BOARDING CALL ✈

Welcome aboard, and welcome to the Departure Brief

If you’re reading this in the cab to the airport, in the lounge, or halfway through boarding EK819, you’re exactly where we imagined you’d be.

Departure Brief was built for consultants in the Middle East who want to start their week a little sharper, without digging through the noise of the countless news sources out there. Every Monday, we’ll bring you a fast, focused update on what actually matters for you, plus a few tools and insights that will make you look good in front of your client, manager, director, partner… or whoever’s reviewing your slides. And if you’ve had enough of airplanes, we’ve got you covered with the latest exit opportunities.

Highlights this week:

Rate cuts, video games, driverless vehicles in Abu Dhabi, jobs, more jobs, and a look at the new cool city in the neighborhood - Baghdad.

Enjoy your read!

SECTOR SCAN 🔭

Your weekly rundown of the most relevant business news in the region - for the sectors that matter to you

Public Sector & Government

• Saudi launches Tawazoun platform to cool Riyadh house prices following remarks by HRH MBS last week that recent house increases were unacceptable; the platform will release capped-price plots for first time buyers while authorities launched a 10% White Land tax to curb speculation (full story)

• GCC central banks cut rates following 25 bps US Fed cut on Wednesday - this should be good news for all of us, more in today’s cabin deep dive (full story)

Energy & Resources

• ADNOC Logistics & Services rolled out an AI-powered smart port system across UAE petroleum terminals expected to cut turnaround time by 90% (full story)

• Saudi is seeking developers for seven renewable energy projects with a total capacity of 5,300 MW under the National Renewable Energy Program; its largest round yet - should be decent money for anyone of you with renewables experience (full story)

• Baker Hughes signed an agreement with Iraq’s Halfaya Gas Company to build a flare gas recovery system - a system that recovers gas waste from oil fields, cleans it, and converts it into a bunch of other useful stuff (i.e. recycling) (full story)

Technology, Media & Telecommunication

• Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) signed an MoU with XSOLLA, a global company that helps developers monetize and scale their video games; this was signed under the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 (DPG33), which aims to create 30,000 jobs in the gaming sector (full story)

Financial Services

• KSA’s SAMA will roll out Google Pay and enable Alipay+ acceptance (by 2026) boosting cashless payment options and making life easier for tourists and expats using those services (full story)

Transport & Logistics

• PIF’s AviLease and Hassana launched a JV to create a national airplane lessor; a company that buys planes and then leases them to airlines, letting carriers expand fleet without the heavy upfront costs of buying jets - not sure where they’ll get these planes from knowing how late Airbus and Boeing are in meeting their delivery targets (full story)

• Abu Dhabi launched a pilot for autonomous delivery vehicles in Masdar City - I’m just thinking who will ring the bell now once my order is delivered? (full story)

Consumer Products & Retail

• Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates will undergo an AED 5bn redevelopment adding 20,000 square meters of retail space and adding 100 new stores - hope they’ll re-open Magic Planet at least… (full story)

• Majid Al Futtaim will close its Carrefour stores in Bahrain and Kuwait citing portfolio optimization - this follows closures in Oman and Jordan where boycotts are really starting to bite (full story)

THE EXIT ROW 💼

Your bosses might not like this section, but that’s alright. Every week, we’ll provide you with a list of curated job openings for any of you that are tired of the travel routine and looking to have a life again after 7 PM - includes opportunities for all levels

FREELANCING

There is a bunch of freelancing opportunities I’ve been made aware of. If you’re interested, please register your profile on Ultra (“join Ultra”) - a top EMEA freelancing platform that connects you with an extensive portfolio of clients in the region for freelance consulting projects. You can also book a call with Valentin Reyx, co-founder, to learn more.

UAE

• Revolut | Strategy & Operations Manager | Dubai (Apply here)

• Jacobs | Associate Director - Business Strategy & Finance | Dubai (Apply here)

• Dubai Holding | Assistant Manager - Commercial & Strategy - Dubai Holding Land Estate | Dubai (Apply here)

• Space 42 | Senior Specialist - Strategy | Abu Dhabi (Apply here)

• Fever | Partner Project Manager | Dubai (Apply here)

• RSA Global | Strategy & Growth Associate | Dubai (Apply here)

• Emirates Global Aluminum | Associate Manager - Strategy & Corporate Development | Dubai (Apply here)

• UAE General Civil Aviation Authority | Senior Director - Corporate Strategy & Performance | Dubai (Apply here)

• The Flex | Chief of Staff | Dubai (Apply here)

• Property Finder | Manager, Strategy & Business Operations | Dubai (Apply here)

• UAE General Civil Aviation Authority | Senior Director - Corporate Strategy & Performance | Dubai (Apply here)

• InvestSky | Growth & Strategy Manager | Dubai (Apply here)

• Landmark Group | Strategy Analyst | Dubai (Apply here)

• Idealz Holding | Sr. Strategy Analyst | Dubai (Apply here)

• Talabat | Sr. Specialist Strategy | Dubai (Apply here)

• NymCard | Corporate Development Analyst/Associate | Dubai (Apply here)

• Freedom Finance MENAT | Strategy & Reporting Manager | Abu Dhabi (Apply here)

KSA

• Siemens Energy | Strategy Manager | Dammam (Apply here)

• Takamol | Consulting Manager | Riyadh (Apply here)

• Hays | Strategy Associate - CEO Office | Riyadh (Apply here)

• Masdr | Sr. Strategy & Planning | Riyadh (Apply here)

• Sanabil Venture Studios | Strategy & Operations Lead | Riyadh (Apply here)

• Supertech Innovation Labs | Strategy Manager | Riyadh (Apply here)

• ODEL | Consulting Manager | Riyadh (Apply here)

• Careem | Commercial & Strategy Leaders | Riyadh (Apply here)

• Amazon | Head of Marketplace Strategy | Riyadh (Apply here)

CABIN DEEP DIVE 🔎

Every week, we give a focused look on a topic, news, trend that is shaping the region; no fluff, just the insights you need.

BAGHDAD IS BOOMING - CAN IRAQ BECOME OUR REGION’S NEXT GROWTH STORY?

Since I started Departure Brief, I realized that Iraq has been in the news a lot - and for the good reasons this time. Investments here, investments there, new airports, etc…

Turns out, there’s a massive economic boom going on over there. Since 2022, Prime Minister Muhammad al-Sudani’s government built 20 new bridges in the capital, at least four new hospitals, and more than 1,700 schools, with a nice pipeline of 5-star hotels now under construction. Backed by the calmest security environment since 2003 and banking reforms that unlocked credit, foreign investors are piling in.

Large part of this success is credited to Sudani’s very hands-on approach. Apparently, he often directly calls project managers and makes surprise visits at construction sites. He also put a very strong focus on slashing bureaucracy and digitizing government services. Apparently, you can now get a new passport in 45 minutes in Iraq - fastest time in the world.

Why does it matter to us? First, it’s nice to see a country staging a comeback after years of war and instability. If Iraq pulls it off, it could offer a model for some of the other countries that have gone/are going through a similar path. Second, well… while Saudi’s cutting budgets and making us have to sell at 50% discounts, new markets like Iraq could present good growth opportunities for consulting firms. Oliver Wyman has actually been doing very well lately despite the slowdown partly thanks to its strong presence in Iraq. So if you want to step up… time to ditch the Ritz in Riyadh and go start building relationships in Baghdad or Erbil.

More details on this topic in this recent Economist article.

And that’s a wrap…

Thank you for being on board the Departure Brief this week.

Let us know how we did!

Have a safe flight, an amazing week, and see you next Monday!