New York, United States
The world's foremost global city — New York brings together the headquarters of international finance, the United Nations, and an unmatched concentration of professional expertise, making it one of the most powerful settings for high-level professional development anywhere on earth.
WHY NEW YORK
The world's global city
New York City is the undisputed capital of global finance, commerce, and international diplomacy. Home to the New York Stock Exchange, the United Nations headquarters, and the regional offices of virtually every major multinational corporation, it offers professionals from the GCC, Africa, and Asia an unparalleled environment in which to develop and refine their skills
Global finance capital
Home to Wall Street, the NYSE, and the headquarters of the world's largest financial institutions — an environment of unmatched professional energy.
United Nations HQ
The principal seat of the United Nations — highly relevant for delegates from government, public sector, and international development organisations.
Well Connected
Three major airports — JFK, Newark (EWR), and LaGuardia (LGA) — serve New York, with direct or one-stop connections from Riyadh,Dubai, Doha, Lagos, Nairobi, and Accra
Extraordinary Diversity
Over 800 languages spoken across the five boroughs. New York's diversity means delegates from every background will find a familiar and welcoming community.
CULTURE & ATTRACTIONS
Beyond the classroom
New York offers one of the richest concentrations of cultural experiences on earth. World-class museums, iconic landmarks, and vibrant neighbourhoods are accessible from any training venue — most within a short subway or taxi ride of Midtown Manhattan.
Attraction
What to expect
Metropolitan Museum of
Art
One of the world's greatest art museums, housing over two million works spanning 5,000 years of human history — from ancient Egyptian artefacts to modern American masters.
Statue of Liberty & Ellis
Island
America's most iconic landmark. The ferry from Battery Park offers spectacular views of Lower Manhattan. Ellis Island tells the story of global migration to the United States.
Central Park
843 acres of green space at the heart of Manhattan. Ideal for early morning walks, jogging, or quiet reflection between training sessions.
9/11 Memorial & Museum
A deeply moving tribute to the victims of 11 September 2001, situated on the site of the original World Trade Center. One of the most significant memorial sites in the world.
Brooklyn Bridge &
DUMBO
The 1883 suspension bridge offers one of the finest views of the Manhattan skyline. The DUMBO neighbourhood below has become a vibrant arts and technology district.
Museum of Modern Art
(MoMA)
Houses the world's finest collection of modern and contemporary art — Van Gogh's Starry Night, Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, and works by Warhol, Pollock, and Matisse.
The High Line
A 2.3-kilometre elevated park built on a disused railway line above the West Side. One of the most innovative urban regeneration projects in the world, with outstanding Manhattan views.
Times Square & Fifth
Avenue
The iconic crossroads of the world. Fifth Avenue offers a concentration of flagship stores, the Empire State Building, and St Patrick's Cathedral.
WEATHER
What to expect throughout the year
New York has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid; winters can be cold with occasional snowfall. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable conditions for combining training with city exploration.
Season
Temperature
Notes
Spring (Mar–May)
7°C – 20°C
Mild and brightening. Central Park in bloom. Variable conditions — layers advisable.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
20°C – 30°C
Warm and humid. Lively outdoor scene. Air-conditioning universal indoors.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
8°C – 22°C
Crisp and colourful. Often considered the finest season to visit New York.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
-2°C – 7°C
Cold and occasionally snowy. Festive from late November. All venues fully heated.
Dress Code Guidance
Context
Recommended Attire
Training sessions
Smart business or casual attire. Layers are advisable given the transition between outdoor temperatures and heavily air-conditioned interiors, particularly in summer.
City exploration
Comfortable walking shoes are essential — New York is best explored on foot and by subway. A warm, windproof coat is necessary from November through March. Light layers work well in spring and autumn.
GETTING AROUND
Navigating the city
New York's subway system is one of the largest in the world, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Combined with taxis, ride-hailing services, and the city's famous walkability in Midtown, getting around is straightforward for first-time visitors.
Mode
Deatils
Subway
Runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — one of the very few metro systems in the world to do so. 472 stations across all five boroughs. An OMNY contactless card or MetroCard is used for payment. Essential for navigating Manhattan efficiently.
Airport connections
JFK: AirTrain to Jamaica station, then subway or LIRR to Midtown — approximately 60 minutes. Newark (EWR): NJ Transit to Penn Station — approximately 30 minutes. LaGuardia (LGA): taxi or ride-hailing recommended — approximately 30–45 minutes to Midtown.
Taxis & ride-hailing
New York's iconic yellow cabs are metered and available throughout Manhattan. Uber and Lyft operate extensively. Midtown traffic can be very heavy during peak hours — the subway is usually faster for cross-Manhattan journeys.
Bus Network
An extensive bus network covers areas not served by the subway, including crosstown routes across Manhattan. Accepts OMNY contactless payment. Useful for east-west travel across Midtown where subway lines run predominantly north-south.
Walking
Midtown Manhattan is laid out on a grid and highly walkable. Many training venues, hotels, and major attractions in the 30s to 60s street range are within comfortable walking distance of each other.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before you arrive
Key practical details to help delegates from across the GCC, Africa, and Asia prepare for a comfortable and productive visit to New York.
Topic
Information
Currency
US Dollar (USD). Contactless and card payments are universally accepted. Cash is rarely necessary but ATMs are available everywhere. Tipping is customary — 10-15% is standard in service settings.
Time Zone
EST (UTC-5) in winter and EDT (UTC-4) in summer. New York is 8 hours behind Riyadh, 9 hours behind Dubai, 8 hours behind Nairobi, and 5 hours behind London in winter.
Electricity
Type A and B plugs (two flat pins), 120V / 60Hz. Delegates from the GCC, Africa, Europe, and Asia will require a US travel adaptor. A voltage converter may be needed for devices not rated for 110-240V.
Halal Dining
New York has one of the largest halal food scenes in the world. Halal-certified restaurants are available across Manhattan, particularly in Midtown, Murray Hill, and Jackson Heights (Queens). Halal food carts are also a well-known feature of Manhattan street life.
Places of Worship
The Islamic Cultural Center of New York (96th Street, Manhattan) is the city's principal mosque. A Qibla direction indicator is available on request at most international hotels. Muslim delegates are advised that the Muslim Pro app provides accurate prayer times and Qibla direction worldwide. Christian delegates will find hundreds of churches of every denomination, including St Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue.
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