McKinsey Office Riyadh

Hey there, 

I worked between Dubai and Riyadh for 5 years, and the culture is great, friendly and tight-bound community. 

The hours can change widely between different projects so some people may be more or less available depending on the work that they are on.

Leadership is supportive and community-oriented in Riyadh. Comparing to oil & gas, the structure is much less formal / corporate. You will not have a full time manager, more of a project by project management and leadership.

Hope this helps and happy to talk more about McKinsey Middle East, KSA and interview processes !

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your questions:

• First of all, on the exact culture and client mix of the Riyadh office, I would strongly advise you to reach out directly to the recruiting team there and, even better, to current consultants in that office, because no one from the outside can tell you for certain. In general terms only, Riyadh is one of the fastest growing hubs in the region, with a lot of public sector and large transformation work, so the pace is high and the exposure is broad.
• Moreover, coming from oil and gas is not a weakness at all, it is actually an asset. Your industry knowledge is valuable, especially in that market. What you need to add on top are the consulting skills, which you will be taught once you join a consulting firm.
• Lastly, I would strongly advise you to start practicing case studies early and to at least consider working with an experienced coach like me to succeed in your application processes.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare your application files, for your upcoming pre-interview assessments and/or interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

I've worked with candidates preparing for that office, as well as with candidates with an O&G background. 

Overall, I've only heard good things about the office and the culture. With McKinsey in particular, since it's a global firm, you also have the possibility of working in other regions or working as part of international teams. That expands your options even further.

I also recommend you reach out to a couple of the consultants in the office to get their thoughts on the culture there. Here's a guide you might find useful:

• • Expert Guide: How To Handle Networking Calls and Get Referrals

Best,
Cristian

hey! 

The Riyadh office is intense but generally positive. The work is fast, clients are senior, and projects move quickly because the market is changing all the time. You’ll see a lot of public‑sector transformation, strategy, and implementation. The culture is driven, international, and very team‑oriented, with long hours but strong support.

Coming from oil and gas, the best preparation is getting comfortable with broader problem‑solving: structuring issues, communicating clearly, and thinking beyond technical depth. You don’t need to hide your background; it’s actually useful, but you’ll need to show you can switch from industry expertise to generalist consulting. Practising cases with people and tightening your communication is the cleanest way to get ready. If you want, I can help you work on consulting basics or shape your transition story.

Alessa

The Riyadh office is incredibly intense. Their work is heavily tied to Vision 2030 and massive public sector transformations. The culture is fast-paced because client mandates are huge.

Regarding your transition, your background is an asset, but only if you translate it. Interviewers do not care about engineering specs. They want to know how you drove cost optimization or improved operational efficiency.

The real challenge is showing structured business thinking. Feel free to reach out to sanity check your resume.