CV writing for UK professionals moving to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is hiring experienced UK professionals for its Vision 2030 programmes. Gulf recruiters read CVs the same way across the region, and we know that reading from our recruitment work in Dubai. We rebuild your UK CV for Riyadh, Jeddah and the major projects.
Cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, NEOM
Get my free CV diagnosis | Services and prices | Recruiter-made CV rebuild: £80, one-time
UK CV vs Saudi CV
| UK CV | Saudi CV | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is called | CV | CV |
| Salary | Never stated | Current package and expectation stated; an unstated salary loses to a stated one |
| Nationality and visa status | Left off | Required near the top; recruiters filter on both |
| Notice period | Rarely mentioned | Stated only if it is short; immediate starts win |
| Photo | Left off | Leave it off: images can break ATS parsing |
| Package terms | Salary | Basic salary plus housing and transport allowances is the norm |
4 rules for your Saudi CV
- Put your salary and package on the CV. Gulf employers will not guess. State your current package and what you expect, in a form they recognise.
- State nationality, visa status and location. Gulf recruiters filter on all three before they read your experience. Leave any out and you sit in the maybe pile.
- Notice period only if it is short. Immediate or 30 days is a selling point, so state it. Anything longer stays off the CV.
- Show project scale. Employers hiring for major projects want scale: budgets, headcount, area and delivery dates. Lead with them.
Sectors hiring in Saudi Arabia
Construction and engineering, project management, healthcare, education, finance and tourism, driven by Vision 2030 projects and the growing number of regional headquarters in Riyadh.
- Construction and engineering
- Project management
- Healthcare
- Education
- Finance
- Tourism
Check your route before you apply
You need an employer to sponsor your work visa, after which you receive a residence permit (iqama). Some roles are reserved for Saudi nationals under Saudisation rules, so check before you apply. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa platform has the current process.
Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa platform
We write CVs, not visa advice. Rules change, so always confirm with the official source.
Who rebuilds your CV
Your CV is rebuilt by UK recruiters with 25+ years of experience across the UK and the Middle East. We are not a recruitment agency in Saudi Arabia and we do not place candidates there. What we do is rebuild your British CV the way employers in Saudi Arabia expect to read it, and tell you plainly what has to change.
CVs for Saudi Arabia: common questions
Should I put my salary on a Saudi CV?
Yes. Gulf employers expect your current package and your expectation on the CV. Leaving it off usually means you are passed over for someone who stated it.
Is a Saudi CV the same as a Dubai CV?
Very close. The Gulf conventions we apply to Dubai CVs hold in Saudi Arabia: salary, nationality, visa status and a short notice period up front, with no photo. Saudi employers put extra weight on project scale.
Do I need a job offer before moving to Saudi Arabia?
In almost all cases, yes. Your employer sponsors your work visa and residence permit, so the job comes first.