Bcg riyadh

Question

Hi

I am considering to apply to BCG riyadh. I read reviews about the work life balance at this office including the one posted on this page and they were pretty bad. I know consulting is demanding but I wanted to get a exact idea about the work culture , average hours a week and exit options (not really necessary but still) before I apply.

Also how is this office compared to other BCG offices in the middle east like Dubai and Doha in terms of work culture and hours.

Would love to hear back from people who have previously worked at this office

Answer 1

Hi, the BCG Middle East offices work together as a system. Even when staffed with the Dubai office, you will likely travel to Saudi or Qatar for work more often than not. Given the high-profile nature of the work and engagement with senior leaders and public officials, the work is demanding but can be meaningful if you identify your 'why' for being at the firm. In terms of exit options, the firm itself posts several job postings for its people, both internally within different parts of BCG as well as in its wider network. Consulting is a top career choice for attractive exist options in the region into either the public sector or within well-known private companies

Answer 2

Hey there :)

The BCG Riyadh office is known to be one of the more intense ones in the Middle East region. Hours are typically longer than in Dubai or Doha, and weekend work can happen more often, mainly because of demanding local clients and tight project timelines. You can expect an average of around 70–80 hours a week during busy periods, though this varies by case and manager.

That said, the learning curve is steep and exposure is excellent, especially with government transformation projects under Saudi Vision 2030. Exit options tend to be strong, both into top-tier public sector roles and into strategy or investment positions in Saudi corporates and funds.

Compared to Dubai, Riyadh has less of an expat lifestyle and fewer cross-office projects, but the compensation is usually higher to reflect the intensity. Doha sits somewhere in between, with a smaller, slightly more balanced setup.

If you’d like, I can share what to emphasize in your application to make it stand out for this office.

best, Alessa :)