Paste your CV to check it against the details UAE, Saudi and other Gulf recruiters look for first.
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Is my CV in the format Gulf employers expect?
Paste your CV to check it for the details UAE, Saudi and other Gulf recruiters look for first: phone with country code, nationality, visa status, notice period, languages and more. You get a score out of 100 and a one-line fix for every gap.
Copy all the text from your CV (Word or PDF). Nothing is uploaded.
Try an example:
What the Gulf CV checker looks for
Twelve rule-based checks, each worth between 5 and 10 points, add up to 100. A check passes (full points), needs improving (half) or is missing (none). Gulf-specific details carry the most weight because recruiters use them to screen: phone with country code, nationality and visa status are 10 points each. Photo, date of birth and marital status are shown for information only and never change your score.
- Visa status
- Your current right to be in the country: visit, residence (employment), family-sponsored, golden or freelance visa.
- Notice period
- How soon you can join, e.g. 'Notice period: 30 days' or 'Available immediately'.
- Transferable
- A residence visa or iqama a new employer can take over without you leaving the country.
- Score
- Points from the 12 checks. It measures Gulf format, not how good your experience is.
Gulf CV scores for three example CVs
Three short example CVs, checked by the tool above.
| Example CV | Words | Top fixes | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf-ready CV (Dubai accountant) | 477 | Nothing major | 100/100 |
| Western-style CV (no Gulf details) | 374 | Nationality stated, Visa status, Notice period or availability | 38/100 |
| Short CV with personal details | 57 | Length: about 1–2 pages, Achievements with numbers, Notice period or availability | 47/100 |
Example people and employers are fictional.
Where the checker can get it wrong
- It reads plain text. Details inside images, headers or text boxes in your original file won't be seen, and an ATS may not see them either.
- It looks for common wording. If you phrased something unusually, like 'I am from India' instead of 'Nationality: Indian', it may be missed.
- A perfect format score doesn't mean a strong CV. Your achievements and keyword match with each job matter more.
- Conventions vary by employer: multinationals often prefer a Western-style CV, while local firms expect more personal details.
Data Sources
CV format guides by Gulf country
Each guide covers what to include, what to leave out and a sample layout for that country:
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard CV format in Dubai and the UAE?
A reverse-chronological CV of one to two pages, with a personal details block at the top: phone with country code, email, current location, nationality, visa status and notice period. Then a short professional summary, work experience with achievements, education, skills, certifications and languages.
Should I put a photo on my CV for the Gulf?
It's common in the Gulf and many recruiters are used to seeing one, but it is never required and a CV without a photo is perfectly acceptable. If you add one, use a plain professional headshot. This checker never takes points off for leaving it out.
Do I need to put my age, date of birth or marital status?
No. They still appear on many Gulf CVs, and some application forms ask for them, but you can leave them out of the CV itself. Nationality, visa status and notice period are far more useful to a recruiter.
Why do Gulf employers ask for nationality and visa status?
Hiring someone from abroad means sponsoring a work visa, and Saudisation, Emiratisation and other nationalisation quotas affect who a company can hire for some roles. Stating your nationality and current visa (for example visit visa, residence visa or golden visa) lets recruiters see quickly whether you can start and what it will take.
What does 'transferable visa' or 'transferable iqama' mean?
It means you are already in the country on an employer-sponsored residence visa (an iqama in Saudi Arabia) that a new employer can take over. That can make hiring you faster and cheaper, so it's worth stating clearly on your CV.
How long should a CV be for Gulf jobs?
One page for early-career roles and two pages for most experienced professionals. The checker treats roughly 400 to 1,200 words as the target range. Senior executives and academics sometimes need more, but older roles can usually be shortened to a line each.
75% of CVs are thrown out by software before a person reads them.
Most Gulf employers use hiring software to sort CVs. Upload yours and see exactly what's getting it thrown out, free, in about 60 seconds.
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