To consider designing future efforts toward developing leadership programs for women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it is important to understand how these women learn most effectively. In-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted with Emirati students at a women’s college in the UAE to investigate their learning backgrounds, perceptions, and transformational learning experiences while students. Additional interviews were conducted with faculty and staff to provide insights into many of the issues, challenges, and experiences the students discussed. Since developing leadership is a transforming process, transformational learning theory provided a valuable theoretical lens to guide this study. This paper presents findings related to how college experiences have changed these women through important influences (e.g., individuals, support systems, activities, teaching methods, life situation), struggles and challenges (e.g., new environment, learning English), and internal processes (e.g., reflection, discovery of new roles and relationships). Implications for developing leadership programs are also outlined.