Why MEA is Becoming a Hub for Management Consulting Services

Management consulting services are in high demand in the Middle East and Africa as a result of the market’s rapid economic expansion and regulatory reforms in the financial sector in countries such as KSA and UAE. Faster economic growth due to economic diversification, the introduction of digital consulting as a result of expanding digital transformation activities in the MEA region, and increased globalization are all likely to accelerate market expansion. 

Overview of MEA Management Consulting Services Industry  

The Middle East and Africa management consulting services industry is fragmented, with key companies including Ernst & Young Global Limited, Mckinsey & Company, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, Arif Kitchlew Management Consultancy (AKMC), and Decision Management Consultants LLC. Market players are implementing methods such as collaborations and acquisitions to improve their product offerings and achieve a long-term competitive advantage. 

Growing investments in innovative technologies are driving the Middle East and African management consulting services market. The adoption of business intelligence (BI) and sophisticated data management methods by various firms, economic change, government-led diversification projects, and digitalization are among other factors. 

The demand for consulting services in the Middle East is high. Major development programs, such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, have provided major prospects for consultancy businesses. Top global players such as Deloitte and PwC are extending their footprint.  

Deloitte, a renowned global professional services business, has announced plans to open the ServiceNow Public Sector Innovation Center at the Deloitte Digital Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  

PwC is making significant investments in its managed services business in the Middle East. The company intends to add approximately 1,000 employees to the present headcount in the region, building on the tremendous growth of its managed services business globally. Over the next three years, PwC plans to invest in its existing delivery centers in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, as well as open many additional sites. 

As organizations in the MEA region adopt digital technologies, management consulting firms must keep up with the changes and develop new expertise and skills in areas such as AI, big data, and automation, which are expected to drive rapid demand for management consulting services during the forecast period. 

Trends Shaping MEA as a Hub for Management Consulting  

Strong economic growth, changes in financial sector regulation, outsourcing back-end operations to low-cost economies, and government initiatives have all contributed to an increase in the demand for management consulting services. The region’s market is anticipated to grow more quickly due to faster economic growth, the advent of digital consulting, and increased globalization. 

Initiatives for regional economic diversification and technological advancement are driving a major transition in the MEA management consulting services market. The region’s nations are actively working to enhance their infrastructure and implement economic reforms, which presents significant prospects for consulting businesses. 

1. National Initiatives and Tech Rise  

The region’s economic development is projected to accelerate in the future years as governments implement new economic and social reform programs like Saudi 2030 and Egypt 2030. The governments of these countries will spend a lot of money on development projects; thus, consultants may anticipate working on a lot of large-scale transportation and infrastructure projects, as well as more traditional oil and gas projects.  

Several consulting firms in the Middle East and Africa are actively growing their expertise in the Industry 4.0 sector, pushed by significant technology investments throughout the region. According to the Digital Government Authority of Saudi Arabia, the country’s technology spending is among the highest in the world, accounting for 21.7% of total technology investment. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important to economic growth, with the UAE’s AI contribution to GDP expected to reach 13.6% by 2030, according to Saudi Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia’s announcement in March 2024 of a USD 40 billion fund dedicated to artificial intelligence projects demonstrates the country’s strategic commitment to technology. 

These growing technologies are greatly assisting enterprises in collecting data and insights regarding projects and operations that are intended for optimization, as well as enabling consulting firms to implement and assess their solutions more efficiently. 

1. Digital Transformation and Business Intelligence  

The consulting services sector is undergoing a tremendous digital transformation, with analytics becoming an increasingly important component of modern consulting processes. Major business intelligence organizations are actively working with regional consulting firms to combine data semantics expertise.  

For example, Microsoft Power BI has collaborated with consulting firms in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries, with Data Semantics maintaining a seven-year partnership as an approved Microsoft Power BI partner for customers in the Middle East (EMEA) and India, delivering Power BI and Azure Data Warehousing solutions on a regular basis. This agreement allows Data Semantics to provide clients with up to USD 10 billion in revenue while also attaining another Gold Competency in data analytics.  

Final Thoughts  

The MEA region is a growing market for management consulting services, owing to increased economic potential as well as technological and financial expenditures. Vendors are attempting to capture as much market share as possible in the region, taking into account the rising potential for IT, economic, and management consultancy. Arthur Lawrence, with its presence in the region, assists enterprises across industries in establishing a competitive workforce by leveraging our expertise in talent acquisition, finance and accounting, customer experience, and digital transformation. Our management and technology consultants collaborate as strategic partners to help organizations in the MEA region with their digital transformation projects. To learn more about our services, get in touch today.