Arthur D. Little launches AFAQ graduate program for Saudi nationals

Global strategy consulting firm Arthur D. Little has upped its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s talent agenda with the launch of AFAQ, a 12-month program that will prepare graduated Saudi nationals for a career in the consulting industry.

Commenting on the launch of AFAQ, Arthur D. Little Principal Ryan Alnesayan said that the graduate program will contribute to two objectives set by Arthur D. Little’s management in Saudi Arabia.

Arthur D. Little is growing in the Kingdom, and has stipulated a further growth agenda. “And so we are seeking an influx of new talent,” said Alnesayan. However, the influx related to the AFAQ program will be focused purely on Saudi nationals, in line with the firm’s commitment to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals – the second objective.

By 2025, Vision 2030 envisions 40% of all highly skilled jobs to be held by Saudi nationals, with that number to rise further towards the 2030 milestone. The overarching plan to deliver on this ambition is titled the ‘Human Capability Development Program’, with hundreds of millions of dollars budgeted to realise these goals.

The role of the private sector and international groups is considered key, and with AFAQ, Arthur D. Little – one of the globe’s most prestigious management consulting firms – is playing its part.

The new 12-month program promises to provide an action-packed “engaging and interactive learning agenda”, said Alnesayan, which will “guide, develop, and ultimately successfully integrate graduates into the consulting landscape.”

Over the program’s duration, aspiring consultants will interact with and work alongside Arthur D. Little teams. Research, analysis, knowledge structure, presentation preparation, and project work will all be primary focus areas, collectively offering comprehensive exposure to critical consulting skills through formal development-focused training.

Furthermore, participants will also be staffed on client projects, providing them with hands-on and on-the-ground experience – enabling them to bring the skills they acquired into practice.

“At Arthur D. Little, we are excited about the AFAQ program because it represents an advantageous new avenue for us to assist future consults en route to realising their potential and making invaluable long-term contributions. We see that the national talent pool is certainly promising with the motivation and capabilities required to climb career ladders, something that will be harnessed through AFAQ,” said Alnesayan.

The first batch of AFAQ graduates will begin in February 2022. The program is open to graduates from various academic backgrounds, including Engineering, Business, Computer Science, and Economics.