Top development hubs in the Middle East

The Middle East is an unofficial grouping of countries situated where Southeast Asia meets Africa to the west and Europe to the north. While it does not have defining borders, this region has become a focal point for global development, housing a range of institutions and initiatives to address its unique social, economic, and political complexities. From multilateral development banks and government agencies such as the Islamic Development Bank and the Saudi Fund for Development to United Nations agencies such as the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, the region attracts a range of international organizations and local agencies. It also offers numerous opportunities for skilled professionals dedicated to driving progress. Over the past 12 months, 7,321 jobs in the Middle East were advertised on Devex’s job board — with Jordan and Egypt ranking among the top locations for job postings. As part of our ongoing exploration of global development opportunities, we take a closer look at the leading development hubs in the Middle East that are actively hiring. While there is no universally agreed-upon definition of what is part of the Middle East, the World Population Review has compiled a list of countries most frequently identified as part of the region. For this article, we have chosen to focus on countries that consistently appear across various sources and are classified as "always" part of the Middle East by the World Population Review. We have highlighted two top employers per country: one is a nonprofit organization and the other is either a multilateral development bank or a U.N. agency. These organizations were selected based on the number of job postings and their established offices and operations within the Middle East. Top development hubs in the Middle East 🇯🇴 Jordan: 1,360 jobs Nonprofit organization to look out for: Queen Rania Foundation Headquarters: Moh’d Al-Sa’d Al-Batayneh Street, Amman, Jordan Year founded: 2013 Queen Rania Foundation is focused on improving education outcomes by providing programs and supporting policymakers in developing education programs. The foundation is currently looking for a senior officer for early childhood education and development who will be responsible for content development, training, and evidence generation for the foundation’s projects. 🔎 View all current QRF jobs based in Jordan on Devex. U.N. agency to look out for: UNICEF Jordan office: 7 Leila Al-Akhleyah Street, Ash Shumaysani, Amman, Jordan Year founded: 1946 UNICEF is actively advertising a public partner project consultant position who will provide technical support to key public donors. The position is based in Amman and has an estimated duration of 22 days. 🔎 View all current UNICEF jobs based in Jordan on Devex. 🔎 View all current jobs based in Jordan on Devex. 🇪🇬 Egypt: 910 jobs Nonprofit organization to look out for: Coptic Orphans Egypt office: 224 Almoltaka Alaraby District, El-Nasr Road, El-Nozha, Cairo, Egypt Year founded: 1988 Coptic Orphans works with vulnerable children in Egypt by providing educational programs, financial assistance, and community support. It is actively promoting a senior child safeguarding specialist who will provide monitoring and implementation of safeguarding protocols and manage investigations and responses related to child abuse. 🔎 View all current Coptic Orphans jobs based in Egypt on Devex. U.N. agency to look out for: World Health Organization Egypt office: Monazamet El Seha El Alamia Street, Extension of Abdel Razak El Sanhouri Street, Cairo, Egypt Year founded: 1948 WHO is currently offering a fixed-term technical officer position based in Cairo. The successful candidate will support and guide member states in the development, adaptation, and implementation of policies and plans for the promotion of mental health. 🔎 View all current WHO jobs based in Egypt on Devex. 🔎 View all current jobs based in Egypt on Devex. 🇮🇶 Iraq: 726 jobs International NGO to look out for: Danish Refugee Council Headquarters: Borgergade 10, Copenhagen, Denmark Year founded: 1956 The Danish Refugee Council is a leading NGO advocating for a sustainable future for refugees and displaced people and communities. DRC readvertised an opening for a shelter and settlement team leader. The successful candidate will provide their technical expertise on project implementation, ensure the achievement of project objectives, and foster a collaborative environment. 🔎 View all current DRC jobs based in Iraq on Devex. U.N. agency to look out for: United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq Headquarters: Baghdad, Iraq Year founded: 2003 UNAMI is promoting a political affairs officer position based in Baghdad. The position will be responsible for political analysis and advice, reporting and information management as well as administrative tasks. 🔎 View all current UNAMI jobs based in Iraq on Devex. 🔎 View all current jobs based in Iraq on Devex. 🇱🇧 Lebanon: 678 jobs International NGO to look out for: Near East Foundation Headquarters: 110 W. Fayette St. Suite 710, Syracuse, New York, USA Year founded: 1915 Near East Foundation is a global leader working with local partners contributing innovative, sustainable, and community-led economic and social initiatives to marginalized communities across the Middle East, Africa, and the Caucasus. NEF recently released a monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning manager role to be based in Jordan or Lebanon. 🔎 View all current NEF jobs based in Lebanon on Devex. 🔎 View all current jobs based in Lebanon on Devex. 🇸🇾 Syria: 496 jobs International NGO to look out for: Solidarites International Headquarters: Association loi 1901, 89 Rue de Paris, Clichy La Garenne, Paris, France Year founded: 1980 Solidarites International is a humanitarian aid organization focused on assisting communities affected by conflicts and natural disasters. Solidarites International is searching for a deputy finance coordinator who will be responsible for the financial and budgetary management of the team. 🔎 View all current Solidarites International jobs based in Syria on Devex. U.N. agency to look out for: UN Refugee Agency Syria office: Abdullah Bin Rawaha Street, Kafarsouseh, Damascus, Syria Year founded: 1950 UNHCR is recently looking for an associate field officer who will identify vulnerable individuals and groups and provide assessments and recommendations on the protection and assistance needs of different groups. 🔎 View all current UNHCR jobs based in Syria on Devex. 🔎 View all current jobs based in Syria on Devex. 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: 312 jobs Nonprofit organization to look out for: MiSK Foundation Headquarters: 7605 Abdullah Alsahmi, Street, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Year founded: 2011 MiSK Foundation is a nonprofit engaged in empowering the youth through education, entrepreneurship, culture, and technology. The foundation is actively seeking a head of business development and partnerships who will identify new business opportunities while cultivating stakeholder relationships and managing partnership agreements. 🔎 View all current MiSK Foundation jobs based on Devex. MDB to look out for: Islamic Development Bank Headquarters: 8111 King Khalid Street, AI Nuzlah AI Yamania Dist. Unit No. 1 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Year founded: 1975 Islamic Development Bank is a multilateral development bank promoting social and economic development in Muslim communities worldwide. IsDB recently released a senior trust funds administration specialist position based in Jeddah. The role will develop and monitor the metric performance of various funds managed by the department. 🔎 View all current IsDB jobs based in Saudi Arabia on Devex. 🔎 View all current jobs based in Saudi Arabia on Devex. Ready to stand out from the crowd and get noticed by the recruiters who matter most? 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