villa International school, and were able to speak to international students comparing school life to school in the UK. Our students observed lessons and they were provided with a tour of their amazing facilities. The staff at the school were complimentary of our students and said they were very mature and polite.

Whilst in Dubai they also visited The British University, which is partnered with the University of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester. The students received a lecture from Dr Amer Alaya about the growth and development in Dubai, and were shown around the campus. The lecture was incredibly informative and really helped with the project that they completed.

The students were able to visit many of Dubai’s major tourist attractions and take in the amazing sites of Dubai. They enjoyed an informative tour of old and new Dubai that included The Blue Mosque, Old Dubai and they were able to travel across the creek on an Abrar and sample the spices in the spice souk. The main tourist attractions the students enjoyed were; The Burj Khalifa, Dubai Frame, Expo City, The Dubai Mall and Fountains. The visit provided the students the opportunity to experience a Desert safari and exploring the Bedouin camps and enjoy a river cruise to observe the vast sky scrapers around the marina.

I would like to thank Mrs Johnson for all her help and support with the visit, and securing the funding from Turning to be able to provide the fantastic opportunity for the students. Also, Mr Kipling who attended the visit and supported the students with their project. Miss McGuiggan