Dubai CV format: how to write a CV for jobs in the UAE

Last reviewed 2026-10-12

A CV for Dubai and the wider UAE is usually two pages in English: a short professional summary, experience newest first, education and skills. Unlike in the US, UK and Canada, a professional photo, your nationality and your current visa status are common and often expected, along with languages, notice period and whether you hold a UAE driving licence. Never include passport or Emirates ID numbers, and start your degree attestation early, because many employers need it to apply for your work permit.

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What a UAE CV looks like

Two pages in English. Arabic is a plus to mention under languages, not a separate CV, unless the role asks for it.
At the top: name, phone with country code, email, LinkedIn, the city or emirate you are in (or "relocating to Dubai"), and a professional headshot if you use one.
A short professional summary naming the role you want and your strongest proof.
Experience newest first with month and year, the company’s country, and results with numbers.
Education, then skills, certifications and languages.
Personal details recruiters in the UAE commonly look for: nationality, visa status, notice period or availability, and UAE driving licence if you hold one.

Personal details: what is normal in the UAE

UAE recruiters often want nationality and visa status at a glance, because they decide which visa and work permit an employer will need to arrange. A professional photo is common and accepted. Date of birth and marital status still appear on many UAE CVs but are rarely needed; leave them off unless an employer asks.

The UAE labour law, Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021, prohibits discrimination at work on grounds including race, colour, sex, religion and national or social origin. Including your nationality is about visas, not a requirement to disclose anything else.

Visa status, written plainly: "UAE employment visa, available on notice", "Visit visa valid until 30 November 2026", "Golden visa holder" or "Requires employment visa".
Notice period: "Available immediately" or "One month’s notice".
Never include passport, Emirates ID or national ID numbers on a CV.

Make it readable by tracking systems

Many large UAE employers and recruiters screen applications with applicant tracking systems. Use a single column with plain headings ("Experience", "Education", "Skills"), keep text out of images and graphics, and mirror the wording of the job advert where it truly describes your experience. A photo in the header does not stop a system reading the text, but text inside a designed graphic is invisible to it.

Degree attestation

Many UAE employers need your degree attested before they can apply for your work permit, especially for roles that require a degree. The chain usually runs through the issuing university or education authority, your home country’s foreign ministry, the UAE embassy or consulate in that country, and finally the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The exact steps differ by country, can take several weeks and are the most common cause of delayed start dates, so begin as soon as you are seriously job hunting.

Check the current steps for your country with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs before paying an agency.

Visas while you look for work

Working on a tourist or ordinary visit visa is illegal in the UAE and can bring fines for you and the employer. Once you are hired, the employer applies for your standard work visa, which is valid for two years and renewable. Some skilled employees, freelancers and self-employed people can instead get a self-sponsored Green visa.

The UAE also offers a visit visa for job seekers, with stays of 60, 90 or 120 days, for applicants in the higher skill levels under the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) classification and for recent graduates of top-ranked universities. Apply through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), or through GDRFA for Dubai. Fees and eligibility change, so check the official site before you apply.

Tailor it for each application

UAE employers receive large volumes of applications from many countries, so a CV written for the specific role stands out. tailr has few UAE listings today, but you can paste any job link: it shows how well you fit, which requirements you are not yet covering, and writes a CV and cover letter for that role from your real experience.

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Common questions

Should I put a photo on my CV for Dubai?

A professional headshot is common and accepted on UAE CVs, unlike in the US, UK and Canada. It is not mandatory; if you add one, keep it simple and keep your text outside the image.

What should I write for visa status on a UAE CV?

State it plainly near the top, for example "UAE employment visa, available on one month’s notice", "Visit visa valid until 30 November 2026" or "Requires employment visa". Recruiters use it to judge what the employer will need to arrange.

Do I need to attest my degree to work in the UAE?

Many employers need an attested degree to apply for your work permit, especially for roles that require a degree. Attestation usually passes through your home country’s authorities, the UAE embassy there and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and can take weeks, so start early.

Can I work in Dubai on a visit visa?

No. Working on a tourist or ordinary visit visa is illegal. You can look for work on a visit visa, including the job seeker visa, but the employer must arrange your employment visa and work permit before you start.

How long should a CV be for UAE jobs?

Two pages for most people. Senior candidates sometimes go to three, but recruiters screening many applications rarely read past page two.