International studies involves investigating how various actors relate to each other on the world stage. It includes subjects such as conflict, economics, politics, the environment, and other issues that affect more than one country.

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven emirates on the eastern side of the Arabian peninsula, at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. Much of the work force in the UAE are foreign expatriates - hence the country's population makeup being so diverse, with Emirati citizens being a minority in their own country.