A — Dubai vs Cairo: a day in the life (MBA students) — comparative vignette

Dubai (Student, MBA, 2nd year — downtown campus, works part-time at a fintech):
I wake at 6:30, take the metro from my apartment in Al Barsha — 28 minutes, AED 6 — and grab a coffee at a kiosk near the Business School. Morning class is Digital Finance: a TED-style lecture, then a 90-minute case workshop. At noon, I meet my team in a campus breakout room to finalize our capstone pitch; we rehearse with slides and a prototype built in the uni’s innovation lab. Lunch is AED 35 — shawarma and salad near the campus. Afternoons are for office hours and a two-hour shift at the fintech (remote Wednesdays). Evenings are networking — last week I attended a startup pitch night where I met someone from a hiring manager I’d been trying to reach. My main challenge? Rent is high, so I juggle scholarships and freelance consulting.

Cairo (Student, MBA, 1st year — city campus, scholarship student):
I start at 7:30, usually on campus by 8:15 after a 20-minute ride on a shared microbus (tuk-like). Morning seminar is Organizational Behaviour — small groups, lots of debate. Lunchtime is two colleagues sharing koshari for 60 EGP. The afternoon is library time; we still get a lot of independent study and readings, with faculty office hours available twice a week. Evening? I head to the student union where we run pro bono consulting for local SMEs — a great way to practice and help the community. My rent is far cheaper than Dubai, and the scholarship covers half my fees, but professional opportunities are more locally oriented; if you want multinational exposure, you may need to plan internships abroad or in a Gulf hub.

Contrast in one paragraph: Dubai buys you international employer networks, late-night networking and higher stipends — but higher living costs and a faster pace. Cairo gives deeper local immersion, lower living costs, a rich student culture and community-focused projects, with fewer on-campus multinational pipelines. Which is “better” depends on whether you want global mobility right away (Dubai) or regional immersion and cost savings (Cairo).

B — Living & studying in Abu Dhabi — a grad student’s week

Monday: Lab day at the Energy Research Centre — instrumentation bookings, 4 hours of hands-on work. Lunch at the campus canteen (subsidised). Afternoon seminar on sustainable grids; the professor assigns a group modelling project with an Abu Dhabi utility. Tuesday: data analysis, supervisor meeting (PhD-level rigour expected). Wednesday: industry workshop with a sponsor (company pitch). Thursday: teaching assistant duties — 2 hours grading for an undergrad course (paid TAship). Friday: cultural day — mosque visit organized by the international office, then group dinner. Biggest wins: research funding is accessible and the university arranges placements with local companies; main hurdle: slow bureaucracy on procurement for student-led projects.

C — Riyadh vs Jeddah (short profile)

• Riyadh (capital, conservative, big public research universities): more structured campus life, strong government scholarships, clear post-study employment pathways in public and large private employers. Expect stricter social norms and easier access to state-backed research funding. 
• Jeddah (port city, more relaxed, commercial): livelier social scene, private university variety and more mixed cultural norms. Great for students who want commercial internships and an urban coastal lifestyle. 

D — Amman (Jordan) — practicalities for international students

• Housing: many expat student apartments near universities (rent lower than Gulf). 
• Transport: mix of buses and shared taxis; walkable city centres near campuses. 
• Career piping: good NGOs and regional offices for internships in development and policy. 
• Tip: network with alumni from aid agencies; language (Arabic/English) preferences vary by employer. 

E — Beirut — studying amid complexity

Lebanon’s university scene is intellectually rich and internationally connected but subject to infrastructural unpredictability. Students emphasize flexible planning (power cuts, travel delays) and strong community networks. The upside: intense academic debate, low tuition vs Gulf, and a strong humanities/social-science culture. Tip: have backup internet solutions and local emergency contacts.