Mott MacDonald has solidified its position as a leading engineering and management consultancy in the primary infrastructure space in the Middle East over the past three years. Their success is evident in the successful delivery of major projects in the energy, water, transport and built environment sectors, a track record that we are proud of and that instill confidence in their capabilities.
The changing landscape across the GCC has presented opportunities and challenges for Mott MacDonald to navigate, such as balancing the scale and speed of development in Saudi Arabia and the UAE with slower growth in other nations. Over the past three years, the company has grown its turnover by 60%, advancing profit faster through a greater focus on its best clients and specialist, high-value services. This growth has accelerated as the company secured its role as a strategic adviser and engineering consultant to Saudi Arabia’s groundbreaking giga-projects.
Over the past two years, Mott MacDonald’s 800-strong workforce in the Middle East has also undergone a significant transition. The company has focused on recruiting and retaining highly skilled engineering and technical management specialists capable of delivering the most advanced aspects of complex projects in fast-paced markets. The scale and variety of infrastructure projects are creating incredible opportunities for young talent from across the Middle East to gain skills and accelerate career development.
Paul Hilton, the managing director for Mott MacDonald’s Middle East business, emphasizes the significant value that nationals from the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia contribute to the company. He underscores that the organization takes the objectives of the Nationalisation Plans very seriously, focusing on genuine integration rather than merely fulfilling quotas. As an employee-owned company, Mott MacDonald considers GCC nationals an essential part of its global family of shareholders. The company is committed to creating opportunities for these individuals to gain valuable experience through involvement in projects that are set to transform the economic and social landscape of their respective countries.
In addition, Mott MacDonald is bringing world leading expertise in climate resilient infrastructure, carbon management, environmental stewardship and sustainability services to the Middle East. The company’s proficiency in these areas is helping major public and private sector clients to make significant progress on their pathways towards net zero, instilling confidence in our capabilities and the potential positive impact on the region.
These skills add value to infrastructure master planning projects the company’s market-leading land development team delivers. For example, Mott MacDonald is supporting governments and developers in delivering their national housing programmes, improving the quality of life of ordinary citizens and supporting economic and social transformation across the region.
Paul has led Mott MacDonald’s Middle East operations since 2022, overseeing an expanding portfolio of significant regional projects. Since joining the global consultancy in 2016, he has worked in Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific, and he is a fellow of the Association for Project Management.