Exit opportunities from MBB Middle East

Question

Hi everyone, I’d like to hear your opinions / suggestions about the potential exit opportunities from MBB in Middle East region.

Given that a lot of the projects in the region are mostly focused on public sector and large-scale transformations, I wonder how transferable that experience is if one wants to move to another region later on, for example, APAC (Australia, Asia etc.) in 2-3 years years, and what kind of future career directions can be most relevant.

I know it’s hard to predict the future, but if I want to keep that option open, what should I be mindful of now? Any advice on project selection, networking, or the kind of experience that would be most valuable for such a global move?

Thanks a lot for any insights!

Answer 1

Hi there,

MBB in the Middle East can open strong exit opportunities, though the path depends on how you shape your experience. The region’s work is indeed heavy on public sector and large-scale transformations, but that doesn’t make it less transferable — transformation and strategy skills are relevant globally.

If you want to leave doors open for a move, try to:

Get exposure to private sector or cross-industry projects where possible.
Build skills in areas that travel well (strategy design, operating model, digital/AI, transformation delivery).
Actively network with colleagues across offices — internal transfers are often driven by relationships as much as staffing needs.
Keep in touch with global clients or projects that have footprints in multiple regions.

In terms of exits, people in the Middle East often move into government/sovereign wealth funds, large corporates, or global PE/VC. If you later want to move to APAC, positioning yourself on transferable themes like transformation, digital, or sector expertise (e.g., energy, healthcare, consumer) will make that transition much smoother.

Best,
Evelina

Answer 2

That's a cool question.

First of all, you're likely to get really interesting and useful answers if you ask specifically people who have had this experience. Go on LinkedIn, filter for those who worked for MBBs in ME, and who now have moved on to other firms. Reach out to a couple of them and ask politely for a few minutes of their time. I'm certain some will agree with it. Get a sense of how they navigated this process.

Second, regarding what to focus on in the next period - if you have a sense of what you'd be interested in doing post-MBB, then try and seek opportunities/projects in that industry / practice now already. This will help you develop a stronger value proposition in that area, which will make you an even more attractive hire.

Best,
Cristian

Answer 3

Within the Gulf, exits are strong locally, but less transferable to Europe or North America, where MENA experience is often seen as "less sophisticated". Australia is similar, East Asia may be a bit more open given Dubai’s role as a connecting hub.

If you want global mobility, push for private sector/PE/SWF work, build networks in your target region, and frame your skills as large-scale transformation expertise rather than only generic public sector transformation / PMO work. Good luck!