How to write a CV for jobs in the Gulf

The six Gulf states — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman — share many hiring habits, and a CV that follows them saves a recruiter time. This guide covers what usually goes into a Gulf CV, what is optional, and how to keep an Arabic and an English version in step.

Arabic, English, or both?

English is the working language of most private-sector hiring in the Gulf, especially at multinational companies and in banking, technology, healthcare and hospitality. Government bodies, semi-government organisations and many local employers also work in Arabic, and some ask for an Arabic CV. If you apply to both kinds of employer, keep two versions with the same facts.

• Write each version so it reads naturally in its own language — a word-for-word translation shows.
• Keep job titles, dates and numbers identical in both versions.
• Western digits (2024, 15%) are widely used in business documents across the region; use them in both versions.

Length and layout

One to two pages is typical. Two pages suit most experienced candidates, and a senior executive CV can run longer if every line earns its place. Recruiters often skim first, so put your title, a short summary and your most recent role at the top.

Personal details: what is common, what is optional

Gulf CVs often include more personal detail than CVs in Europe or North America. Include what helps the employer, and leave out what you would rather not share.

• Nationality: commonly listed. It matters for visa sponsorship and for national workforce programmes such as Saudization in Saudi Arabia and Emiratisation in the UAE.
• Location and visa status: give the city and country you live in, and your residency or visa status if you are already in the country. A candidate who can start without a new visa is often easier to hire.
• Notice period or availability: worth stating near the top or in your summary.
• Photo: common in the Gulf but not required. If you add one, use a recent, professional headshot. Some multinational employers prefer CVs without photos — follow the job posting.
• Date of birth and marital status: some candidates include them out of habit. Both are optional; leave them out unless the employer asks.
• Driving licence: worth listing for roles that involve travel, sales or site work.

Contact details that work across borders

Write your phone number with the country code — for example +966 for Saudi Arabia or +971 for the UAE — and use a professional email address. A link to your LinkedIn profile helps, as long as the profile matches your CV.

Experience that reads well

Name each employer clearly, and add a short line about the company if it is not well known in the region. Under each role, lead with results: projects delivered, teams led, budgets managed, customers served. Numbers help, but only use figures you can explain in an interview.

Languages and certifications

List Arabic and English with honest levels, plus any other languages you speak. Professional certifications carry weight in fields such as finance, engineering, project management and healthcare; give the issuing body and the year.

Getting through application systems

Many large employers in the region sort applications with applicant tracking systems (ATS). Use clear section headings, a single-column layout for online applications, and the terms from the job posting wherever they truly describe your experience.

Doing it in Tabhar

• Start from a template and set the CV's language. 19 templates can show a photo, with a switch to hide it.
• Add your nationality — and, only if you choose, your date of birth or marital status — from the header's optional details. Mention your visa status and notice period in your summary.
• Check the CV in the ATS panel before you apply online.
• Keep an Arabic version: duplicate the CV, or translate it with AI into a new copy on a paid plan.
• For an online application with an Arabic CV, download the Word file; for email, a PDF.

Before you send it

• Your job title matches the role you are applying for.
• Dates are consistent and use one format throughout.
• Your phone number includes the country code.
• The Arabic and English versions carry the same facts.
• The file name includes your name, for example Name-CV.pdf.

Hiring practices differ between employers and change over time. When a job posting gives instructions, follow them.