Hi there,
MENA clients are typically big on "face-time", that is true. So I do understand when someone thinks that after COVID, we would all go back to 4-5 days on the ground every week.
However, there are two changes that I think will happen post-COVID:
1) On average, there will be less travelling (3-days on the ground can become the new normal):
- I do see that consulting companies and clients (specifically public sector clients) have realized that some meetings could have been emails or even phone calls!
- Everyone realized in the past 2 months into the lockdown here that consultants are still able to deliver high-quality work while working remotely!
- Even clients who are "stubborn" regarding facetime, will become more understanding if the team alternates between "normal 4-days" and "new normal 3-days" every week.
3) Clients and consulting companies could have a win-win situation by reducing rates and allowing a better work-life balance.
- Given the shrinking gov. budgets (low oil prices and high COVID costs), governments would want to cut costs.
- Consulting companies can reduce their overall rates by cutting down on the ridiculously expensive hotel bills in Riyadh and on those skyrocketing Dubai-Riyadh Sunday-Wednesday roundtrip tickets
MENA consultants would love to skip that Sunday 6-7 am flight from Dubai to Riyadh! I hope I never have to take it again ever in my life :)
Best,
Khaled