About Us

Built From Scratch. Deliberately Boutique.

OUR STORY

Five Decades of Developing Trusted Professionals

Graham Durgan, Chairman of the Emile Woolf Group and Chair of the Non-Executive Directors’ Association, was passing through the Gulf on his way to China. He sat down with Fiona McBride, a qualified accountant with over 30 years of leadership experience and offered her the opportunity to take the Emile Woolf brand into the GCC.

Fiona knew who to call. She and Mira ElTal had worked together for years. Mira brought over two decades of experience designing leadership programmes across the Gulf. The opportunity landed, and they took it together.

Today, Emile Woolf Middle East works with government, semi-government, and private sector organisations across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, and the wider Gulf. We are the exclusive GCC delivery partner for NEDA. We design and deliver experiential programmes that change how people think, decide, and lead.

Nearly 50 years of global pedigree behind us. A nimble team running every engagement. That’s the model and it’s why clients stay.

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT

The Principles Behind Every Programme

Boutique, not generic

We learn your culture and strategy before we design a single session.

Experiential, not theoretical

Simulations. Case studies. Role-play. Built around doing, not listening.

NEDA board readiness

The exclusive GCC delivery partner for NEDA. Accredited governance and NED development programmes.

Strategy-led design

We consult, design, deliver, and measure. No off-the-shelf content.

OUR VALUES

What Drives Us

Joy

We genuinely enjoy what we do. The joy of seeing people grow and building from scratch.

Entrepreneurship

Built from scratch. We make decisions quickly and take full ownership.

Authenticity

Vulnerability and trust across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, South Africa, and Spain.

Value, not Volume

We focus on ROI, choosing to do fewer things brilliantly than many generically.

Experiential Learning

Development happens through practice, not presentations. It’s what we believe.

LEADERSHIP

The Team Behind the Work

Fiona McBride

CEO, Emile Woolf Middle East

Qualified accountant, University of Manchester. Over 30 years of senior leadership in finance, strategy, and management. Specialist in change management and board training with a focus on advancing women into board-level roles. Leads the NEDA programme in the Middle East.

Mira ElTal

COO, Emile Woolf Middle East

Over 20 years in learning and development. Designs leadership programmes for corporate and government clients across UAE, Saudi Arabia, and beyond. Certified in Kirkpatrick evaluation, Hogan, and DiSC. Executive coach with deep expertise in talent identification and behavioural development.

Graham Durgan

Chairman, London

Chairs both the Emile Woolf Group and the Non-Executive Directors’ Association, the global professional association dedicated to developing and supporting Non-Executive Directors. Bridges Emile Woolf Middle East with the global NEDA network at the highest level.

Nick Blackwell FCA

Managing Director, London

Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Leads the Emile Woolf Group internationally. Ensures the GCC team has access to global resources, content, and facilitator networks. CEO of the Non-Executive Directors' Association.

OUR PARTNERS

Who We Build With

Nearly 50 years of global content, research, and facilitator expertise.

Exclusive training and content partner in the GCC. The global professional body for non-executive directors.

Experiential outdoor learning. Team development beyond the boardroom.