This was our first retreat.


We’re going back: Dec 24 – 31, 2026.


A leadership journey for remarkable young Muslims aged 18-24, Queen City University returns to Andalusia for our second Annual Retreat. We invite applications from remarkable young men and women, including college students, young professionals, and graduate students.

Queen City University At A Glance

📅 When: Over winter break, Thursday, December 24 – Thursday, December 31, 2026.

📍 Where: Andalusia, Spain (Málaga, Córdoba, Sevilla, Granada and beyond)

👥 Who: Young Muslim women and men, aged 18-24. That includes college students, young professionals, and graduate students. We invite applicants from the US and beyond!

💰 Cost: $2,500 per person. The per-person price will include accommodations, ground transportation, two daily meals, and all classes, tours, workshops and experiences.

🎓 Scholarships: Limited scholarships available for deserving candidates. See our application to learn more.

✈️ What’s Not Included: International flights, travel insurance, personal expenses and one daily meal

📋 Deposit: $150 application deposit (refunded if not accepted; credited toward program cost if accepted)

🎯 Spots: Limited seats available

🔄 Process: Rolling admissions → Virtual or in-person interview → Pre-trip planning session

Why Andalusia?:

Andalusia isn’t just a beautiful backdrop—it’s where Muslim civilization reached extraordinary heights in philosophy, science, architecture, and interfaith coexistence. When young Muslims walk through the Alhambra’s courtyards, stand where Ibn Rushd taught, and see the sophistication our ancestors achieved, something shifts. If our history is this expansive, their futures can be too. This isn’t about nostalgia.

It’s about showing young Muslims what’s possible when Muslims invest in learning, creativity, and community—and giving them the tools and network to build that future themselves.

There’s no program for young Muslims like Queen City University.


The Queen City University Experience

Queen City University is a leadership retreat—so much more than a tour, so much bigger than any other study abroad, a unique vision of Muslim community empowerment that balances our diversity with our purpose, potential and moral consciousness. Each Queen City University retreat is a bespoke, intensive week designed to help exceptional young Muslims grow in three key ways:

  • Religious Growth: Guided discussions on faith, identity, and navigating contemporary challenges as Muslims
  • Professional Development: Skills workshops on networking, communication, and leadership from accomplished mentors
  • Community Building: Join a global alumni network that becomes sounding boards, collaborators, and partners for decades to come

Unlike study abroad programs, we’re limited to 16 participants for deep, personalized attention. Unlike tours, we focus on your development—sightseeing is wonderful, sure, and there’s plenty of it, but so much more. Every session, every site visit, every conversation is designed around one question: How do we help you step into your potential?


Designed and led by Haroon Moghul—with over two decades of experience as a parent, educator, and university chaplain—this is a labor of love and faith. For over twenty years, Haroon has designed leadership retreats around the world, taught at some of the world’s most prestigious universities, and led professional development programs from high school through senior professional levels. Learn more about Haroon.

We’re channeling these experiences into a program of elite caliber: creative, endlessly curious, ethical, principled, and globally minded.

We’re building Queen City University with our dedicated long-time partner, Travel Safina.

What You’ll Experience

Learning & Development:

  • Sessions with accomplished leaders in tech, law, entrepreneurship, religion, arts, culture and nonprofit work
  • Skills workshops: networking, professional communication, leadership
  • Guided discussions on faith, career, and building community
  • Peer collaboration on real projects

Cultural Immersion:

  • Explore Granada’s Alhambra, CĂłrdoba’s Mezquita, Seville’s AlcĂĄzar
  • Learn about architecture, poetry, calligraphy, and Islamic contributions to civilization
  • We pray together, do dhikr together, and make time for reflection, introspection and contemplation

Independent Exploration:

  • Built-in free time to discover Spanish cities on your own
  • Freedom to grab meals, explore neighborhoods, and make your own adventures
  • Practice navigating the world with the support of experienced mentors nearby

Community:

  • Two (halal) meals eaten together every day
  • Shared accommodations with roommates matched by gender and interests
  • Deep conversations that last long after the trip ends

What Makes Queen City University Different?

Our Leadership Team includes our Leadership Partner, Elias Keeler, an entrepreneur with deep roots in Spain (and beyond), fluent in Arabic, Spanish and English, who’s worked with international travelers of all ages for many years. Our Leadership Fellow, Sadia Malik, is the Emerging Leaders Program Manager at the American Pakistan Foundation, Vice Curator of the Global Shapers Cincinnati Hub, and Youth Director at the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, currently a graduate student at SOAS (University of London).

Together, we create programming that honors where you are and helps you grow toward where you want to be.

Mentors & Guest Speakers: Participants learn from accomplished professionals across industries. The full speaker list will be shared with accepted participants.

Program Structure & Support

Queen City University is designed for young Muslims who are ready to navigate the world with the help of dedicated mentors and trusted guides.

What This Looks Like:

  • Structured Programming: Scheduled sessions, site visits, and group activities
  • Independent Exploration: Built-in free time to explore cities, grab meals, discover on your own
  • Available Staff: Leadership team on-site and accessible 24/7 for questions or emergencies
  • Group Accommodations: Shared rooms with common areas for gathering
  • Local Orientation: Safety briefings and insider tips for navigating Spanish cities
  • Emergency Protocols: Local contacts, clear procedures, and advance planning. We build our trips around our participants, with guides and mentors who are prepared for any contingency.

Our Philosophy

If we want young Muslims to grow into leaders who can build beyond their horizons, they need to practice independence in a supportive environment. We create structure and stay available, but give participants the freedom to explore, make choices, and learn from experience.


Questions We’ll Explore

  • What explains the rise and fall of the old Muslim world?
  • What unique lessons can we take from Muslim Spain into our lives today?
  • Why have Muslim communities struggled to translate their numbers into meaningful impact?
  • How can young Muslims balance faith and career, beliefs and belonging?
  • How does Islam help us build strength, resilience, and perspective?
  • How can Muslims do more to enrich and empower our societies?
  • What professional skills and insights can help young Muslims realize their career potential?
  • How should young men and women think about the biggest decisions in their lives and make better choices that honor their potential and purpose?

Program Details

Dates: December 24 – December 31, 2026
Cities: MĂĄlaga, CĂłrdoba, Sevilla, Granada, and beyond!
Cost: $2,500 per person

What’s Included in that cost:

  • All hotel accommodations (participants matched with same-gender roommate based on similar interests)
  • All ground transportation between cities and for tours/programs (staff travels with participants)
  • Two daily halal meals (we emphasize eating together for community building)
  • All program sessions, activities, expert instruction, and mentorship
  • Entrance fees to all sites and museums
  • Entry into growing alumni network spanning US, UK, and beyond

What’s Not Included:

  • International flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses (such as gifts, snacks, and one daily meal). We want to give participants time to break off with friends and explore on their own!

How to Apply

Process:

  1. Submit Application: Our online application form will be available soon. The application takes thirty minutes to complete; you can save your progress and return to complete the application.
  2. Interview: Selected applicants meet with our Leadership Team via Zoom so we can get to know each other, answer questions, and prepare the applicant for how to make the most of our time together
  3. Acceptance Decision: We notify you within two weeks of your interview
  4. Pre-Trip Planning: Accepted participants join a session to help shape programming around cohort interests and goals
  5. Travel Support: We help arrange flights and provide packing lists, emergency contacts, trip details

Timeline: Rolling admissions—apply early for best scholarship consideration!


Who Should Apply?

We welcome and encourage applications from young Muslims of diverse backgrounds, religious understanding, areas of interest, and ambitions. Even as we are based in the US, and focused on American Muslim communities, we warmly welcome participants from other countries! Developing those transnational connections, and experiencing and exploring our ummah as it exists today, is part of the Queen City University experience. After all, our participants do better the more connected they are to the wider world.

Our alumni community already extends from North America to Europe and the GCC.

You’re a strong candidate if you’re:

  • Currently enrolled as an undergraduate or have recently graduated. We aim for applicants aged 18-24 years old
  • Curious and eager to grow in your faith
  • Want to build deep connections with like-minded Muslim peers
  • Ready to engage with complex questions and diverse perspectives
  • Eager to serve your communities with intention and impact

Whether you grew up Muslim or you’re new to Islam, whether you’re conservative or progressive in practice or perspective, all are welcome! We create space for honest questions, different perspectives, and authentic faith development.

We’ll select our cohort based on the strength, seriousness, and passion of our applicants.

Scholarships Available

Thanks to generous supporters, we have a limited scholarship fund for participants who would benefit from financial assistance. We believe cost should never be a barrier for deserving candidates—please apply even if you have financial concerns.

For Parents


We understand this is a significant investment and decision. We’re happy to:

  • Answer questions about program structure, participant responsibilities, and emergency protocols
  • Discuss the application process and what makes a strong candidate
  • Connect you with parents from our January 2026 cohort
  • Provide detailed itineraries and daily schedules

Contact: haroon@queencitydiwan.com


Questions?

Contact us here or email haroon@queencitydiwan.com. We’re happy to share more!

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