Roland Berger reinforces Middle East commitment on the back of record global year
Following its strongest year in history, Roland Berger’s leadership team has reaffirmed its commitment to the Middle East as the firm celebrates 20 years in the region.
In its latest financial year, Roland Berger recorded strong growth, surpassing €1 billion in annual revenues for the first time since its founding in 1967. This milestone places the firm among a select group of strategy consultancies in the billion-euro club, alongside the likes of McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company, Kearney, and Oliver Wyman.
What distinguishes Roland Berger, however, is its heritage as the only major strategy consultancy with true European roots, positioning it as an alternative to the long-standing dominance of US-based firms.
Middle East
Since opening its first Middle East office in Bahrain in 2006, Roland Berger has built a strong regional presence. Today, its offices in Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia form an integral part of its global network.
Over the years, the consulting firm has supported private sector clients with critical strategic challenges and helped public sector organizations deliver major transformation initiatives aligned with national agendas.
In the 2025 financial year, Roland Berger worked on a range of notable projects, including supporting governments on diversification strategies across key sectors and advising on some of the region’s most ambitious developments and large-scale urban districts. In this latter area, the firm has helped government entities and master developers design governance models that make urban development more investable and operationally effective.
In aerospace and defense, Roland Berger has deepened its engagement across the regional ecosystem, advising clients on portfolio diversification, intellectual property strategies, and the development of indigenous defense capabilities.
Santiago Castillo, Managing Director for the Middle East at Roland Berger, said the firm’s global leadership has reaffirmed its commitment to the region despite ongoing volatility.
“As we mark 20 years in the Middle East, our commitment to the region remains unchanged. We continue to see substantial long-term opportunities across the region and are confident that our combination of local presence, global expertise, and deep transformation experience positions us well for the years ahead.”
From strategic advisor to execution partner
On the ground, the firm has adapted to a shifting environment that began evolving prior to the current geopolitical tensions, driven by governments increasing their focus on execution of national agendas, changing client expectations, and industry disruption, including the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).
“The market environment has changed significantly over the past few years, requiring all consulting firms to adapt,” Castillo said. “Our response has been to strengthen the resilience of our business and ensure we remain closely aligned with the evolving needs of our clients.”
“We have also refined our regional strategy and continued to strengthen capabilities in areas that remain critical to long-term transformation agendas, such as digital transformation, performance improvement, and transactions.”
Commenting on the changing industry dynamics, Stefan Schaible, Global Managing Partner at Roland Berger, noted: “We see the market changing noticeably. Trust and independence have become real differentiators in consulting.”
Globally, Roland Berger employs more than 3,000 consultants across more than 50 offices worldwide, including a recently launched hub in Australia, which completed its footprint across six continents.
