Tier-2 in Dubai or MBB in Europe?

First time I'm taking the liberty of sharing my thoughts since I am not a coach, but this is a no-brainer in my eyes. 

Looking at it from a long-term perspective, you have nothing to lose going for MBB in Europe. Better brand, closer to family, suits your lifestyle/culture, and with the MBB exit opportunities, there is good reason to believe your future income will outperform the one you'd make in Dubai in the short-term with a Tier 2. And if you truly want Dubai for yourself or your CV, spend 2 years at an MBB, and then make a move to the UAE.

Just the thoughts of a fellow recent grad.

Hi! Congrats on your offer - you’re in a very good position already. I’ve been in your shoes before in terms of deciding between geographies etc. and it really just comes down to how we define our priorities. 

Aspects such as family, brand value, compensation, culture, learning, hobbies, etc. all play a role. It looks to me like you are leaning towards Europe, but I understand the allure of Dubai compensation is hard to pass. Since you are early in your career, you don’t even need to think in terms of either or, they could both be part of your career trajectory whenever the time is right. A move from Europe to Dubai could be easier in some cases especially with an MBB experience on your CV, but you have family in Europe so your personal reasons should continue to justify a move the other way around as well. Also, not sure if you have considered recruiting for MBB in Dubai as well? Something to consider if compensation matters most to you 

You won’t lose either way - perhaps once you have other offers, we can revisit the conversation as sometimes being in that situation can make things seem clearer, both in the head and the heart! 

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the return offer!

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

• First of all, I would advise you to wait for the results of your upcoming application processes with MBB before you start thinking about a personal ranking. You may not end up with any more offers, as much as I would like you to.
• Moreover, in general, I would highly advise you to opt for the option that best aligns with your professional (and maybe even personal) mid- to long-term goals. In order to make an informed decision, I would advise you to do the following:
  • Weigh the different criteria that are meaningful to you independently of the current options (e.g., compensation, location, personal network). After that, score the options based on your criteria and their weighting, resulting in discrete scores. This way, you have covered the left-brain perspective.
  • Critically assess your initial reaction to the outcome of the scores. For instance, if you feel the urge to tweak the numbers, this is a solid indicator that you do not want this decision to become reality. This way, you have covered the right-brain perspective.
  • By doing so, you will be able to integrate both parts of the brain into the decision-making, guaranteeing a higher chance that you will still be happy with it years later.

You can find more on this topic here: How to succeed in the final interview round.

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

Best,

Hagen

Hey there :)

It really comes down to priorities. MBB in Europe gives unmatched brand, experience, and long-term exit options, while Dubai Tier-2 offers higher short-term pay and lifestyle benefits. You could leverage the Dubai offer as a safety net while pursuing MBB interviews, but be clear on what matters most: family and brand vs. compensation and location. Both paths have strong long-term potential; it’s about what trade-offs you’re willing to make now.

best, Alessa :)

Hi there, 

If you think about the longer term career, in the case that you might stay in consulting for more than just 2-3 years, then it would be easier to move from MBB Europe to Tier 2 Dubai in the future, than the other way round, should you change your mind later. 

Yet, I don't think the Tier 2 full time offer would be able to give you leverage for MBB full time recruiting though...

Best,

Emily

Hi there,

That’s a great situation to be in so congrats! 

Honestly, both paths are strong. MBB in Europe gives you top-tier brand and easier mobility long term, while Tier-2 in Dubai offers faster responsibility and strong pay. If you’re set on consulting as a career, MBB might open more doors later but if you’re optimizing for short-term experience and savings, Dubai’s a great launchpad. You could also mention your Dubai offer when recruiting in Europe as it shows you’re in demand.

My suggestion is to not make a decision until you have to. So focus on getting the MBB offer first, and you can come back to this later.

It sounds like a personal decision more than anything else. As in, based on what you feel is important to you. 

Going either way you can have a good and rewarding career. Dubai is indeed going to be financially more attractive, but you'd be foregoing the personal satisfaction that might be higher in Europe. 

I would recommend you have a close chat with a few people who are in the industry and who have a similar profile with your and who went either the Dubai route or the European route and see how they feel about their choices. 

Best,
Cristian 

Hi,

The answer is MBB

Hi,

wait till you have 2 offers in hand :)

Then I would consider what fits better with your overall plan for life. Where do you want be, what industry, etc.

Best,
Lukas