Goldman Sachs Dubai: how to get in and what it's actually like

Goldman Sachs Dubai sits inside the DIFC and covers investment banking, markets, and asset management across the MENA region. For a UK graduate interested in international finance, it is one of the highest-calibre destinations available. It is also one of the least understood.

The careers page tells you very little. What actually matters, covering the culture, the deal flow, what interviewers are really looking for, how the Dubai office differs from London, and what happens after two years, you have to piece together yourself. This article is that piece.

What Goldman Sachs Dubai actually does

Goldman's Dubai office is the firm's primary hub for MENA coverage. The core businesses are investment banking (M&A, ECM, DCM), markets (fixed income, currencies, equities), and asset and wealth management for Gulf-based clients. In recent years, the office has been involved in some of the highest-profile transactions in the region:

• Saudi Aramco's IPO advisory and follow-on mandates
• UAE government privatisation and capital markets transactions
• Gulf sovereign wealth fund strategic advisory
• Cross-border M&A for GCC-headquartered conglomerates
• Islamic finance and sukuk structuring

The deal flow is not a niche product. MENA has been one of the most active investment banking markets globally over the past three years, and Goldman has been at the centre of that activity.