14 Summer Programs for High School Students in Dubai
- Stephen Turban
- 5 minutes ago
- 9 min read
Summer is a great time to explore opportunities beyond the high school curriculum, and structured programs can help you do just that. Summer programs offer a range of experiences that can help you grow academically, professionally, and personally, and explore various career paths before committing to a college degree. Many programs also give you a glimpse into careers you might want to pursue in the future, while helping you build connections with peers, mentors, and professionals.
Why should you attend a program in Dubai?
Dubai offers a mix of academic, cultural, and professional opportunities for high school students, hosted by universities and organizations. As a participant, you will gain exposure to college‑level academics and the chance to work on practical skills that can help you in your future college or workplace. You’ll also work on collaborative projects, visit top institutions, and connect with peers and mentors who share your interests.
To help you choose the right option, we’ve narrowed down 14 summer programs for high school students in Dubai.
If you are looking for online STEM summer programs, check out our blog here.
14 Summer Programs for High School Students in Dubai
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; need-based financial aid offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple 12-week cohorts in a year, including in the summer
Application deadline: May deadlines for summer cohorts. You can apply here.
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.3+
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research-focused opportunity designed for high school students who want to explore academic topics in depth. You will work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor on an independent project in a subject area of your choice. You can select from fields such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and several others. Over the course of twelve weeks or more, you will learn how to form a research question, gather information, and document your ideas into a full research paper. You will also find an opportunity to present your work at the end of the program.
Location: Al Shindagha, Dubai
Cost: Free (tuition fully sponsored by Dubai Culture; participants must cover travel and accommodation)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 30 – July 11
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Creative individuals interested in architecture, design, urbanism, digital fabrication, or art; no prior skills required
The Dubai Node of the IaaC Global Summer School is a two-week intensive design program focused on the intersection of neurotechnology, AI, and spatial design. You will engage in both theoretical and hands-on sessions led by an international team of designers, researchers, and technologists. The first week allows you to choose a track in architecture, BCI game development, or biosensor-driven new media art; the second week allows you to apply your learning to a collaborative final installation. Hosted in the historic Al Shindagha district, the program offers exposure to the intersection of heritage and innovation. It concludes with a public presentation and a certificate from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 10–15-week cohorts run all year, including in the summer
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship typically accepts previous AI Scholar participants or those with some experience working with AI or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students interested in getting started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and have the opportunity to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals.
Location: New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi (less than 1.5 hours away from Dubai)
Cost: Free (includes materials and meals; transportation and accommodation not covered)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; application required
Dates: TBA (previous sessions spanned two days in summer)
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors applying to NYU Abu Dhabi in the fall, recent graduates taking a gap year, or UAE nationals committed to military service
The NYU Abu Dhabi University Prep Program is a two-day, fully funded summer experience focused on guiding students through the Common App and U.S. university admissions. You will engage in intensive workshops that cover personal goal setting, college application strategy, and essay writing, all led by NYUAD admissions staff. You will also connect with like-minded peers during the program. After completing the program, you will be encouraged to share your knowledge as peer mentors in your school.
Location: University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai
Cost: AED 100
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; open registration
Dates: July 7 – 10
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 – 12 (or Years 11 – 13)
This four-day summer camp offers high school students the opportunity to explore future academic and career paths through themed workshops in five disciplines: media, business, engineering, computer science, and psychology. Each camp is led by UOWD faculty and includes hands-on activities, practical challenges, and real-world project work. You can choose to prototype a business idea, build circuits, create a short video ad, explore AI tools, or practice emotional regulation techniques, depending on your area of interest. Camps will also introduce you to university life, offering access to labs, collaboration spaces, and networking with like-minded peers.
Location: Various locations across Dubai (confirmed upon registration)
Cost: AED 990
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; limited to small batches (up to 20 students)
Dates: Multiple five-day sessions available in summer (exact dates vary)
Application deadline: Rolling registration until full
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 – 17
Trusity offers focused summer programs designed to build 21st-century skills in young learners. Its TruPreneurs program is designed to guide you through the full entrepreneurial cycle, from ideation and market research to prototype development, using design thinking and the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a foundation. The camp combines interactive learning and hands-on activities. At the end of the program, you will come up with a pitch and present your ideas.
Location: American University in Dubai, Dubai
Cost: Early Bird Registration (before April 10): AED 5,000 | Regular Registration (before May 29): AED 6,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 5 – 12
Application deadline: Not specified; applications open on January 12
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 10 and 11 (Years 11 and 12)
AUD’s Summer Camp offers a mix of academic exploration, hands-on learning, and cultural immersion to high school students across four themed tracks: psychology of media, pre-med, leadership, AI-focused creative design, and tech innovation. Each track includes faculty-led sessions, team-based projects, and opportunities to develop both academic and practical skills tied to future career paths. You will engage in lab-based experiments, content creation, game design, and debate-style discussions to explore your field of interest. The week-long camp includes meals, housing, daily excursions around Dubai, and evening social activities, giving you a taste of university life.
Location: Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Masdar City, Abu Dhabi
Cost: AED 500 (includes workshops, materials, and TeamLab visit)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots available
Dates: July 7 – 11
Application deadline: June 30
Eligibility: UAE-based high school students in grades 10–12
The MBZUAI NextGen Summer Program is a week-long immersive experience that introduces high school students to the world of artificial intelligence, innovation, and emerging technologies. You will participate in hands-on workshops led by university faculty, work on real-world problem-solving missions in teams, and hear directly from innovators in tech, science, and business. The program also includes a field trip to TeamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi—an interactive space where digital art and science meet. The program is designed to develop your curiosity, build confidence, and connect you with peers who share a passion for future-focused fields. As one of the few specialized summer programs for high school students in Dubai, this camp can be a way to prepare for AI-focused undergraduate study.
Location: Studio Republik (Sheikh Zayed Road Exit 41), Dubai
Cost: AED 260 (one day) | AED 1,200 (one week) | AED 2,000 (two weeks)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spaces
Dates: June 30 – August 22
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students, ages 6–14
Studio Republik’s Summer Camp is a multi-activity day program designed to foster creativity, teamwork, and physical fitness in a social environment. Held Monday to Friday, the camp offers sessions in music, drama, dance, aerial arts, martial arts, robotics and coding, crafts, and even movie time. You will rotate through different sessions throughout the week. Activities are structured by age group to ensure safety and engagement. This can be an opportunity to explore your interests in the arts or tech in a casual, skill-building setting.
Location: GEMS Wellington Silicon Oasis, Dubai
Cost: Pricing available upon request; optional excursions may incur additional costs
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – August 11
Application deadline: Rolling (based on availability and group bookings)
Eligibility: Students, ages 12 – 18; group registration is required.
Hosted on the modern campus of GEMS Wellington Silicon Oasis, Embassy Summer Dubai combines English language learning with cultural immersion and leisure activities. You will attend 20 English lessons per week in international classrooms and participate in sports, drama, and creative workshops. Afternoons and evenings are packed with excursions across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, including visits to Burj Khalifa, Wild Wadi Water Park, and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The program includes full-board accommodation at The Myriad with access to facilities like a rooftop pool, cinema, and game rooms. Though geared toward international groups, this can be a structured, activity-rich opportunity to learn English for high school students in Dubai.
Location: Various partner hotels and restaurants across the UAE, including in Dubai
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two to four weeks in the summer
Application deadline: June 30
Eligibility: High school seniors and college students, ages 15 – 22, who are UAE nationals and UAE-based students
Offered by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, the Hospitality Summer Camp allows high schoolers and university students to explore the fields of hospitality and tourism through training, internships, and mentorship. Here, you will spend two to four weeks learning from hospitality service providers and engaging in job shadowing and internships within partner organizations, hotels, and restaurants. You will also attend lectures led by hospitality executives and participate in career and personal development sessions. The program is designed to offer exposure to food and beverage services, hotel operations, housekeeping, and guest services, culinary arts, and other areas within hospitality.
Location: Dubai and Abu Dhabi (twin-city program)
Cost: All-inclusive fee (details not specified), which covers tuition, housing, meals, materials, and excursions (travel to Dubai not included)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; application and enrollment fee required
Dates: Seven-day sessions in summer (exact dates to be announced)
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students, ages 13–18, with a B2 level or higher in English
The Quintus Scholars' Summer School in Dubai is a week-long immersive program that combines academic learning with city-based experiences with a focus on areas like business, innovation, leadership, and sustainability. You will attend seminars led by expert faculty, exploring subjects ranging from global finance to urban development and entrepreneurship. The program includes field visits to sites like the Dubai International Financial Centre, Masdar City, and Palm Jumeirah. The program’s twin-location model allows you to spend some time in Abu Dhabi, adding to the summer cultural and academic exposure.
Location: Middlesex University, Dubai
Cost: AED 1,200/week for UAE residents; you can contact the university for international rates.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: TBA; runs for one to six weeks
Application deadline: Rolling; early registration recommended
Eligibility: Middle and high school students (exact grade range not specified)
This summer camp offers you the opportunity to explore university-level subjects through hands-on discovery sessions and academic workshops. The camp offers themed sessions in business, computer science, fashion, media, law, and economics that give you a practical introduction to these fields. You will also participate in daily excursions across Dubai, learn academic skills, and interact with students from around the world. The program is structured to simulate a real university experience and help you build both subject knowledge and soft skills.
Location: Abu Dhabi University, Main Campus, Abu Dhabi
Cost: Not publicly listed; cost set in coordination with international partner institutions
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited to a delegation of 10 students (based on a previous cohort from China)
Dates: July 7 – 9
Application deadline: Not specified; by institutional coordination
Eligibility: Middle and early high school students, typically ages 10–14; the program accepts group participation.
Hosted by Abu Dhabi University in partnership with STEMStar, this three-day program offers students a condensed, hands-on introduction to STEM and leadership topics. Through workshops and simulations, participants explore artificial intelligence, robotics, entrepreneurship, digital tools, and sustainability, all guided by ADU faculty. The program also incorporates team-building, cultural activities, and a closing certificate ceremony. Although it primarily caters to international delegations, it highlights the UAE’s growing role in cross-cultural STEM education.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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