Innovation City launches first summer internship program with AURAK

Innovation City has launched its inaugural Summer Internship Program in Ras Al Khaimah, placing 36 AURAK students into live roles across its ecosystem this June and July. The initiative is designed to close a UAE talent gap while building a pipeline from university study to jobs and startups.

Why it matters: - The program is designed to address a UAE hiring challenge, as nearly 40% of companies in the country report difficulty finding skilled talent for technical and specialized roles. - Innovation City is using the internship as a long-term pipeline for local talent, with a framework that connects students to jobs and, for some, to entrepreneurship in the UAE. - The initiative gives students real-world experience in one of Ras Al Khaimah’s most active innovation ecosystems.

What happened: - Innovation City launched its first Summer Internship Program in Ras Al Khaimah in partnership with the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK). - The program placed 36 AURAK students into live roles across Innovation City’s ecosystem this June and July. - The students come from computer science, artificial intelligence, business administration, mass communication and accounting.

The details: - Interns are working on real projects, solving real challenges and building practical skills across the free zone ecosystem. - Placements span technology, artificial intelligence, business, marketing, communications and accounting. - Each student is matched to a role based on field of study and career goals. - On completion, participants receive an endorsed certificate recognizing their contribution and intended to improve job-market competitiveness. - Innovation City describes itself as the UAE’s premier AI-powered free zone. - The program is meant to follow students from their first placement to their first job, and for entrepreneurial students, from their first idea to a registered UAE company.

Between the lines: - The internship is as much a talent-sourcing effort as a student development program. - Innovation City is signaling that it wants to build a permanent local workforce pipeline instead of relying on short-term hiring fixes. - AURAK’s participation suggests universities in Ras Al Khaimah are becoming more directly tied to the emirate’s economic development plans.

What’s next: - Innovation City expects the program to continue beyond this summer as the start of a broader talent infrastructure. - The company says the pipeline begins with these 36 students and is intended to expand over time. - More information is available in the company's announcement. - Innovation City is also sharing updates on LinkedIn and Instagram.

The bottom line: - Innovation City is turning an internship into a longer-term workforce strategy for Ras Al Khaimah and the wider UAE.