Need Clarity on Consulting Opportunities for Non-Saudis (KSA + Dubai + Global

This is an excellent set of questions, and you are being strategic by thinking about the KSA dynamic right now. KFUPM places well, but you need to be realistic about the hard constraints on the ground.

Here is the reality on the ground regarding the Middle East: For Saudi Arabia, Saudization policies are extremely strict and apply heavily to volume campus hires. Non-Saudis must be genuinely exceptional to bypass this priority, often meaning a 3.9+ GPA, prior top-tier internship experience (which you don't have yet), or a highly specialized degree. It is possible, but you must treat KSA as a highly selective stretch goal. Dubai is marginally easier for non-residents but remains fiercely competitive. Applying to Dubai from KFUPM is standard and should be a priority focus.

Regarding global applications, you cannot apply to 20 or 30 offices at once. All the major firms (MBB) have systems that aggressively limit candidates, usually to just one or maximum three offices total across the application period, regardless of whether they open at the same time. Applying to the same position multiple times globally will likely lead to automatic rejection or disqualification across the board. You need to pick your target office (usually the one where you have the highest language affinity or legal work authorization) and go all-in on that application.

Your best strategic pivot is to focus intensely on securing a referral and prioritizing your target office. Referrals are critical—they get your file pulled and reviewed by a person rather than just being a CV drop, but they are office-specific (a referral for Dubai does not count for London). For timing, target submitting your application package (which must be pristine) in late August/early September, as many application windows open then for penultimate-year students. Don't worry about communications skills yet; focus 90% of your energy now on finding your unique story and perfecting the written application.

All the best!

Halla Abdullah,

Great that you're thinking about this from now, as recruiting windows tend to close by November, the year before you plan to start. To answer your questions one by one:

1a. Realistic. A great entry point for someone studying in KSA would be McKinsey's Edad or similar programs like BCG's Tumooh. They aren't limited to Saudis but more so focus on people with a direct tie to the region.

1b. Yes.

2a. Pretty much everyone that applies at a fresh graduate level is a non-resident

2b. Yes. Spray and pray is the way to go.

3a/b. I think it varies from firm to firm, some employ a global hiring pool and you're only limited to 2-3 top choices (when you say 'office' here I assume you mean location).
3c. Assume that most, for your track, will open from ~ summer to ~ late fall.

3d. Yes, but again, varies from firm to firm.

4a. Network aggressively on LinkedIn and your personal network. WhatsApp, coffee chats, cold emails, etc. Assume 90% of people will ignore you.

4b. Varies, but at McK for example a referral applied to all offices, but the likelihood of you getting the chosen office is more so about immigration friction and tie to region rather than your own personal choice. 

5a. Covered in 3

5b. Check the applicant sites for each.

6a. Debating society in your university, public speaking courses, Toastmasters, and if you're willing to experiment, stand up comedy ;)

7a. Pure numbers game. Spray and pray and differentiate yourself compared to your classmates by going the extra mile. Extra courses, extra curriculars, high GPA, and be interesting.

Best of luck and happy to help individually if needed :)

Hi Abdullah!

Lots of questions. Let me try and take them one by one.

1. Saudi Arabia:
   – How realistic are internships or entry-level roles for non-Saudis under Saudization? >>> Possible, but as you might expect, smaller than for Saudis. I don't have any official stats on this though. 
   – And is entry-level still possible without consulting internship experience? >>> Yes. You do need to emphasize though what sort of experiences you've had previously that would make you relevant for this role (i.e., consulting-like experiences)
2. Dubai:
   – Are internships and full-time roles easier for non-residents?  >>> Generally it's a bit easier to start with an internship, but once again, this is rather anecdotical
   – Is applying from Saudi straightforward?
3. Applying globally:
   – How do candidates apply to 20–30+ offices at once? >>> They invest a lot of time. But what's most important is to strike the balance between volume and quality. You should develop a great application AND try to develop multiple of them to diversify your risk. Check this guide: Expert Guide: Build A Winning Application Strategy
   – Same portal or separate? >>> For each firm you need to apply on their portal
   – Do offices open at the same time? >>> No. Which is why tracking which one is open and which one is not is another time suck. 
   – Can I apply to the same position across many offices? >>> For virtually all consulting firms you can only apply to one role and if you don't get it you then need to wait for a year before reapplying
4. Referrals:
   – How do you get referrals inside and outside your country? >>> Check out these two guides for all things referrals: Expert Guide: How To Handle Networking Calls and Get Referrals; Expert Guide: How To Get Referrals Via LinkedIn?
   – Does one referral apply to multiple offices or only one?
5. Timing:
   – When do penultimate-year students usually apply? >>> Depends on the geography and firm since they all have different deadlines. You need to look it up. 
   – How do you track opening dates? >>> Build your own spreadsheet. There are also sample trackers available online, but it's probably easiest to build one you will actually use
6. Communication skills:
   – Best ways to improve public speaking for consulting interviews? >>> Get feedback from a professional
7. Saudization:
   – How do non-Saudis overcome this challenge and stay competitive? >>> Generally, a very strong application (CV, referral, etc.)

Hope these get you going in the right direction!
Best,

Cristian
 

Hey Abdullah :)

In Saudi, internships and entry roles for non-Saudis are limited because of Saudization, but not impossible, especially in practices where talent is scarce. You can still enter without prior consulting internships if your profile is strong. Dubai is generally easier for non-residents, and applying from Saudi is straightforward. For global applications you usually apply through the same portal but choose specific offices, and openings do not all follow the same timeline. You can apply to the same role in multiple offices, but each office screens you separately. Referrals are best done through networking; each referral is usually office specific. Penultimate-year students apply around late summer to early fall, depending on region. Tracking deadlines through the firm’s careers page and LinkedIn works well. For communication skills, regular mock interviews and structured speaking practice help most. On Saudization, strong academic results, good English, clear motivation, and early networking keep you competitive.

If you want, I can help you tailor your story for ME offices.

best, Alessa :)