Viva Consulting

Experience

Where we have done the work

The sectors we know well, the questions clients in each one bring us, and selected engagements behind our answers. Client names are withheld to protect confidentiality.

Sectors we have worked in

These are the sectors where we have done real work. For each one, you will find the questions clients usually ask us and the projects behind our answers.

Government & public services

Government and semi-government clients usually come to us when they need a clearer strategy, measurable KPIs, or documented governance for a new structure.

Questions we are asked

  • How do we align our strategy and KPIs with the national vision?
  • How do we document governance, policies and procedures for a new operating model?
  • How do we run our entities on a more commercial footing?

Our experience

Jumeirah Lakes Towers office and residential towers reflected in the lake, Dubai

Real estate

For developers and asset owners, our work covers strategy planning and investment planning, as well as the governance and organisation they need as they grow.

Questions we are asked

  • Which segments and locations should our next developments target?
  • How should we plan and phase our investment pipeline?
  • Are our structure, policies and governance ready for the next stage of growth?

Our experience

  • Strategy planning and investment planning for real estate developers

Industrial & manufacturing

For industrial developers and manufacturers, our work covers strategy planning and investment planning, including investment processes, pricing and partnership models with investors.

Questions we are asked

  • Which industries and investors should we target?
  • How should we plan and prioritise our investment pipeline?
  • How should we price industrial land and facilities?

Our experience

  • Strategy planning and investment planning for industrial and manufacturing clients

Transport, mobility & automotive

Here our work has focused on operating performance, process documentation, and running transformation across several operating companies.

Questions we are asked

  • Where is performance being lost across our fleet and operations?
  • Are our processes and manuals fit for the new operating model?
  • How do we run a transformation across several operating companies?

Our experience

Aerial view of a container port at dusk with ships being loaded

Trading & retail

We work with trading houses, distributors and retail groups on growth, performance and expansion decisions.

Questions we are asked

  • Which new markets or product categories should we expand into?
  • Where is margin being lost across our operations?
  • Is our organisation ready to scale?

Our experience

  • Work for trading and distribution groups in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
Aerial view of Bluewaters Island resorts and Ain Dubai with the Dubai Marina skyline

Hospitality & entertainment

For tourism, leisure and entertainment operators, our work has covered feasibility studies, strategic financial planning and the preparation of major funding programmes.

Questions we are asked

  • Will a new attraction or venue draw enough visitors to pay back?
  • How should we plan and phase capital investment across our assets?
  • How do we build a funding case that government or investors will approve?

Our experience

  • Feasibility studies, strategic financial planning and major funding programmes for a tourism and leisure operator, Kuwait
Towers of King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh, seen from below

Financial services

In financial services, our work has centred on pricing and market entry: what customers pay today, and where a new offer can compete.

Questions we are asked

  • What will customers save with us compared with incumbents?
  • How should we price to enter the market competitively?
  • What is the business, or this investment, worth?

Our experience

Education

Our education work has been on the investment side, testing whether demand supports a new university, school or training institute.

Questions we are asked

  • How large is the demand, and in which segments?
  • How should a new institution be positioned against existing providers?
  • Does the financial case hold under different scenarios?
Modern hospital building with glass facade

Healthcare & lifestyle

Our healthcare work has helped investors decide whether, and how, to bring an international brand into the UAE.

Questions we are asked

  • Is there enough demand, and from which customer segments?
  • Which locations, pricing and positioning give us the best entry?
  • What will it cost, and when does it pay back?

Selected engagements across the GCC.

Each case sets out the challenge, our approach and the result. Client names are withheld to protect confidentiality.

Client
City taxi operator
Sector
Transport
Location
Dubai, UAE
Engagement
Embedded specialists, supporting the lead consultant
Strategy & business advisory · Transport, mobility & automotive

Performance improvement for the city’s taxi operator

The challenge

The lead consultant was mandated with a strategy refresh, performance improvement and operating model redesign, and needed specialist capacity on the performance and documentation workstreams.

Our approach

  • Performance analysis and improvement initiatives
  • Time-and-motion studies
  • Documentation of key processes
  • Redrafting of the manuals library for core and support functions
Client
Private investor
Sector
Healthcare and lifestyle
Location
Dubai, UAE
Engagement
Feasibility study
Strategy & business advisory · Healthcare & lifestyle

Feasibility study for an international weight-loss clinic entering the UAE

The challenge

The client had signed an initial agreement to be the sole Middle East agent for a high-end international weight-loss clinic, and needed the best entry strategy: positioning, pricing, locations and cost.

Our approach

  • Market sizing, demand analysis and segmentation
  • Customer profiling and competitive landscape
  • Route-to-market recommendation
  • Financial projections, built on primary and secondary research

The impact

Delivered the feasibility study, and introduced the client to leading nutritionists and specialists and to key suppliers.

Client
International consultancy (end client: semi-government conglomerate)
Sector
Education
Location
Kuwait City, Kuwait
Engagement
Subcontracted market study
Investment advisory · Education

Market evidence for a national education investment

The challenge

An international consultancy was appointed to develop strategy for a semi-government conglomerate introducing education services on behalf of the Government of Kuwait: an international university, K-12 schools, and leadership and vocational training institutions.

Our approach

  • Demand analysis and market sizing
  • Competitive landscape and positioning
  • Financial projections with sensitivity analysis

The impact

Gave decision-makers the market evidence and financial case to take an informed decision on a major investment proposal.

Client
International remittance provider
Sector
Financial services: international money transfers
Location
UAE
Engagement
Independent price research
Strategy & business advisory · Financial services

Pricing evidence for a remittance disruptor’s UAE entry

The challenge

The client, a fast-growing international remittance provider, was preparing to enter the UAE and needed independent evidence of how much consumers would save compared with established local providers.

Our approach

  • Real-time audit of transfer rates across key UAE providers
  • Analysis of the full cost of sending money abroad
  • Index of providers ranked by cost
  • Recommended mark-up levels for a competitive position

The impact

The client entered the UAE market with a competitive offering and used Viva’s research in its marketing campaign.

Client
Confidential semi-government entity
Sector
Public services
Location
Muscat, Oman
Engagement
Subcontracted manuals development
Transformation & PMO · Government & public services

Governance design and implementation

The challenge

The lead consultant was developing a new strategy, operating model and governance framework. The client had only a few documented policies and procedures.

Our approach

  • Collected and reviewed all existing documentation
  • Identified gaps by benchmarking against comparable entities
  • Interviewed stakeholders to map how work actually flows
  • Aligned the library with the new organisation structure

The impact

Delivered a complete governance framework and manuals library, structured by function, policy, process and procedure, and aligned with the new organisation.

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