Consultant UAE

Dalberg; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

A global strategic advisory firm is seeking consultants in Abu Dhabi to drive innovative solutions for global development. The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor’s degree and strong analytical skills, along with fluency in Arabic and a commitment to tackling pressing global issues. This role involves working directly with clients to create tailored frameworks addressing challenges. Applications are encouraged from candidates with work authorization in the UAE.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years of experience in strategic advisory or similar roles.
• Experience living in different cultures, preferably in developing countries.
• Sensitivity to political and cultural environments.

Responsibilities

• Drive delivery of innovative solutions for clients.
• Conduct research and analysis for projects.
• Work directly with clients and stakeholders.

Skills

Fluency in Arabic

Excellent analytical abilities

Problem-solving skills

Cultural sensitivity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, International Relations or a related field

Top-tier Masters program in related fields

Job description

Description

Maximize your potential. Tackle the worlds toughest problems. Build expertise in areas that matter to you. Become a global development leader.

Note

• Candidates with work authorization in UAE and GCC are encouraged to apply.
• The role requires fluency in Arabic.

About Dalberg

We are a global group working to build a more sustainable planet and inclusive societies where all people can thrive. As a diverse purpose‑driven community of professionals it works in collaboration with local communities and global networks to create bold and equitable solutions and develop the next generation of impact leaders. Dalberg brings together strategy and management consulting, equity‑centered community design, data research, implementation, and communications to achieve its mission of solving the most pressing challenges of our time through systemic change. We are from everywhere, at home anywhere – an African and American company as much as an Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern and European one.

Dalberg is a place where a diverse mix of talented individuals are able to practice transparency and openness while maintaining independence of thought whether its how you identify, where you come from, the languages you speak, the person you love or the way you worship. Dalberg is a home where people feel safe understood nurtured and encouraged to grow.

As a team of 640 people from 55 countries speaking over 90 languages collectively with 46% female leadership team Dalberg places diversity, equity and inclusion principles at the heart of our organization and the work we do alongside our clients, partners and communities.

Established in 2001 by experienced private sector consultants Dalberg operates from 25 worldwide locations. For more information please visit Dalberg.

About Dalberg Advisors

Dalberg Advisors is a strategic advisory firm combining the best of private sector strategy skills and rigorous analytical capabilities with deep knowledge and networks across emerging and frontier markets. We work collaboratively across the public, private and philanthropic sectors to fuel inclusive growth and help clients achieve their goals.

About You

You aspire to become a leader in global development by tackling global issues from malnutrition to climate change to economic growth ensuring no population is left behind. You drive the delivery of innovative and results‑oriented solutions for clients proposing problem‑solving and creating tailored frameworks that address client challenges. You excel in solving problems using clear strategic and creative thinking and you want to put your skills to work transforming organizations that fund change around the world. You are a committed self‑starter with a passion for international development and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Dalberg consultants live and work around the world creating a network of local experience anchored by our offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. Dalberg combines on the ground perspective and lived experience from top‑tier professional services firms and leading academic institutions to create actionable solutions to the world’s most pressing issues.

Typical Qualifications for a Consultant

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, International Relations or a related field. At present we are especially looking for applicants who are in their final year at a top‑tier Masters program studying International Development, Economics, Public Policy or a related field.
• Excellent academic record.
• Minimum two years as a top performer at a leading international strategic advisory or a similar experience in a role where problem‑solving and clear communication is essential.
• Proven analytical abilities both quantitative and qualitative.
• Ability to present information in an insightful and structured manner both written and oral.
• Experience living and working in different cultures; time spent in developing countries strongly preferred.
• Candidates with existing knowledge of and strong ties to the UAE and GCC region or who have work authorization in UAE and GCC are especially encouraged to apply.
• Familiarity with the socio‑economic and regulatory landscape of the UAE and GCC countries.
• Professionalism and demonstrated experience working directly with clients including senior management of corporate and/or top officials in the public sector.
• Sensitivity to the political and cultural environments of international public agencies or similarly complex environments.
• Demonstrated fluency with English and Arabic is mandatory.

Note: Employment in all the Dalberg offices requires work authorization to live and work in the host country. Candidates with existing work authorization are preferred; however Dalberg will support eligible and successful candidates in obtaining necessary permits.

What You Will Do and How You Will Grow

Consultants play a significant role in driving the delivery of innovative and results‑oriented solutions for our clients. They lead research and analysis for our projects framing the team’s knowledge base around the topic at hand. This includes both quantitative rigor and gaining primary insights through interviews with stakeholders. As those who dive deep into the issues they think critically and creatively to develop insights based on their findings from the research process. They gain a broad knowledge base that cuts across sectors and geographies while driving the core of every project’s work. Not only do Consultants work closely with their managers but they are also tasked with gaining trust and credibility by working directly with clients and change makers. As recent examples our Consultants conducted a landscape analysis of the micronutrient malnutrition sector compiled a comprehensive report on state the off‑grid solar lighting market across Africa and conducted a market scoping study of the inclusive business sector in India and Sri Lanka.

Dalberg is a platform for change. Our staff are empowered to start new programs, institute best practices and develop traditions that will define the Dalberg experience for years to come. Innovation and entrepreneurship are not only valued at Dalberg; they are essential to our firms addition to providing training, management‑level advising and mentoring we empower consultants to learn by doing engaging them as core members of project teams from day one.

Typically Consultants spend two to three years in the role before becoming Project Managers.

About Our Clients

Our clients come to us with some of the most difficult global problems seeking solutions where the obvious ones have failed. We are entrepreneurs and innovators, designers and creative problem solvers, thinkers and doers who supply new ideas drawing from a deep base of knowledge that cuts across sectors and geographies and is growing every day. We partner with and serve communities, governments and companies throughout the world. Some of our recent clients include foundations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, corporations such as Pepsi and Vodafone, multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and the Inter‑American Development Bank, UN Agencies such as UNICEF and the UNEP and government agencies such as DFID and the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency.

Join Our Team

Our current opportunity for this role is in Abu Dhabi. Employment is subject to UAE labour laws.

Please submit your application at our Career Centre by 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, January 04 2026.

Your application must include a resume and an assignment.

Resume noting current SAT/ACT and GPA or British Class system and/or ECTS Grading as applicable and current university transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable).

Assignment: As part of our application process we invite you to submit one page slide deck in either PPT or PDF format (file size not exceeding 25 MB).

Identify a significant development priority within your community / country that aligns with your vision of a better tomorrow. Present your perspective on this issue in the form of a newspaper article drawing on relevant research data or examples to support your perspective and reasoning.

• Why this issue matters to you personally.
• Why do you believe it demands attention.
• Potential change or interventions for this issue.

Assignment will be assessed on Originality & Insight, Structure & Clarity and Written communication & Creativity.

Important: Applications without this submission or which exceed more than one page submission will be automatically disqualified.

Candidates selected for interviews will be invited to interview by video. Interviews will test consulting skills through case questions and discuss the candidate’s interests and experience.

Dalberg values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. Qualified and interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, religion, background or ethnic affiliation are encouraged to apply for the vacancy.

• COMMITMENT 1: We commit to publishing internal Dalberg DEI reports annually to hold ourselves accountable, report on progress and share lessons from our regional DEI plans.
• COMMITMENT 2: We commit to delivering regular training for all staff (including leadership) on how to engender inclusive workplaces and mitigate unconscious bias.
• COMMITMENT 3: We commit to addressing imbalances in how power and privilege are formally distributed and informally exercised across the firm.

Owing to the large number of applications we receive; unfortunately only successful candidates will be contacted.

Required Experience:

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