Confidential, retained search for C-suite, VP and board-level appointments. We work from relationships built over two decades in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which means access to leaders who never answer a recruiter.
Every mandate starts with a briefing in person, in Dubai or Abu Dhabi where possible. We map the role against the business plan, the reporting lines and the culture of the leadership team, and agree a written specification before any outreach begins.
Research and approach take three to four weeks. We build a long list from our own network first, then from targeted mapping of competitors and adjacent sectors across the GCC. Roughly 85% of the leaders we place were not looking when we called.
You receive a shortlist of three to five candidates, each with a written assessment covering track record, leadership style, values alignment and readiness to operate in a Gulf environment. We manage offers, references and notice periods, and stay involved for twelve months after the start date.
Chief Executive, Chief Financial, Chief Operating and Chief Human Resources Officers. Managing Directors and Country Heads for international groups entering the UAE, Qatar or Saudi Arabia. Board members and non-executive directors for family businesses, government-related entities and sovereign-backed companies.
We also run VP and Director-level searches where the role is business-critical: heads of investment, development, treasury, risk, digital and people.
Our practice is strongest in the UAE, with mandates in Dubai (DIFC, Dubai Internet City, the free zones and mainland groups) and Abu Dhabi (ADGM, Masdar, the sovereign ecosystem). We run regular searches in Doha for Qatari groups and QFC-registered firms, and in Riyadh for organisations building leadership teams around Vision 2030 programmes. Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman are covered on request.
Retained fees are typically a percentage of first-year total compensation, paid in stages: at engagement, at shortlist, and at placement. We quote a fixed fee at briefing so there are no surprises when the offer is negotiated.
Most C-suite and VP searches reach shortlist within four to six weeks and complete within ten to fourteen. Board searches and roles requiring relocation to Riyadh or Doha can take longer because of notice periods and visa timelines.
Yes. Many mandates carry a nationalisation requirement, and our network includes senior nationals across government, finance and industry. See our Emiratisation advisory service for the wider strategy.