Confused About Consulting Opportunities as a Non-Saudi Student – Need Advice

Hello Abdullah,

I’m actually involved in recruiting at the MBB firm I work for (BCG), and I can tell you first-hand that the situation is more flexible than people often assume.

Yes, Saudi offices do prioritize Saudis for internships because of Saudization. That part is true. But it’s not accurate to say that non-Saudis “can’t” get internships. Even in the most recent batch of CVs we reviewed for internship placements, the pool was still diverse. When staffing circulates CVs to project leaders like me, I usually receive ~20 CVs at a time — and consistently 20–30% of them are non-Saudis. So the door is definitely not closed.

For full-time roles, the picture is even clearer. MBB firms are global firms. We continuously hire international talent, and we’re not going to limit ourselves to only Saudis. You can see it in every recruiting pipeline — we hire many Saudis, yes, but we also hire many non-Saudis. So please don’t let anyone discourage you on that front.

One thing I always tell candidates is: don’t restrict your applications to the country you live in. Consulting is truly global. You’d be surprised how many people apply to offices far outside where they currently are. I know someone who lived in Saudi but applied to (and joined) the Jakarta office because he spoke Indonesian and is of Indonesian descent. Others apply to Dubai, London, Switzerland, France, Singapore, the U.S., etc. This is completely normal in consulting.

So your strategy should have two layers:

1. A regional strategy, where you still apply to the Middle East offices (KSA + Dubai + Doha).
2. A global strategy, where you apply to other offices of the same firms. Outside KSA, Saudization doesn’t apply at all, so your nationality won’t be a constraint.

Another point: referrals really help, especially in the Middle East. In MBB systems, referrals aren’t limited to one geography —> if someone refers you, that referral can be directed to any office where roles are open. So if you can network your way into a referral, you immediately increase your chances in multiple offices, not just Saudi Arabia.

If I were in your shoes, I’d focus on three things right now:

• Build a strong profile
• Apply both regionally and globally
• Try to secure a referral from someone in the firm

And if you ever want to go deeper into the process —> how to choose offices, how referrals actually work, or how to tailor your application then I’m happy to jump on a call and walk you through everything.

Best of luck to both you and your brother, you’re asking the right questions and you’re early enough to set yourselves up very well.

Best,

Elie

Hey Abdullah,

It’s actually true that many Saudi offices prioritize Saudis for internships and entry-level roles due to Saudization, so non-Saudis often face strong limits there. 

Full-time roles can be slightly more flexible (from my experience and friends working there), especially if you have strong international experience or specialized skills, but competition is tough. Dubai is much more open for internships and consulting roles, and applying there from Saudi is realistic if you start early, network, and tailor your CV for the region. Right now, focus on building strong consulting skills: case prep, internships (even remote or in strategy/finance), leadership experiences, and any international exposure. Networking with alumni in Dubai or regional offices can also help a lot.

Best, Alessa :)

This is a very astute observation, and I appreciate you bringing this question forward. The short answer is: you are correct, and you need to adjust your strategy immediately to avoid wasting time on applications that will be desk-rejected.

The reality on the ground is that for non-Saudis, landing a generalist consulting internship in Riyadh right now is nearly impossible. Firms rely on the internship pipeline to fulfill their Saudization mandate for junior roles. Bringing in non-Saudis at the internship level actively undermines this quota strategy. While the same pressures exist for full-time analyst/associate roles, non-citizens are generally hired only if they bring highly specialized, often technical, skills that are unavailable locally, or are moving into specialized support functions. This doesn't apply to entry-level Finance or CS graduates looking for a generalist track.

Therefore, the strategic pivot to Dubai and other regional hubs is critical—this is what top non-local candidates do. The UAE and Qatar offices operate differently; they are regional talent hubs that still hire large volumes of international candidates to serve projects across the GCC, North Africa, and sometimes globally. You should focus 95% of your recruiting effort on the Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Doha offices for full-time starting positions.

For Abdullah (KFUPM), your geographical knowledge and regional prestige is a definite asset, but you must clearly signal in your cover letter and networking that you are targeting the regional, non-national track based out of the UAE. For Osama (Monash), his global university ranking is strong. He should focus on leveraging Monash’s career services to connect with recruitment streams for international candidates targeting the Middle East, even if the recruiting is managed from a London or Singapore hub.

The key action item right now is to stop looking at the KSA internship market and start aggressively networking with consultants currently working in the Dubai offices to demonstrate commitment to relocation and regional work, not just location hopping. You are still highly competitive candidates, but you are playing on the wrong field.

Hope this clarifies the mechanics. All the best!

Hi Abdullah,

You’re right that many consulting internships in Saudi are heavily focused on Saudi nationals because of Saudization policies, so non-Saudis often face real limits there. Full-time roles can be slightly more flexible depending on the firm and visa rules, but it is generally more competitive. Dubai is definitely a realistic alternative since most offices there are more open to international candidates. While still at university, it helps to focus on networking with people in Dubai offices, getting strong analytical and consulting-relevant experience, and highlighting academic performance and leadership in your CV.