Where US Startups Find Reliable Executive Support & Operations Talent in MENA

MENA has become a strategic hiring region for Executive Support & Operations talent, offering a combination of communication strength, operational rigor, and cross-functional administrative capability. Countries such as Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Lebanon have developed mature pools of professionals experienced in supporting US executives, maintaining documentation, coordinating tasks, and managing internal workflows.

This guide outlines the most effective channels founders use to source reliable EA/Ops professionals across the region.

Why MENA Is a High-Value Talent Region for EA/Ops Roles

Strong English proficiency and communication clarity

Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and UAE offer talent with excellent written and verbal English—ideal for calendar, inbox, reporting, and executive communication.

Administrative and operational depth

MENA’s business hubs have grown service and administrative sectors that produce disciplined operations profiles.

Familiarity with US expectations

Many candidates have experience supporting US-based founders, operations leaders, and remote workflows.

These characteristics align with best practices in Building an Effective Executive Support & Operations Hiring Pipeline in MENA (Founder Edition), where sourcing precision drives efficiency.

The Most Reliable Channels for Sourcing EA/Ops Talent in MENA

1. Vetted Global Talent Platforms (Most Predictable)

Platforms specializing in remote EA/Ops roles offer:

• Communication tests
  
• Tools proficiency checks
  
• Process capability evaluations
  
• Work-style reliability screening
  

This channel is ideal for US startups needing vetted professionals quickly.

2. MENA Administrative & Operations Communities

Strong talent networks exist across:

• Egypt (Cairo, Alexandria)
  
• Jordan (Amman)
  
• Morocco (Casablanca, Rabat)
  
• Lebanon (Beirut)
  
• UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)
  

Communities provide experienced admin, ops, and coordination professionals with global exposure.

3. LinkedIn EA/Ops Search

Advanced keyword and title searches effectively surface high-quality candidates:

• “Executive Support”
  
• “Operations Coordinator”
  
• “Executive Operations”
  
• “Administrative Coordinator”
  
• “Operations Assistant”
  

Candidates in MENA often showcase portfolios with SOPs, dashboards, reporting examples, and tool stacks.

4. Regional Referral Networks

MENA has strong professional referral patterns.
Founders often secure reliable talent through peer networks, especially in ops-heavy markets like Egypt and Jordan.

Country-by-Country Talent Insights

Egypt

Large administrative talent pool; strong English; reliable hybrid EA/Ops capability.

Jordan

Strong communication skills; excellent documentation and coordination.

Lebanon

Excellent English; strong business communication and research skills.

Morocco

Multilingual talent (Arabic/French/English); strong process and coordination abilities.

UAE / Saudi Arabia

Premium candidates with corporate operations exposure; strong communication and structured workflow habits.

How Founders Validate Talent During Sourcing

Evaluate communication early

Short writing or summarization exercises reveal clarity and professionalism.

Test operational thinking

SOP creation, prioritization tasks, and documentation exercises measure process maturity.

Assess tool fluency

Top candidates have hands-on experience with:

• Google Workspace
  
• Notion
  
• Slack
  
• Asana / ClickUp
  
• CRM systems
  

Validation patterns align with evaluation structures described in How to Evaluate Executive Support & Operations Professionals: Communication, Systems, Reliability.

🚀 Book a Free Discovery Call to Hire Your Next Executive Support & Operations Professional.

When to Use Platforms vs. Direct Sourcing

Use vetted platforms when:

• You need structured screening
  
• You need US-shift alignment verified
  
• You want communication and ops tests done
  
• You want faster hiring cycles
  

Use direct sourcing when:

• You want a broader pool of EA/Ops profiles
  
• You’re building long-term talent pipelines
  
• You’re sourcing niche operational specialties
  

Most US startups combine both methods for scalability.

Signs You’ve Found a Strong EA/Ops Candidate

Look for:

• Structured communication
  
• Proactive task updates
  
• Clear documentation habits
  
• Strong calendar + inbox control
  
• Ability to manage processes independently
  
• Reliability across time zones
  

Avoid candidates who:

• Provide vague responses
  
• Display inconsistent availability
  
• Show weak writing or documentation quality
  
• Lack familiarity with modern operational tools

💼 Hire Pre-Vetted Executive Support & Operations Talent from Our Global Pool.

FAQs

Q1: Which MENA markets consistently produce strong EA/Ops candidates?
Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Lebanon.

Q2: Are these professionals familiar with US operations?
Yes—many have remote or multinational experience.

Q3: Can candidates work US hours?
Yes—US-shift availability is common across the region.

Q4: What skills differentiate top EA/Ops candidates?
Clear communication, documentation discipline, process ownership, and tool fluency.

Blogs recommended for further reading:

https://www.warnerscott.com/top-10-executive-recruiting-firms-in-dubai-and-mena/

https://angel-investors-group.com/column/detail/181

https://www.kornferry.com/capabilities/talent-acquisition/executive-search

‍