Business Development Representative — VIE Abu Dhabi

This VIE role serves as Alta Ares' commercial entry point in the Gulf, based in Abu Dhabi. You will support early-stage business development by mapping the defence ecosystem, identifying opportunities, nurturing first-contact relationships, and helping convert interest into pipeline. You will operate with real ownership and direct exposure to Alta Ares' leadership in Paris, focusing on UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

Responsibilities

• 1. Market Mapping & Opportunity Identification
• Map the Gulf defence ecosystem across UAE, KSA, and Qatar: key institutional buyers (UAE Armed Forces, EDGE Group, SAMI, Qatar Armed Forces), procurement bodies, and innovation initiatives
• Identify procurement programmes, capability gaps, and tender opportunities aligned with Alta Ares' product suite: ISR, C-UAS, AI autonomy
• Monitor Gulf defence policy, budget developments, and strategic priorities: UAE Defence Strategy, Saudi Vision 2030 defence components, and Qatar's national defence build-up
• Produce regular market intelligence reports for the Paris leadership team and Defence Sales Manager MEA
• 2. Relationship Building & Business Development
• Initiate and develop first-contact relationships with institutional stakeholders, industrial partners, and potential clients across UAE, KSA, and Qatar
• Support the preparation of partner-facing materials, capability presentations, and meeting briefings in English and Arabic (if applicable)
• Qualify inbound interest and identify concrete partnership or sales opportunities to escalate to the Defence Sales Manager MEA
• Represent Alta Ares at regional defence events: IDEX, World Defence Show, Milipol Qatar, and DSEI Arabia
• 3. Gulf–Paris Coordination
• Serve as the operational bridge between Abu Dhabi and Alta Ares HQ in Paris
• Coordinate logistics for partner visits, demos, and leadership trips to the Gulf
• Ensure smooth communication across time zones and cultural contexts
• Support the Operations Manager UAE on field demonstration logistics and on-site coordination as needed

Requirements

• 0–3 years of experience — open to recent graduates and early-career profiles
• Background in business development, international relations, political science, defence studies, engineering, or a related field
• English fluency — mandatory
• VIE Eligibility: French or EU nationality — mandatory. Aged 18 to 28 at mission start. No prior VIE with the same company.

Nice to have

• Prior exposure to the Gulf region (studies, internship, or work experience) is a strong plus
• Arabic proficiency is a strong plus — relationship-building in the Gulf is significantly more effective with Arabic language capability
• French is a meaningful plus — daily interaction with Paris HQ
• Genuine interest in defence technology and Gulf security dynamics
• Proactive, autonomous, and culturally agile across Gulf and European contexts
• Discreet and professional in a security-sensitive environment