CV format for Gulf jobs: Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia

What a Gulf CV includes that others leave out

A photo. Common and usually expected — a recent, plain, passport-style photo. Our CV maker's Photo template places it at the top.

Nationality, date of birth and marital status. Routinely asked for in the Gulf, where a UK or Canadian employer would not want them.

Passport number, place of issue and expiry. Agencies need it to process a visa; an expiry under a year away is worth renewing before you apply.

Visa status and availability — "available to join immediately", "on visit visa in Dubai until…", or "in Nepal, ready to travel".

Use our Biodata template if you want nationality, date of birth and the other particulars set out as a table; add the passport lines as a short "Passport details" section.

The order that works

• Name, trade and contact — "Heavy Vehicle Driver", phone with +977 and WhatsApp, email.
• Photo and personal details — nationality, date of birth, passport number and expiry, visa status.
• Summary — years in the trade, the vehicles or machines or kitchens you know, and any GCC experience.
• Experience — most recent first, with the country named: "Security Guard, facilities management company, Dubai, UAE, 2022–2025".
• Skills and licences — trade test, CTEVT skill level, driving licence categories as on the card, and any GCC licence.
• Languages — English, Hindi and Arabic matter most in the Gulf; state each honestly.
• Education — your highest level is enough for most trade jobs.

By job: what the employer looks for first

Driver — licence categories and years, vehicle types, a clean record, and GCC licence if any. See the driver CV example.

Security guard — height, fitness, any army or police service, and security or first-aid training. Security guard CV example.

Hotel, housekeeping and kitchen — the property's star rating, rooms per shift or covers per night, and food-safety training. Housekeeping and chef examples.

Electrician, welder, mechanic — skill-test level, processes or systems, and readiness for a trade test. Electrician, welder and mechanic examples.

Caregiver and nurse — training hours, registration, and the languages you can care in. Caregiver and staff nurse examples.

Teacher in Dubai or Qatar — your subject and levels, teaching licence, and the curriculum you have taught; international schools often ask for a degree in the subject. Teacher CV example.

Cabin crew — Qatar Airways, Emirates and others — airlines recruit through their own careers sites and assessment days, with their own photo and form requirements; follow them exactly. Service experience and languages carry the CV. Cabin crew CV example.

Applying safely from Nepal

Go through a licensed manpower agency. The Department of Foreign Employment publishes the list of licensed agencies; check the name before you hand over a passport or any money.

Read the demand letter and contract — the job, salary, hours and employer — before you sign, and keep a copy. A CV that matches the advertised job exactly is shortlisted faster; one that claims skills you do not have fails the trade test.

Labour approval for foreign employment is part of the legal process in Nepal. A legitimate agency will take you through it; an agent who suggests skipping it is not legitimate.

Mistakes that cost the shortlist

• No passport details, or an expired passport.
• A vague trade — "worker" instead of "Steel Fixer" or "Light Vehicle Driver".
• Gulf experience without the country and employer — agencies check it.
• A photo that is not a photo — selfies, filters or group pictures.
• Five pages. One or two is right for nearly every Gulf job.