2026 Graduate Programme - Middle East

We’re now welcoming applications for our 2026 Middle East Graduate Programme

Based out of Dubai or Riyadh office, you will be applying to join one of our brilliant teams working in the region.

During the graduate programme you will get the opportunity to work on high-stakes, business-critical projects that span some of the world’s largest companies. You’ll encounter issues that make up the global news agenda of the time.

As part of the application process, you’ll be able to select which region appeals most to you and suit your skills.

Please follow links to our UK, Asia, US and mainland Europe pages if you are interested in applying for opportunities in those regions.

What the programme will involve

Successful applicants to the Middle East graduate programme will be based in either our Dubai or Riyadh offices, dependent on your preference and subject to visa and work permit feasibility. You’ll be working in close collaboration with our clients and colleagues across the region. We are a global business and we work on many global accounts with multiple offices working together.

The graduate programme will begin with two training weeks to truly immerse you in our culture and the type of work we do. Following this, you’ll spend six-months in a structured rotation programme, learning both on-the-job and through formal training to help develop your knowledge and skillset across key areas of our business, primarily strategic communications, data and analytics, social strategy and media and specialist content development. You will have the chance to put these skills to use across a variety of exciting and impactful client mandates.

Our people love the work they do, and the people they do it with, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get to know your local and global colleagues both socially and professionally.

Through the application process, we select individuals for this programme we believe will pioneer the future of FGS Global. The intention is for us to invest in your development, and you to receive a truly immersive learning experience that challenges you and allows you to demonstrate your own entrepreneurial flare, growing with the firm. The expectation is that you continue with us after the programme ends as a full-time Associate without any further interviews or assessment.

Who are we looking for?

• We are looking for motivated and proactive graduates who welcome a steep learning curve and the chance to collaborate with a wide range of people
• The role requires individuals who are interested and engaged in how different stakeholders communicate – be it through news outlets, investor presentations, social media, keynote events, or face-to-face conversations
• We want applicants who are interested in the news agenda, and track emerging issues and current challenges facing society today
• Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate that they embody the values our people live by: being ambitious together, working hard whilst keeping energy levels high, striving for excellence and taking responsibility in all they do
• We care for and uplift those around us, and expect anyone who joins our team to do their part

What we offer you in return

• We are a diverse, dynamic and caring group of people. We motivate each other, strive to deliver and celebrate together
• You will have the opportunity to work with leading communications professionals, learning from the brightest minds in the industry
• You will be working on a diverse mix of clients, across industries, sectors and geographies
• You will have continuous training and development throughout the programme, with dedicated mentors
• You will be given the platform to innovate and trusted to demonstrate your entrepreneurial flare  
• You will have access to a range of office perks, location-dependent, including regular team socials, flexible and remote working policies, and private health and dental care
• A competitive salary benchmarked against others in the industry, including relocation support if applying from outside of the UAE

Visa, language and relocation requirements

• Exceptional English language skills (written and verbal) are essential; Arabic fluency is preferred but not essential for successful candidates
• We will support candidates with their visa application
• Candidates must be able to relocate by the end of August 2026

 

How the application process works

Step 1. We have developed an FGS Global-specific task that is designed to highlight the brightest, most creative graduates. It will be an opportunity for you to demonstrate your research skills, creative thinking and ability to communicate complex ideas in a simple way. This must be completed in a presentation. We will also ask you to fill out a short form and send us your CV. We appreciate the task takes a lot of work, but it gives us the opportunity to assess in a completely blind way based on your abilities and talents.

Presentations and CVs must be submitted in PDF format. This application must be completed by Thursday 16th January at 23:59 GMT – late applications will not be accepted.

Our Step 1 review process is entirely anonymous. All application tasks and CVs are assessed blindly with personal identifying information removed prior to review.

Step 2. Successful candidates will be interviewed virtually between 3rd and 28th February 2026 and told whether they have been shortlisted and are through to the final assessment phase. At this stage, candidates will take an online scenario test simulating tasks we undertake.

Step 3. We will host a series of virtual assessments including group tasks, problem solving exercises and interviews in April 2026. Further details of the final assessment phase will be announced in due course.

Successful applicants will start full-time in September 2026.

For more in depth information please refer to our Grad Programme Website.

 

FGS Global is the world’s leading stakeholder strategy firm, with approximately 1,400 professionals around the world, advising clients in navigating critical issues and reputational challenges. FGS was formed from the combination of Finsbury, The Glover Park Group, Hering Schuppener and Sard Verbinnen & Co to offer board-level and C-suite counsel in all aspects of stakeholder strategy — including corporate reputation, crisis management, and public affairs and is also the leading force in transaction and financial communications worldwide.

FGS offers seamless and integrated support with offices in the following locations: Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Boston, Brussels, Calgary, Chicago, Dubai, Dublin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, Kingston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, Paris, Riyadh, San Francisco, Shanghai, Singapore, South Florida, The Hague, Tokyo, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington, D.C., and Zurich. The firm is headquartered in New York.

FGS is consistently ranked a Band 1 PR firm for Crisis & Risk Management and for Litigation Support by Chambers and Partners.  For the second year, FGS was ranked #1 Global M&A PR firm by Deal Count and Value in 2024 by Mergermarket.