How Hard Is It to Get Into Strategy Consulting in Dubai (or the Middle East) for Internships?

Hey there! 

You're asking all the right questions—and with your academic background, GPA, and prior consulting experience, you’re already in a solid position. Breaking into strategy consulting in Dubai or the Middle East is competitive, especially for internships, but absolutely possible from Europe. While local presence can help, MBB and strong Tier 2 firms like Roland Berger, Oliver Wyman, Kearney, and Strategy& regularly hire international candidates, particularly from top European schools.

Now is a good time to start reaching out and applying, as recruiting in the region can be a bit less structured and more rolling. Focus on highlighting your international profile, academic strength, and EY experience in a clear, impact-driven way on your CV. Try to connect with consultants in the Dubai offices for informal chats—referrals make a real difference there. If doors aren’t opening yet, consider relevant roles in Europe that give you strategy exposure (even in-house), and keep building your profile. Getting into Dubai laterally with 1–2 more years of strong experience is also a common and realistic path.

Best, Alessa

Hi there,

Great questions – here are some thoughts that I hope will help:

• It’s fairly common to break into consulting in the Middle East from a European business school, especially with a strong GPA, a well-crafted CV, and solid interview prep. Italian business schools, in particular, have been strong feeders into the region in recent years.

• Applying from Europe is absolutely normal, and many Middle East offices actively recruit on campus at top European schools.

• Application timelines vary by firm, but it might already be late for this summer’s internships – worth checking directly with each firm.

• All major consulting firms will consider your profile. That said, regional hiring needs and macro conditions fluctuate year by year, which can make the process more or less competitive depending on timing.

• While this is a personal journey, in general: a strong CV, networking (a few well-placed calls go a long way), securing a referral, and nailing the online test and interviews are key to success.

• Gaining any consulting internship – even outside the region – or experience at a top-tier industry firm will boost your chances significantly. I’d suggest ramping up your networking closer to the application window rather than too early.

Hope this helps! Feel free to reach out if you’d like to discuss any of this further.

Best regards,

Hi there,

If you’ve already graduated, aiming for internships isn’t ideal - firms will question why you're not applying for full-time roles. Focus your efforts there.

That said, Dubai is one of the most competitive consulting markets globally and they have overhired over the last couple of years - even top MBA grads from elite schools are currently struggling to land interviews there. Firms often prioritize candidates with regional ties or GCC work experience. Applying from Europe is possible, but less likely to succeed right now unless your profile stands out strongly.

Best approach:

• Target full-time roles in Europe/Italy where your chances are higher.
• Build a strong consulting resume, gain experience, and consider internal transfer after 12–18 months.
• If consulting does not work out, look for similar industry roles.
• Keep networking in the Middle East to stay visible.
• If the market improves, your chances will improve too - so timing matters.

You're early in your journey and already taking the right steps. Now it's about playing the long game strategically.

Cheers,

Florian

Given your profile, I believe you have a realistic chance of being considered for an internship in Dubai.