With more than four decades of global experience and a presence spanning 32 countries, FTI Consulting, a Chairman’s Circle member of the U.S.-Saudi Business Council, has established itself as one of the world’s leading advisory firms for organizations navigating transformation and complex challenges. In our latest Member Spotlight, we speak with Antoine Nasr, Senior Managing Director and Head of FTI Consulting Middle East, about the company’s establishment of their regional headquarters in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District, their multidisciplinary approach to strategy, finance, and disputes, and their long-term commitment to developing Saudi talent and advancing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives.
Can you share a summary of your firm and the services you offer in the Middle East?
FTI Consulting is the leading global expert firm for organizations navigating transformation and crisis, with more than 7,900 employees operating in 32 countries and territories. Our purpose is to help organizations overcome their greatest challenges and capitalize on new opportunities to further their growth and success in an ever-changing business environment. We achieve this with our teams of experts, who are based in key business hubs around the world.
In the Middle East, we provide support to clients across a range of critical sectors, including financial services, construction, telecommunications, media and technology and the public sector. Our experts advise in areas such as strategy, restructuring, economic consulting, disputes and arbitration, construction projects and assets, strategic communications, public sector, technology and cybersecurity. From our offices across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar we combine our deep understanding of the region with our global expertise.
What core values and strategic decisions have most shaped FTI Consulting’s global identity since its founding?
FTI Consulting began in 1982 in Annapolis, in the U.S. state of Maryland. Our early high-profile forensic engagements and courtroom work established a foundation of evidence-based consulting. Over time, we have expanded our services and reach to better support our clients at each stage of the business lifecycle.
Some of the key milestones that have shaped our reputation as a leading global expert firm include our public listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 1999, the formation of Compass Lexecon to create a world-leading economic consulting business, and, more recently, our strategic acquisition [MB1] of Delta Partners, The Rhodes Group and Madison Consulting Group. These acquisitions expanded our TMT, construction disputes, digital and insurance offerings as well as the acquisitions of Andersch and Bold to strengthen our corporate finance offerings in Europe.
We have expanded our presence to key regions around the world, including Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. One of our strengths is that we can quickly field expert teams to tackle dynamic and complex situations. This ability has earned us the trust of many of the world’s leading corporations, law firms and private equity firms, who rely on us as trusted advisors. Our work and the expertise of our people are consistently recognized by publications such as Forbes, Consulting Magazine and the Lexology Index.
What motivated FTI Consulting to establish a formal regional HQ in Riyadh, and how has it enhanced your ability to serve clients across the Kingdom?
FTI Consulting has operated in Saudi Arabia for more than a decade. In February 2024 we obtained a Regional Headquarters Licence and opened an office in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh in 2025, a move that marked a major strategic milestone. Establishing a formal Regional Head Quarters (RHQ) reflects our long-term commitment to the Kingdom and positions us at the centre of a rapidly evolving economic and regulatory landscape. The opening of this RHQ allows us to be closer than ever to the KSA government in assisting them on their key strategy and transformation work in the region.
The KAFD offers unparalleled connectivity, world-class infrastructure and proximity to leading government and private sector stakeholders, enabling us to provide timely, on-the-ground support for clients. From this base we deliver services across strategy consulting, corporate finance, construction solutions, economic consulting, forensic and digital investigations, financial crime management, expert witness support and strategic communications. Our Riyadh presence also strengthens our commitment to developing Saudi talent and expanding the regional team to meet growing client demand.
How are you leveraging this multidisciplinary service model – especially emerging areas like Strategy & Transformation, Corporate Finance and Disputes – to address evolving client needs in the Kingdom?
Our multidisciplinary model enables us to assemble the right teams of experts to tackle complex client needs with efficiency and impact. In our Strategy & Transformation practice, we help clients define and implement large-scale programs, optimize their operations and drive strategic initiatives aligned with national priorities. In our Corporate Finance & Restructuring practice, we advise on high value and complex restructuring, tax, valuations, transactions and business transformation to help organizations optimize performance and unlock value in high-stakes projects and transactions. Our Disputes practice delivers independent analysis, expert reports and testimony to resolve complex disputes, particularly those related to high-value infrastructure projects, transport and technology matters.
Bringing these capabilities, we help clients resolve their end-to-end challenges: from strategic planning and financial structuring to dispute resolution and implementation. The result is holistic advice that is locally informed and globally benchmarked, helping clients manage risk and realize their objectives in Saudi Arabia’s fast-moving environment.
How do FTI Consulting’s regional professionals blend global capabilities with local knowledge to deliver bespoke solutions in Saudi Arabia’s unique environment?
FTI Consulting’s regional strength comes from having teams who are based in the Kingdom and have a deep understand the market. This includes its regulatory and cultural nuances, all backed by technical expertise and an ability to leverage the wider capabilities of our global network, where we can provide tailored solutions for clients in Saudi Arabia.
What are FTI Consulting’s top priorities in the Kingdom over the next 3-5 years – whether in client industries, talent development, or service innovation?
We always seek to invest in our business in Saudi Arabia to expand our capabilities and better serve both our public and private sector clients.
A priority area is talent development. As a local and global employer, we attract, develop and retain top talent in the region. Our platform provides opportunities to do meaningful, high-impact work on high-profile projects for leading organizations. And we are committed to helping our people perform at their best through training, working alongside our industry experts and learning from cross-functional leaders to drive innovative solutions and positive outcomes. This investment in Riyadh and the wider region signals that we are here for the long term and well-positioned to support clients’ critical initiatives now and in the years ahead.
