---
title: 20 Years in the Middle East
---
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# 20 Years in the Middle East
Twenty years ago, we took a chance on this region. We opened our first office in Bahrain, a small team with big ideas, drawn by the scale of ambition, the pace of change, and a genuine belief that things can be built differently, and better. We haven't looked back since. Today, with teams across Riyadh, Doha, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai, we are as much a part of this region as the transformation we've helped shape.
Over these two decades, we've been trusted to work on some of the most exciting and consequential challenges the region has faced. Building new industries from scratch. Rethinking national strategies. Helping clients ask better questions and find bolder answers. We've sat in the rooms where decisions get made, and we've rolled up our sleeves on the ground to make sure those decisions actually stick.
The videos you're about to watch bring all of this to life. You'll hear from people who moved to the Middle East and never left, people who grew up here and chose to give back, and people who found their calling at Roland Berger Middle East.
These stories are a reflection of what twenty years in the region have taught us: meaningful change is built by people with ambition, courage, and a willingness to think differently.
**We're proud of the last 20 years. And we're even more excited about what we build next.**
## Hear from the voices behind our journey
### Tobias Schoenberg
##### Senior Partner and Managing Director
After 19 years at Roland Berger, one bold move to the Middle East reignited Tobias's entrepreneurial spark, turning a career-defining leap into a journey that proved the greatest opportunities are often the ones you choose to build from scratch.
---
### Negin Olya
##### Project Manager
Driven by curiosity and a passion for growth, Negin found the perfect place to advance her career - where the dynamic opportunities of the Middle East and the empowering culture of Roland Berger come together to shape her story.
---
### Eyad Faraj
##### Partner
From the calculated world of finance to the strategic front lines of consulting, Eyad made the bold leap to Roland Berger Middle East, where his ambition to shape change rather than simply analyze it found the perfect home in a firm built on excellence, entrepreneurship, and real-world impact.
---
### Maryam Aljafen
##### Principal
Maryam brings the warmth and openness of her Bahraini roots to Roland Berger Middle East, where she discovered that the most extraordinary outcomes are built not by individuals, but by diverse teams whose different perspectives and shared purpose create something truly exceptional.
## More of our stories
### Vatche Kourkejian
##### Senior Partner and Managing Director
From a passion for problem solving to Managing Director, Vatche's journey is a testament of the power of resilience, proving that the most defining moments in a career aren't found in the easy wins but in the courage to push through the storms.
### Dorival Bettencourt
##### Partner
With 20 years of experience partnering with leaders and governments across 25+ countries, Dorival brings a rare blend of global perspective and local depth turning bold strategies into grounded, lasting realities that bring the region's localization visions to life.
### Arvind CJ
##### Partner
Fueled by a lifelong passion for automotive and industrials, Arvind moved to the Middle East to seize the opportunity of building innovative industrial ecosystems in a region where his expertise and ambition could truly thrive.
### Feras Abul
##### Partner
Feras found a culture at Roland Berger Middle East that transformed a lifelong mindset into a career, proving that entrepreneurship is ultimately about having the courage to choose impact over opportunity.
### Smriti Priya
##### Principal
From her very first month at Roland Berger Middle East, Smriti discovered what makes the firm truly different - a culture where every voice has a seat at the table, and where the most powerful outcomes are built not by hierarchy, but by the collective courage of a team that genuinely values everyone's contribution.
### Carlo Gozzi
##### Principal
A passion for automotive that began with recognizing cars by their taillights evolved into a career-defining move to the Middle East, where Carlo channeled deep industry expertise into co-building an entire automotive ecosystem from the ground up.
### Aysha Al Hashmi
##### Director
Meet Aysha, the first Emirati female at Roland Berger Middle East, whose unwavering commitment and pride in serving the UAE drives her to deliver impactful, strategic excellence for her country every day.
### Ariane Gemayel
##### Project Manager
Entrepreneurship and venture capital is part of her DNA, Ariane guides founders and investors in turning bold ideas into companies built to last.
### Charlene Jung
##### Project Manager
When Charlene was challenged to build a complex financial model from scratch, she discovered that the most transformative growth begins exactly where comfort ends.
To learn more about our work and our team in the region, visit the Roland Berger Middle East website.
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Dubai Office Roland Berger Middle East 6 Falak, 3rd Floor, Dubai Internet City | P.O. Box 502254 Dubai United Arab Emirates Phone: +971-4-4464-080
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