Enter the Gulf with someone already there.
For technology and technical services firms from North America and Europe that want to win customers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC. StrataCCS provides senior business development leadership on the ground in Abu Dhabi, for as many days a month as you need.
One senior person who knows both ends of the route.
Riaz has spent years selling across North America and Europe, and is now based in Abu Dhabi. We understand how your buyers at home think, and how buyers in the Gulf decide.
- From
- North America
- United Kingdom
- Western & Central Europe
- To
- United Arab Emirates
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar, Oman, Kuwait & Bahrain
What works at home doesn't always travel.
Gulf buyers are sophisticated and well funded, but they buy in their own way. Firms that adapt early win sooner.
Relationships come first
Buyers want to know who they are dealing with. Expect to meet in person, more than once, before a serious conversation about price.
Partners and agents matter
Many government-linked and large private buyers work through local partners, distributors or system integrators. Choosing the right one is one of the biggest decisions you'll make.
Local value counts
National programmes reward suppliers that invest, hire and partner locally. A credible in-country plan can decide a tender.
Procurement takes patience
Pre-qualification, vendor registration and formal tenders take time. Starting them early keeps your first deals on schedule.
The calendar is different
The working week, public holidays and Ramadan all shape when decisions are made. Plans that respect them move faster.
Four steps from first look to first contract.
Each step builds on the last, and you decide at every stage how far to go.
- Step 1
Assess
Which countries and sectors to enter first, who you'll compete with, and the right route to market: direct, partner or agent.
- Step 2
Position
A Gulf-ready proposition, the references that will matter here, pricing and the materials buyers expect to see.
- Step 3
Open doors
A partner shortlist, named target accounts, introductions to decision-makers and early vendor registration.
- Step 4
Win and establish
We lead your first pursuits, plan your local presence, then hand over to your team or stay on as you grow.
Firms with a proven offer and a Gulf ambition.
Technology vendors
Industrial software, data and AI companies with happy customers at home, ready to win their first Gulf accounts.
Technical service firms
Engineering, geoscience and field-service businesses bidding for projects in the region's energy, resources and infrastructure programmes.
A second attempt
Companies that tried the Gulf before and stalled, and want a senior person on the ground to get it right this time.
Before you commit.
Do we need to set up a company in the UAE first?
Not necessarily. Many firms begin with a partner or agent and set up a local entity once early deals justify it. We help you decide which route fits your offer and your buyers.
Which countries do you cover?
The UAE and Saudi Arabia most often, along with Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, all from our base in Abu Dhabi.
How soon will we see results?
Gulf sales cycles are rarely short. The first months build a qualified pipeline and the right partner conversations; signed contracts then follow each buyer's procurement timetable. We'll be honest with you about realistic timing from the first call.
Can you work alongside our existing sales team?
Yes. We often lead the Gulf effort while your team handles home markets, sharing one pipeline and one playbook so nothing falls between the two.
Let's plan your entry into the Gulf.
A 30-minute call is enough to tell you whether the timing is right, and where to start.