In the Arab world, we may have succeeded in establishing giant contracting companies whose sole purpose is to construct large and luxurious concrete structures. These companies also construct basic infrastructure facilities, such as tunnels, airports, sewage systems and others. However, the industry of specialized intellectual services is completely lacking in the Arab world, including advanced consultancy in many vital sectors. For example, we do not have the specialized studies which the government and its institutions need. Among others, these services include strategic planning, accountancy, legal, tax and health consultancy and consultation in the fields of energy, natural resources and industry. In the Kingdom, large companies and establishments often turn to specialized international firms to complete their procedures in external auditing, closing accounts and legal matters, especially when they want to enter international markets. Our industrial sector could not exist without foreign consultants, particularly when our companies have to deal with international contracts and transactions. This, however, does not mean that the national consultant is completely out of the picture, but the returns of the consultancy services in our country are no more than a drop in the sea of international consultancy services. When, for example, we look at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL), we find that in a single year, it has earned more than US$32 billion. The private UK company is making steady growth for the fourth year in a row. Keen to invest in professional training, Deloitte opened universities in the US, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The same thing can be said about other consulting giants such as Booz & Company, Arthur D. Little, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and others. There will be a professional intellectual industry as long as human civilization is in existence because there will always be programs and initiatives that require effective solutions, creative ideas and international expertise. As for projects building concrete structures, they are mostly seasonal and will go away when the money goes away. Is there any way to put the Kingdom on the road to advanced consultancy services?
