By Are you looking to secure your dream job in the UAE but unsure how to tailor your CV to meet the work visa requirements?
Don’t worry! We’ve got your back! Just make sure to stick to the blog till the end!
The UAE is a global hub for individuals seeking employment in sectors such as finance, marketing, and HR. According to the recent survey by AGBI, hiring in the UAE grew by less than 1.3% in the first quarter of 2025. This illustrates the vastness of the job market in the United Arab Emirates.
However, getting a job in the competitive world is not so easy. Moreover to stand out, you need to have an impressive CV that grabs a manager’s attention in a few seconds.
Come on! Let’s learn how you can make one!
Understanding UAE Work Visa Categories
Before diving into key elements of a CV, you have to understand the UAE work visa categories. Thus this way, you can know which one fits your needs perfectly.
What are they?
There are three types of work visas including:
- Standard Work Visa
- Green Visa
- Golden Visa
Let’s understand each one of them in detail.
Standard Work Visa
A standard work visa is one of the most common ones. Employers typically sponsor it in both the private and government sectors in the UAE. Furthermore the key features include:
- Sponsored by the employer
- Valid for 2 years
- Renewable
- Additionally, it allows employees to work for the company while living in the UAE.
Moreover, for this, you need to have a job offer, a work permit, and approval from the Mohre.
Green Visa
This was introduced in 2022 mainly for skilled professionals, freelancers, and businesspeople. Hence, if you are any of those, this one’s for you. Moreover, the features include:
- No sponsor or employer needed
- Valid for 5 years
- Provides flexibility in work and living.
- Renewable on the same conditions.
However, remember that the terms and conditions might vary depending on who you are. So, explore them before applying.
Golden Visa
Do you have a particular net worth and are willing to spend 10 years in the UAE? Golden Visa is for you. Additionally it doesn’t require any sponsor or employer. However, the eligibility criteria are very different.
- Investors who have AED 2 million
- Real estate investors with properties worth AED 2 million
- Businessperson with projects worth AED 500,000.
Key Elements to Include in Your CV
For those individuals looking to apply in the UAE and want to align their CV with work visa requirements, here are the key elements you need to include in your CV.
- Personal Information
- Professional Summary
- Educational Background
- Work Experience
- Skills and Competencies
- Certifications
Each of the elements is essential and shows the employers why you are the best fit. Hence, don’t skip any of those. Also, you can consult with My Perfect CV services if you are having trouble creating a CV. Furthermore, they have experience and tailor it according to the UAE job market.
Personal Information
First things first, the hiring manager should know who you are. Hence, your personal information should be at the top of your CV, making it more transparent. Moreover here are the essentials you need to include:
- Full Name
- Contact information (email, LinkedIn and phone number)
- Nationality
- Visa Status (If available)
- A Professional Picture (optional, but it is best to have one)
Professional Summary
Now, you need to provide hiring managers with insights into who you are and why you are the best fit. Just make sure it is concise, clear and leaves a lasting impression. Don’t miss out on these three things:
- Work experience
- Skills
- Goals and ambitions.
Remember, the professional summary shows the readers how interested you are in the job and what makes you stand out.
Educational Background
While in the UAE, skills are strongly preferred, having a strong educational background can give you a competitive edge. Here is what you should include:
- Degree (Include the institute’s name and graduation date)
- Relevant training (if you took any)
- Certifications
- Awards
Keep this section concise. Furthermore, only include the relevant things and omit those that don’t align with your career goals.
Work Experience
Surely, you might have extensive work experience that can impress the hiring managers and make you stand out.
So don’t forget to include it in the CV. Here is what you must consider for this section:
- List in chronological order, starting from the recent to the oldest job.
- Furthermore, don’t just state, but instead show them with relevant examples.
- Include job title, company, role and employment date.
- Additionally, add a description of your responsibilities and achievements.
A Pro Tip: Creating a CV that aligns with Visa requirements is not easy. Therefore, if you face any problems, consider seeking guidance from the CV Writing Services in the UAE. They are aware of the key elements and can help you craft a solid CV in no time. With them, you can even increase your chances of getting the job.
Skills and Competencies
Do you have skills and competencies that you would like to showcase?
Well, what’s better than your CV?
Moreover remember, this section must include both soft and technical skills.
- Tell the hiring managers that you are a pro at managing software.
- Additionally, if you have any travel experience, add that.
- Furthermore, knowing multiple languages is also a skill. Hence, add that too.
Certifications
Have you done any additional certifications related to your field? Or do you have any internship or volunteer experience?
Hence, please ensure that you add this to your work.
Additional Things to Consider When Crafting A CV
If you want to make your CV stand out and ensure that it meets the employer’s standards in the UAE, here are some additional things you need to consider. Come on! Let’s have a look.
- You only have 7 to 8 seconds to impress the employers. Hence, keep your CV clear and concise.
- Furthermore optimise it for Applicant tracking software using relevant and industry-centric keywords.
- Additionally, use minimal templates and a consistent font.
- Moreover check that it meets all the visa requirements.
- Lastly, proofread and edit the CV before submitting.
Example
Are you confused about how to create a CV that matches visa requirements? Don’t fret! Here is a complete example for you:
Name: XYZ
Phone: XX-XX-XXXX | Email:[email protected]
Nationality: XYZ
Passport #: AB-XXXXXX (Valid until Aug 20xx)
Location: City, Country
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/XYZ
Professional Summary
Certified Digital Marketing Executive with 7+ years of experience in SEO, Google Ads, and Meta campaigns. Additionally proven results in boosting online traffic and ROI and searching for a marketing role in the UAE to apply my expertise in a dynamic environment.
Education
BBA – Marketing
University of XX, 20xx
(Attested: UAE Embassy)
Experience
Sr. Digital Marketing Executive
Digi Solutions | 20xx–20xx
- Managed PPC campaigns with 5.5x ROAS
- Boosted organic traffic by 75%
Digital Marketing Associate
Bluepeak IT House | 20xx–20xx
- Ran Facebook & Google Ads
- Increased email open rates by 20%
Skills
- Google Ads, SEO, Meta Ads
- Google Analytics
- Fluent in English, French, German, Basic Arabic
Documents
- Degree Attested
- Police Clearance
- Valid Passport
- Medical Clearance: Ready
- Available: 2–3 weeks’ notice
Wrapping Up!
So that is a wrap! For those looking to create a CV that aligns perfectly with the UAE work visa requirements, hopefully, this guide has helped you. Firstly, you always check the visa requirements and the type you are applying for. Furthermore, from personal information to professional summary, educational background, work experience, skills and certifications, make sure to include anything.
If you are still unsure, consider reviewing our example. You can also look at the template.