The inaugural Gulf News LevelUP kicked off Saturday, September 26, at Dusit Thani Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road, running through Sunday, September 27. The two-day event gathered more than 20 universities and career service providers, giving graduates and working professionals a chance to explore pathways for advancing their careers.
Participating institutions showcased master's degrees, MBAs, professional certifications and specialised programmes designed to match current workplace demands. Key focus areas included artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, sustainability, finance, health sciences, circular economy design and digital transformation — fields aligned with the UAE's strategic priorities, including its AI Strategy 2031 and Net Zero 2050 agenda.
Organisers said the event's core aim was to connect professionals directly with educational institutions and industry experts, allowing attendees to assess flexible, industry-connected learning options without stepping away from their current jobs. Visitors could sit in on expert-led sessions, speak one-on-one with university representatives, and gather information on options for climbing the career ladder, pivoting into a new field, or preparing for their next professional move.
The organisers described LevelUP as part of a broader push to support professional skills development in Dubai, at a time when demand for advanced technology and sustainability-related skills is rising sharply across the UAE job market. The event builds on Gulf News' established track record of education fairs, which have previously brought together students, universities and study-abroad specialists at similar gatherings in the emirate.
For professionals weighing their next career step, the event offered a rare single-venue opportunity to compare programmes side by side rather than researching institutions individually online.