Middle East Hiring

Yes and no, depends where you look.

The doors aren't shut. MBB, Tier 2, and the Big Four strategy arms are all still hiring in the region this year. But it's uneven. The Saudi side has cooled since the PIF pulled back its spending, and BCG got hit hardest there, so the giga-project hiring isn't what it was a year ago.

Where it's holding up better: the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi) feels steadier thanks to more private-sector work. Riyadh is still hiring, just pickier, and leaning toward newer priorities like tourism, AI, and entertainment over megaprojects. Qatar's picking up some of the people being shifted around too.

And the firms clearly still believe in the region. Bain just brought in a new Middle East managing partner in April, which you don't do if you're retreating.

From what I’ve seen and heard, I wouldn’t say there has been a significant pick-up yet. There are still opportunities, but firms remain selective and hiring levels are below where they were a couple of years ago.

That said, consulting markets can change quickly. There are expectations that 2027 could look quite different if project pipelines recover.

In the meantime, I’d keep an open mind geographically. Joining the same firm in another office during 2026 can be an excellent route into the Middle East later, as internal transfers after a few years are relatively common.

Focus on being ready when opportunities arise rather than trying to predict exactly when the market will turn.

Unfortunately, not from what I've been told, at least across the MBBs.

There are still occasional openings, particularly for candidates with highly relevant experience or strong referrals, but I wouldn't characterize the market as having picked up meaningfully yet.

Franco

No, at least not directly.

Still, that doesn't mean they are not hiring at all. Reach out to the recruiters to discuss the current status. 

Best,
Cristian