Foojay Podcast #10: JUG World Tour: Dubai JUG

Starting a Java User Group from scratch takes more than enthusiasm. It takes speakers, attendees, sponsors, and a local culture that wants to show up. We sat down with Jad Salhani and Chris Thalinger from the Dubai JUG, which kicked off in May 2022, for Foojay Podcast #10 in our JUG World Tour series.

What we talked about

The story behind launching the Dubai JUG in May 2022
The developer community landscape in Dubai
Finding local speakers and attracting attendees
First session experiences and lessons learned
Skill level diversity among members
Education, universities, and training programs in the region
Plans for upcoming JUG sessions
Corporate sponsorship and Azul’s support
Cultural similarities between Dubai and Hawaii
VoxxedDays Dubai conference planning
How to get in touch and join the community

What stood out

A new JUG faces real friction. Jad and Chris share how they navigate skill gaps, speaker scarcity, and sponsorship in a city that mixes many cultures. Their take on the parallels between Dubai and Hawaii makes for a fun detour.

See the Foojay Podcast #10 for all info, shownotes, links, etc.